Berryessa, and Not Downtown Might Be End of The Line For BART

Eric Chase’s Transbay Blog has an interesting perspective and rendering on the future of the extension of the BART line in that all the talk about San Jose’s Diridon station being the terminus might not be a reality for some two decades.

After a report released indicated that real sales tax revenue will remain flat for the next 25 years, VTA is recommending that BART only be expanded to Berryessa. The BART extensions that will be submitted for federal funding by the VTA include only a third of the stations which were planned.

The projects seeking funding will be the station at Montague and Capital in Milpitas, and the Berryessa station. This revelation certainly makes the 120-Acre Flea Market Site which is for sale much more interesting. We’ve heard here and there (very unsubstantiated) rumors that the flea market site is on the radar for the Oakland A’s as a potential site for the ballpark now that their Fremont plans are dead (assuming San Jose will be allowed to host the A’s).

The original plan was that the line be extended into San Jose through a tunnel under downtown. While that is a splendid idea, it is very expensive (estimated $1B per mile). Perhaps the government should take advantage of the downturn in commercial real estate prices to just start buying up a path of real estate now and try to build this thing above ground. I’m no expert, but just a thought.

Seems this is another case of “Thanks Government” – looks like taxpayers were misguided into thinking that this project would be done in one fell swoop. Perhaps we can get our quarter-point tax sales tax increase back?

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