Preliminary track constructed for VTA BART expansion project

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) announced this week that it has finished laying two miles of track for its Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension Project.

Joint venture contractor Skanska, Shimmick, Herzog (SSH) installed 7,100 feet of rail north of Kato Road in Fremont, Calif., and 3,500 feet of rail south of Dixon Landing Road, according to a VTA press release.

SSH will continue building track northward until it reaches the new Warm Springs BART Station in South Fremont. The entire project will comprise 10 miles of track.

"Forty-one years after BART began providing rail transportation service to the Bay Area, VTA is on track to extend the system into the South Bay — bringing a fast, reliable and convenient transportation alternative to driving in two of the most congested highway corridors in the region," said VTA spokeswoman Brandi Childress in a statement.

Childress also highlighted the fact that the materials used for the tracks were all sourced in the United States.