WSP to manage second phase of BART's Silicon Valley extension

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has awarded a contract to WSP USA to manage the second phase of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system to Silicon Valley.

VTA is managing the overall 16-mile extension from Fremont to Santa Clara, California.  The first phase will run 10 miles from BART's Warm Springs Station in Fremont to San Jose, California.

The second phase, which covers a 6-mile stretch from San Jose to Santa Clara, includes a 5-mile tunnel through downtown San Jose.

As program manager for the second phase, WSP will work with a joint venture team to provide conceptual design, engineering management, project controls, contracting strategies and utilities coordination. The firm also will be responsible for constructability reviews, value engineering and development of procurement documents.

WSP previously worked as part of a joint venture that served as the general engineering consultant for the original BART system, which opened in the 1970s. The firm also has supported most BART expansions during the last three decades, WSP officials said in a press release.

Company officials didn't disclose the value of the latest contract.

In late 2016, VTA released a draft supplemental environmental impact statement for the second phase of BART's Silicon Valley extension.