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BART Extensions

Due to the enormous cost and obsolete technology of BART, TRANSDEF has consistently opposed extending BART beyond the original system. We were part of the No on Measure B campaign, seeking to defeat a new VTA sales tax that would keep alive the proposed 16 mile extension from Fremont to San Jose and Santa Clara. See details of the Measure B election.

TRANSDEF has long sought rail service between San Jose and the East Bay that is compatible with High-Speed Rail. For much less money than would be spent on the proposed BART extension, Silicon Valley could have much more flexible and convenient rail service for its workers coming from the Tri-Valley, the Central Valley and BART. The TRANSDEF Smart Growth Alternative, described in the Regional Plan section of this site, identifies the benefits of replacing planned BART extensions with a cost-effective conventional-gauge rail line that can be used later by High-Speed trains to Los Angeles and Sacramento.

Suggestions for transforming VTA's proposed BART Project into world-class transit.

EIR Comment letter on VTA's Proposed BART Extension.

DEIS Comment letter on VTA’s Proposed BART Extension.

TRANSDEF has consistently rejected the assertion that the proposed Warm Springs extension has any independent utility other than as the first phase of a San Jose extension. Warm Springs is not a viable site for residential development, due to the presence of heavy industry nearby. See MTC report on Warm Springs that attempts to paper-over the embarrassment of no longer having a justification for the project. At a cost of almost a billion dollars, bringing rapid transit service to a vacant lot is a senseless exercise, driven by the sheer momentum of dollars promised long ago. With cost-effective transit projects in desperate need of funding, our region cannot afford such waste.

Warm Springs EIR Comment letter from our attorney.

As a political body, VTA has been stuck in a pattern of promising its constituents more projects than it can afford. It has been incapable of adopting a realistic funding plan for its future transportation projects. The public was gullible enough to approve VTA's Measure C on the November 2008 ballot, despite the absence of an adopted expenditure plan. When VTA finally does approve an expenditure plan, it will disappoint its voters by having to cut promised projects, because there isn't enough money for all the extremely expensive toys everyone wants. See TRANSDEF's Comment letter. TRANSDEF has been concerned that the proposed BART extension will rob resources away from the Bus Division, thereby hurting people who depend on VTA for mobility.

TRANSDEF provided an attorney's opinion letter to encourage VTA to use proceeds from its Measure A sales tax from the year 2000 to preserve bus operations after the dot-com bust.