Several Bay Area Transportation Projects Must Begin This Year to Qualify for State Funds

By: Brian Shields - Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:08:33 -0800

SAN JOSE (KRON) -- The BART extension to San Jose could mean thousands of construction jobs in the South Bay over the next five years as the push is on to break ground on the project.

The BART extension is just one of several transportation efforts that must begin this year in order to qualify for a $5 billion state funding package.

Almost half of that money is dedicated to the BART extension from Fremont into Santa Clara County. Preliminary work is already underway on Kato Road in Fremont.

"This is the largest infrastructure project VTA has ever had in its history," Valley Transportation Authority spokeswoman Brandi Childress tells KRON 4's Haaziq Madyun. "We're looking at 2,500 average jobs per year each construction year and the project is going to take about five years to construct."

Officials say the construction jobs aren't the only economic impact of the project.

"That translates into a major boost for our economy, not just jobs but it's also getting people moving," Childress adds.

Other projects that need to get started this year to qualify for the funds include carpool and merging lanes on I-580 in Livermore, a southbound carpool lane on I-880 in Oakland, and wider ramps and new meters on I-80 from the Carquinez Bridge to the Bay Bridge.

(Copyright 2012, KRON 4, All rights reserved.)

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