California's Valley Transportation Breaks Ground on New Light Rail Line

San Jose, Calif.’s Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) welcomed community members, elected leaders, and transportation advocates as they formally broke ground for a light rail extension into East San Jose.

The event also featured a Community Resource Fair where community organizations provided information about their services related to healthcare, immigration, and jobs.

The EBRC Project

The Eastridge to BART Regional Connector (EBRC) will add 2.4 miles of light rail from the existing Alum Rock Transit Center to the Eastridge Transit Center, with stations at Story Road and the Eastridge Transit Center. 

The extension is part of VTA’s Orange Line, which currently runs from Alum Rock to Mountain View, with a station at the Milpitas Transit Center, where passengers can transfer to BART service throughout the rest of the Bay Area.

VTA GM/CEO Carolyn Gonot hosted the program which focused on the strong community support behind the service extension.

“I want to offer my gratitude for that steadfast support,” Gonot said, “Because that is what has allowed us to get to this point, with shovels in the ground. This extension represents an important lifeline for so many residents in our city who rely on public transit in their everyday lives.”

Years in the Making, the EBRC’s Impact

Work related to this project began several years ago in multiple phases with new street lighting along Capital Expressway and improvements to the Eastridge Transit Center, which currently serves multiple VTA bus routes. 

Construction work on the actual rail began in early May and is expected to take approximately four years.

The extension features an elevated guideway primarily in the center of the Capitol Expressway and will include a light rail station at Story Road that is elevated and accessed by a pedestrian overcrossing, and an at-grade station located at the Eastridge Transit Center.

When this project is complete, VTA riders will be able to board the light rail at the Eastridge Transit Center and connect directly with BART at the Milpitas Transit Center.