\u201cThe (VTA board of directors) has recognized the need for additional oversight and guidance, but the board has failed to exercise its obligation to provide the strategic direction needed for a successful project,\u201d the report reads.<\/p>\n
On Aug. 13, the BART Silicon Valley Phase II Oversight Committee \u2014 a subcommittee of VTA board members \u2014 unanimously recommended the full VTA board of directors adopt a revised response to the recommendations. A VTA spokesperson told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight the agency will incorporate the oversight committee\u2019s comments before presenting the response to the board on Sept. 3. The\u00a0public transit agency must submit its final response by Sept. 15.<\/p>\n
Board members discussed the project\u2019s costs at the recent meeting. Since 2019, VTA\u2019s general engineering contracts have totaled roughly $544 million, with the oversight committee recently approving a $150 million extension for additional design work. VTA has also been working to patch a nearly $1 billion funding gap<\/a>\u00a0in the project.<\/p>\n VTA officials said the transit agency maintains several financial models and daily cash-flow reports, but acknowledged the information could be presented more clearly to decision makers. Deputy General Manager Greg Richardson said VTA needs to better consolidate information so officials have a clearer picture of the project\u2019s finances.<\/p>\n \u201cThe model exists, but what we\u2019re attempting to do in 2027 is provide that cash-flow report to this body, to the board, so that it\u2019s \u2026 a more succinct, summarized version,\u201d Richardson said.<\/p>\n The discussion comes as the BART extension has undergone significant changes in its design, construction strategy and cost estimates. VTA selected a single-tunnel design for the underground portion of the six-mile extension as it sought to reduce costs and close a funding gap. The project will connect Berryessa\/North San Jose<\/a> to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara with four new stations. The committee also backed a change involving operations and maintenance costs.<\/p>\n The civil grand jury also recommended that VTA require staff to present an operations and maintenance cost analysis when considering major design and construction alternatives. The revised response commits VTA to implementing the recommendation by Dec. 31, 2026.<\/p>\n Suds Jain, a VTA board member and Santa Clara councilmember, said those costs need to be considered when making design decisions because choices made during construction can create expensive maintenance obligations later.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s why there\u2019s decisions that have to be made looking at how much it\u2019s going to cost to maintain those systems,\u201d Jain said at the meeting. \u201cWe have these elevators at the Milpitas station that have glass panels that are custom glass panels, and they break, and they\u2019re unbelievably expensive to maintain. So why do we pick those panels?\u201d<\/p>\n VTA officials said the agency considers cost, schedule, risk and operations and maintenance impacts when evaluating major design changes. Staff also work with BART, which will operate and maintain the extension, to evaluate how design decisions could affect long-term costs.<\/p>\n The committee also discussed the role of Auditor General Scott Johnson, who provides independent oversight of the project, and whether the committee\u2019s charter and bylaws should be reviewed by the VTA board. Officials agreed to continue evaluating the charter and bylaws rather than create a temporary subcommittee to study the issue. They also agreed to include Johnson\u2019s written response<\/a>\u00a0as supplemental information alongside VTA\u2019s official response to the civil grand jury report. \u201cI think this is an exceptionally complex and fast moving project,\u201d Mahan said at the meeting. \u201cWe do have to ensure the governance model is very clear, providing a charter, showing communication and continuous improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"In-line](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/interactive-321838904008.png\")
<\/a>San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who sits on the VTA board and oversight committee, said the report provides an opportunity to improve the transit agency\u2019s governance, but disagreed with its broader characterization of the committee.<\/p>\n