California’s Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) awarded a $490 million contract for construction management services in support of the BART Silicon Valley extension to Bechtel Corp. for a 10-year period ending June 2034.

“This contract award represents a significant step toward putting processes and systems in place to get a shovel in the ground. We are pleased to be working with Bechtel, who was integrally involved in the first phase of the BART extension, to help us deliver this project,” said Tom Maguire, chief megaprojects officer at VTA.

VTA’s Contract with Bechtel

Under this contract, Bechtel will establish a program-wide organizational structure, processes, and procedures for effective management of all phases of construction, including early works construction, tunneling, stations, system testing, commissioning, close-out, and turnover of facilities.

Additionally, Bechtel will manage and administer construction contracts, construction costs and schedule, change orders, claims, and disputes, as well as construction quality and safety.

BART Silicon Valley is one of the most important and most anticipated transit projects in the country that will ring the San Francisco Bay with rail, making it easier to navigate the region.

Project Benefits

The project comes with significant benefits — from the 75,000 jobs it creates through construction that will help build the six-mile, four-station extension of BART into downtown San Jose and ending in Santa Clara to the reduction of cars on the road that create cleaner air to building our future economy.

“This latest rail extension will provide a fast and convenient transit alternative for major commute corridors,” said Bechtel Corp.’s sr. VP Kelvin Sims. “We’re proud to be partnering with VTA again to help deliver this significant project for the area.”

Construction is anticipated to begin later this year to prepare for the arrival of the tunnel boring machine.