VTA expands community input, slows plans to seek federal funding for BART Phase 2

As the feature presenter at a “Green Drinks” event in San Jose on Friday night, San Jose City Council Member and VTA Board Chair Ash Kalra confirmed that VTA would not submit an application for federal funding for the Silicon Valley Phase 2 project before the end of the year.  The application for federal funding was given as the reason to have a rapid review process with only one community meeting, the day before the Board reviewed the proposal.

The staff proposal had been to put forward a two-station project, with Downtown and Diridon stations, for federal funding, while deferring stations at Alum Rock and City of Santa Clara.

In response to strong community interest in the project, VTA is in the process of setting up three community meetings at Mexican Heritage Plaza in East San Jose, in Downtown San Jose, and in Santa Clara.  Times have not yet been set, nor are there yet locations for the meetings in DTSJ and Santa Clara.

For transit supporters who are concerned about the Alum Rock station, the topic is expected to be discussed at several upcoming meetings, including the Neighborhoods Commission, and two community meetings about the East Santa Clara Urban Village. The two Urban Village meetings will discuss the same material, at different locations.

San Jose Neighborhoods Commission
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
6:30 – 9:00 p.m (agenda item to start at 7pm or later)
City Hall, 200 East Santa Clara Street, West Wing (rm. 118)

East Santa Clara Urban Village Community meeting
November 12, 6 to 8:30 pm  
Roosevelt Community Center
901 E. Santa Clara St, San Jose

East Santa Clara Urban Village Community Meeting
November 13, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 2nd Floor

Update:

Dates have now been set for the VTA community meetings focusing on the BART project.

Wednesday, November 19th
Roosevelt Community Center
901 E. Santa Clara St.
Multipurpose Room
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

December 2
VTA Customer Service Center in downtown San Jose
Time not yet set

and December 4
Santa Clara University (SCU)
Time not yet set

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