[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6509327,"mediaKeyId","5428638-ef3eb37bf544bcab9f5aab802b30dc3d","parentId",5428638,"title","Task force reviews station‑area urban design, streetscape and open‑space standards; members question tower height and rec‑center siting","audioSeconds",1605,"startMs",2851000,"endMs",4456000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5428638-ef3eb37bf544bcab9f5aab802b30dc3d&start=2851&end=4456","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5428638-ef3eb37bf544bcab9f5aab802b30dc3d/thumbnail_2851000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6509327/Santa-Clara/Santa-Clara-County/California/Task-force-reviews-stationarea-urban-design-streetscape-and-openspace-standards-members-question-tower-height-and-reccenter-siting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6509327-5664eb21707abbef0b9153a5fb226399/orig.mp4?Expires=1770563508&Signature=dtT0y91ia0kskQGAZh2t4gi3VE0OukuPG10pDh2v25kzB6g23Wod5plc3s~tUiJLqrRWrfL1V0so3gmVYSnOFcBrnwynLDktuVXiznYyEBiOBn-pviDGBBSqEaiv-Blg6H6BS9yht4ZLQnHT8Xb167zgd2P~63epQjAkMsbTpMFx6YQVbRgJpomio~KkRiBNcH8DeQ0nP9GduLHrEgjN5PnOMOT0xjd-oVNGpPadXxpANpXbvn~gobioklmrkqM2E-dmbFiUSZo7Jvh1939WHRwXMIyyfnHHEty7zYVY~NqKqDj-9lPl-YdesH-A15IZBQuE9qkg2OVRsmbw8K6kHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-18T23:22:21Z","article","Consultants from WRT briefed the Santa Clara Station Area Task Force on July 17, 2025, on updates to a preferred development concept and on draft urban design standards that would guide future development around the planned Santa Clara BART station.

\"We sculpted it further and also tried to angle its siting so that we could create more visual connection from this intersection towards the train station,\" said Diksha (WRT), describing changes to the plaza and building massing. WRT also restored the historic Adobe depot in the preferred concept and added a potential siting for a community recreation center.

Key elements presented: a form‑based approach with maximum allowable building heights, street classifications and a public‑space network. WRT showed a heights diagram with most of the plan area at 85 feet (roughly seven floors), a core Bridal area permitting up to 13 floors (about 148 feet), and edges stepping down to three floors/40 feet to respect adjacent neighborhoods. The team said height controls will be paired with stepback and setback rules to reduce bulk near historic buildings.

The consultants described a strategy for retail activation that includes firm retail frontages immediately around the station plaza and \"retail‑ready\" frontages on secondary streets — frontage types designed so ground‑floor spaces can be activated by retail if the market supports it. They also outlined green infrastructure concepts and preliminary street sections subject to further review with transportation engineers.

Community rec center: city staff and the parks planning team discussed a possible 47,000‑square‑foot indoor recreation center (gymnasium, fitness studios, walking track, staff offices). WRT noted the city prefers siting the facility on a city‑owned parcel (VTA‑owned parcel at the plaza edge was discussed) but consultants and members urged exploring mixed‑use options in which a public rec center is incorporated at ground level of new development to support activation and shared parking.

Questions and concerns: multiple task force members expressed reservations about a proposed \"iconic\" tower massing near the depot and urged designs that preserve the depot’s visual primacy. Members suggested stepping down massing, using material and programmatic measures to create an identity rather than relying solely on height, and exploring alternatives for locating the rec center and program‑mixing to activate the plaza. Several asked staff to overlay existing adjacent building heights and current zoning so the task force can better judge proposed increases.

Public comments and examples: Director Jain (public commenter identified as \"Suds\") urged the task force not to restrict itself to city‑owned land for the rec center and pressed for an indoor gym. James (public commenter) pointed to a Menlo Park mixed‑use example where a developer provided a large gym on the lower floors beneath offices as a model for combining a public recreation facility with private development.

Next steps: staff said CEQA (SEIR) work will begin next week now that project description and the preferred alternative are defined; infrastructure capacity and utilities analyses are underway; and WRT will refine standards for a future draft plan and public review. WRT and staff requested further feedback on heights, plaza massing, retail frontages and rec center siting to bring back at subsequent meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Station Area Task Force Meeting | July 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Consultants from WRT briefed the Santa Clara Station Area Task Force on July 17, 2025, on updates to a preferred development concept and on draft urban design and streetscape standards for the station area.","taxTitle","Santa Clara , Santa Clara County, California","taxId",2859,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6509332,"VTA updates Santa Clara task force on BART Silicon Valley Phase 2; $5.1 billion federal award narrows funding gap",2579,230000,2809000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5428638-ef3eb37bf544bcab9f5aab802b30dc3d&start=230&end=2809","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5428638-ef3eb37bf544bcab9f5aab802b30dc3d/thumbnail_230000.jpg","/articles/6509332/Santa-Clara/Santa-Clara-County/California/VTA-updates-Santa-Clara-task-force-on-BART-Silicon-Valley-Phase-2-51-billion-federal-award-narrows-funding-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6509332-e79e86bfc06af436b505f90b64417f7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770563508&Signature=iNYAvacFFy3v4DLy7TEkwiLZO-8PGkWpxHgUfBOvsYdTPsOVfLS-fYl7p28q6adDBJKMNaV2vaJyEo2YnUjb7rND2NgnYjXDyGROSW2bOa5KgSZVtj-QzjIc15fw9zAVUDjIl87sXcYXHat97IzSgq3uDx6UkzJx-bY6HyMHk0kCoy5AYUzq-SYktkAw0y6DM3BHyHbaHcA3mzWpiZNKEki6D2UOXiMX1aCKCW6ksI-vr6JqEH7GDGu3ddxUuXia6l9kbUpcRM5J3D1PoEEJ3tKkdii1kGUfGatk~GlgNw10nOxDCMzA-4SdckmrBESay~dyR8e4XN74yu81BIuUiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","VTA staff updated the Santa Clara Station Area Task Force on July 17, 2025, about the BART Silicon Valley Phase 2 project, saying construction is underway, federal and state grants have reduced but not closed the program’s funding shortfall, and the agency is pursuing deeper cost‑savings and a contractor procurement change.

