BART San Jose extension funds approved

The California Transportation Commission on Wednesday approved $40 million for a 10-mile BART extension to San Jose extension Wednesday, along with road projects including carpool lanes along highways that roughly parallel the BART extension.

Construction on BART and the highway improvements are set to begin next year.

California has now contributed roughly 53%, or $640 million, of the projected $2.1 billion capital cost for the BART project. The state has pledged $760 million in aid, and the remaining $120 million is expected to be allocated during next three years in $40 million installments.

“The state may be broke, but it has not broken its commitment to help fund the vital Silicon Valley BART extension,” said Carl Guardino, head of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and a member of the California Transportation Commission.

Earlier this year the Federal Transit Administration offered $130 million to advance the BART extension $130 million, and has pledged up to $900 million, though the federal budget crisis could jeopardize the full amount.

Federal officials had placed the BART project on its “not recommended” list, but voters subsequently approved a sales tax increase to keep the project alive.