The Bay Area Rapid Transit Silicon Valley Extension: Transforming the Greater Santa Clara Area

As the Bay Area’s population has grown, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system has needed to adapt with it. Since 2006, Kimley-Horn provided on-site and off-site planning, environmental, program management, public and stakeholder outreach, and engineering services for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) in support of the 16-mile BART Silicon Valley (BSV) Extension.

Multidisciplinary Planning for Enhanced BART Station Access

In collaboration with the Cities of San José and Santa Clara as well as SCVTA staff, Kimley-Horn spearheaded the planning and development of station access requirements for Phase I of the BSV Extension. This collaboration aimed to improve multimodal circulation for two new BART stations, support increased transit ridership, and promote transit-oriented development implementation.

For Phase I, we completed the following services:

• Conducted an analysis of access considerations
• Developed multimodal access recommendations for six station campuses
• Developed layouts and designs for the Milpitas and Berryessa station campuses, which opened as part of Phase I
• Identified facility needs at and around the planned BART stations to promote multimodal circulation
• Developed multimodal access concept site plans for the newly planned stations

Strengthening Communities through Transit

Kimley-Horn has supported SCVTA in planning the $12-billion Phase II extension of BART service. The 10-mile Phase I segment opened in 2020, and the six-mile Phase II segment is projected to be completed in 2037. Phase II will extend BART service from the terminus of Phase I at the Berryessa Transit Center in northeast San José through downtown and then terminate in Santa Clara.

Phase II of the BART Silicon Valley Extension

In Phase II, this six-mile, four-station extension will support increased transit ridership and provide riders with a fast and accessible transit option. The phase will also feature a five-mile tunnel with three underground stations—28th Street/Little Portugal, Downtown San José, and Diridon—along with a ground-level station at Santa Clara and supporting maintenance facilities. It will also support mobility for transit-dependent groups; connect to commuter rail, intercity, light rail, and regional bus services; enhance access to employment centers and jobs; and spur economic growth in Silicon Valley—all while fostering transit-oriented communities that maintain their local identities.