\"We started early construction last summer and have now really moved into that major construction phase,\" said Ali Mustafa, external affairs team member on the BART Silicon Valley Phase 2 project, describing the six‑mile, four‑station extension and a maintenance facility that will span the San Jose–Santa Clara border. Mustafa said the program aims for revenue passenger service in 2037.

The project summary: Phase 2 is a roughly six‑mile extension with four stations — two below‑grade stations in San Jose (one near 20 Eighth Street and a downtown station between Market and First), a connection at the Diridon/Brid** area, and a street‑level Santa Clara station adjacent to a maintenance facility. Staff said the alignment includes about five miles of tunnel and three below‑grade stations.

Why it matters: the Federal Transit Administration pledged about $5.1 billion last year toward the project — \"the second largest award that the FTA has ever granted for a transit project,\" Mustafa said — but VTA officials told the task force the program still faces a roughly $700 million to $1.2 billion shortfall. Mustafa said the agency also recently secured $100 million from California’s SB1 program.

Cost‑savings and procurement: VTA described a three‑level cost‑savings approach. Level 1 changes (station and parking configuration adjustments) produced roughly $300 million in savings; Level 2 produced another ~$50 million. Staff said the board has directed deeper Level 3 work that examines construction methodology changes — including tunnel diameter and tunneling sequencing — and that those scenarios will be discussed with the FTA and taken to a peer review of independent tunneling agencies this summer.

The agency also told the task force that the board approved an \"off‑ramp\" from the current tunnel contractor to reprocure tunneling work in more competitive packages. Mustafa said select elements of the existing contract will continue: KST is retaining work on the West Portal launch structure, which VTA said represents roughly $400–$500 million of major construction on the critical path.

Construction details near Santa Clara: staff showed images of the West Portal work area and described a 130‑foot‑deep launch structure where a tunnel boring machine will be lowered. Work at that site includes large support walls, slurry rigs, rebar cages (one described as 90 feet tall, another up to 130 feet tall and weighing about 300,000 pounds), groundwater dewatering wells, and a noise curtain that is \"about 80% done.\" Mustafa said crews are working roughly 20–22 hours per day (Monday–Saturday) and that about 75% of truck traffic leaves the site on Newhall Drive and 25% on Brokaw.

Local design and parking: staff said a multistory parking garage originally planned near Brokaw was removed as a cost saving and replaced with an at‑grade surface lot while retaining roughly the same number of parking spaces (staff said the net number of spaces remained unchanged at about 500, a figure they said the project is environmentally cleared to provide). The change required yard redesign and design variances negotiated with BART.

Community outreach and next steps: VTA staff said they will present Level 3 cost‑saving scenarios at an August 1 workshop, at an August 14 oversight meeting that covers BART items, and to a joint VTA/BART board meeting. Mustafa said a peer review of the deeper tunneling scenarios is scheduled for August–September and that the peer review results will be shared with the board and the public. Staff also promoted a community coffee event at Newhall Park and said project newsletters and monthly construction updates are posted at vtabart.org.

Public questions and concerns: members and public commenters asked about station access, pedestrian and bicycle connections, and design standards. Director Jain (public commenter identified as ‘Suds’ in the record) asked whether an opaque overcrossing would create a security problem and whether transparent materials could be used; staff said they would follow up with additional details. Task force members pressed staff on mode‑access assumptions and on whether the maintenance‑facility and station design comply with BART’s facility standards; Mustafa said VTA must design to BART standards and seek variances where needed.

The presentation was informational; the task force did not take formal action on the project at the July 17 meeting. VTA staff said they will post the presentation online and provide follow‑up material to committee members and city staff.","VTA staff briefed the Santa Clara Station Area Task Force on construction progress, a $5.1 billion Federal Transit Administration commitment, a newly secured $100 million state SB1 allocation and continuing cost‑reduction work to close a remaining $700 million–$1.2 billion funding gap for the six‑mile Phase 2 extension.","actionData","errors"]

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Task force reviews station‑area urban design, streetscape and open‑space standards; members question tower height and rec‑center siting

VTA updates Santa Clara task force on BART Silicon Valley Phase 2; $5.1 billion federal award narrows funding gap