Santa Clara VTA awards project contracts, considers sales tax measure

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) Board of Directors awarded an $86.8-million contract to McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., for the design and construction of the parking structures for VTA's future Berryessa and Milpitas Bay Area Rapid Transit Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension stations.

 

The board also advanced the Mountain View Double Track project by authorizing a $16.7-million contract with Shimmick Construction for the construction of Phase I of the project, as well as signal work; a $2.5-million contract amendment with URS Corporation for final design and design services during construction and an $810,000-contract amendment with the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) for design review and construction support.

For Phase II of the Mountain View project, the board adopted the environmental document and the recommended project, which includes closure of the Evelyn Station. They also authorized SCVTA to acquire property and easements necessary to complete the project.

In other news, the board of directors established an Ad Hoc Governance Committee to determine what a possible sales tax measure to benefit transportation might look like on the November 2016 ballot.

At the regular meeting of the board, Chair Ash Kalra recommended establishing the committee “to evaluate what the needs of SCVTA are going forward,” he said. “This is a committee that comes out of necessity.”

The committee would develop a framework for a potential future ballot measure that would include the creation of a process for project evaluation and a set of key performance indicators to assure the board and the public that projects selected for the measure address the transportation needs of Santa Clara County.

“There will be plenty of opportunity for input from everyone on the board, the cities throughout the county and stakeholders, as well,” Kalra said. “This committee will be helpful in ensuring SCVTA is leading the way in providing a transportation network that benefits all users.”

 

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