Residents are going to start seeing new signs that the long-awaited extension of BART into the South Bay is becoming a reality in Milpitas.
This summer, Santa Clara Valley Transit is polling voters about a possible sales tax increase to finish the job of bringing BART all the way to downtown San Jose within 10 years.
“By the end of August, we hope to have our polling done, and by the summer of 2016, voters may begin seeing it on the ballot,” VTA spokesperson Brandi Childress said.
The superstructure that will become the Milpitas BART station is taking shape near Montague Expressway and Capitol Avenue. Until recently, all most people saw was a big trench being dug for the trains.
Santa Clara VTA says the drought has been a good thing for construction.
“Construction is usually prohibited when the rains come, but we haven’t had any, so we’re looking forward to opening on time,” Childress said.
To the immediate north, BART is adding track from Fremont to Warm Springs. A BART spokesperson said it will extend service to South Fremont by December. The Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority is building the section that will bring BART not only to Milpitas, but further, to Berryessa station on San Jose’s east side by the fall of 2017.
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Traffic along Capitol Avenue continues to creep along as it skirts the construction zone.
The construction has kept VTA trains from stopping at Montague station for the last three months. It is scheduled to remain closed until September.
