Senator Cortese’s Statement on Funding for South Bay Transit Projects

Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) issued the following statement in response to the California Supreme Court’s recent decision that opens up nearly $5 billion in funding for transit projects across the Bay Area. Senator Cortese was a member and former Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and served on the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors where he pushed to secure funding for the BART expansion into San Jose and for VTA’s light rail service to Eastridge.

“With a unanimous decision from our California Supreme Court, San Jose and our region has an incredible opportunity to accelerate the implementation of our priority transit projects, including including $130 million for the the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Project, $100 million in funding for Diridon Station and $375 million for the Silicon Valley BART extension. When we shaped the expenditure plan for VTA’s Regional Measure 3, we pushed forward an ambitous, coordinated plan to reduce congestion and increase transportation options across the Bay, and I’m hopeful, with this funding no longer tied up, we can immediately advance this effort that was overwhelmingly approved by our voters.”

For more information, contact Tara Sreekrishnan, Office of Senator Dave Cortese at 408 480 7833 or tara.sreekrishnan@sen.ca.gov.