BART to service Milpitas, Berryessa stations in June

The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) yesterday announced that the Milpitas and Berryessa rail stations will open for BART service on June 13. 

The station openings are part of the $2.3 billion, 10-mile Berryessa extension in San Jose, California. VTA was responsible for station construction, communications, signal and track testing.

BART General Manager Robert Powers and VTA GM and Chief Executive Officer Nuria Fernandez yesterday signed the project safety and security certificate at a local press event, the last project milestone before the system can begin serving passengers. 

The certificate documents that no safety hazards or vulnerabilities are known to exist that would prevent the extension from being utilized for passenger service, BART officials said in a press release.

On May 22, Powers will sign a notice of intent to operate and present it along with the safety certificate to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the regulatory agency for utilities in California. 

The CPUC has 14 days to approve the verification of safety. BART and VTA expect the review period to be successful and receive a certification to operate, BART officials said.