BART’s Silicon Valley Phase II Project will create 75,000 jobs
and support the business competitiveness of the region
SAN JOSE, CA (July 8, 2024) – In partnership with a coalition of regional business and community groups, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) and Bay Area Council (BAC) today called on Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to approve full federal funding for the BART Silicon Valley Phase II Project, a once-in-a-generation investment in the Bay Area’s infrastructure.
In a letter to Secretary Buttigieg, the coalition of leading Silicon Valley and Bay Area regional business and community groups requested that the Federal Transit Administration accept the project into the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program New Starts Engineering phase with a federal funding share of $6.296 billion, representing 49.4% of the total project cost. Today’s coalition letter builds on recent outreach from SVLG and BAC on behalf of their respective memberships.
The coalition led by SVLG and BAC also includes (in alphabetical order), the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley, Joint Venture Silicon Valley, Minority Business Consortium (MBC), San Jose Chamber of Commerce, San Mateo County Economic Development Corporation (SAMCEDA), Silicon Valley at Home (SV@Home), Silicon Valley Chamber Coalition, and Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce.
Phase II will be the largest single public infrastructure project ever constructed in Santa Clara County and is estimated to carry 55,000 passengers each weekday to destinations throughout the Bay Area by 2040. The project is projected to generate 75,000 jobs, promote more equitable transit connections in Silicon Valley, and yield important environmental benefits. The state and region have long prioritized this project, which is evident from the more than $1.8 billion in state and regional funding that have already been committed to the project. Over the last two decades, the residents of Santa Clara County have supported Phase II by generating $4.6 billion in funding via local tax measures to construct the project.
This investment will catalyze a high ROI project for all stakeholders, supporting the advancement of crucial transit-oriented development, including housing, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 19.5 tons each year.
The full letter text is below:
July 8, 2024
The Honorable Pete Buttigieg
Secretary, United States Department of Transportation
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Subject: Support for FTA’s Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program New Starts Engineering process request for Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Project (BSVII)
Dear Secretary Buttigieg,
As a coalition of the leading regional business and community groups in Silicon Valley and across the Bay Area, we are writing to urge the Federal Transit Administration to accept the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Project into the Capital Investment Grant Program’s New Starts Engineering phase with a federal funding share of 49.4% ($6.296 billion).
This project is crucial for our region’s infrastructure and economic growth, and is supported by substantial local and state funding commitments totaling over $1.8 billion. Phase II will serve 55,000 daily passengers by 2040, create 75,000 jobs, and enhance transit equity and environmental sustainability.
With significant pre-construction progress and strong local backing, including $4.6 billion from local tax measures, Phase II is shovel-ready and essential for advancing transit-oriented development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
We urge your support to prevent delays and to ensure this important project’s success.
Please consider our request for the full federal funding share at 49.4% to bring this transformative project to fruition, to catalyze not only our regional economy, and economic development for our state, but also to support your climate goals and improved critical infrastructure for our country.
For further inquiries, we all remain available as a ready resource for you or your team. Thank you for your consideration and support.
Sincerely,
Ahmad Thomas
CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Jim Wunderman
President & CEO, Bay Area Council
Russell Hancock
President & CEO, Joint Venture Silicon Valley
Walter Wilson
CEO, Minority Business Consortium, Silicon Valley
Leah Toeniskoetter
President & CEO, San Jose Chamber of Commerce
Rosanne Foust
President & CEO, SAMCEDA
Andreu “A. J.” Reall
Chair, Board of Directors
Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce
Regina Celestin Williams
Executive Director, SV@Home
Silicon Valley Chamber Coalition
Hispanic Chamber Of Commerce Silicon Valley
cc: Veronica Vanterpool, Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Agency
Matthew Welbes, Executive Director, Federal Transit Administration
About the Silicon Valley Leadership Group:
The Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) is the leading business association representing the innovation economy and its ecosystem. Founded by David Packard of Hewlett-Packard, SVLG has worked for 45 years to address issues that affect the region’s economic health and quality of life. Today, SVLG Is focused on accelerating the next era of Silicon Valley leadership, activated by our three new Centers of Expertise (COE). Innovation & Technology, Sustainable Growth, and Inclusion & Belonging. SVLG members collectively provide nearly one of every three private sector jobs in Silicon Valley and contribute more than $3 trillion to the worldwide economy. For more information, visit svlg.org.
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