Picture downtown San Jose with a gaping open trench along Santa Clara Street, eliminating the entire road, sidewalks and storefronts for years. That’s what the double-bore “cut-and-cover” method would do. San Francisco took this approach on Market Street in the 1970s and, even 50 years later, it has never fully recovered. Shops are shuttered, foot traffic is minimal and the area struggles with crime. We cannot allow this to happen in San Jose.
As a downtown business owner and the CEO of the downtown association, we know how essential the BART extension is for our city’s future. It will connect us to the Bay Area, enhance transit and spur economic growth. However, how we bring BART downtown matters as much as getting it here.
That’s why officials chose the single-bore solution, which tunnels underground with minimal surface disruption. Yet, some want to reopen the debate and consider the double-bore cut-and-cover approach. This would tear up Santa Clara Street for years, devastating businesses and pushing away residents and investors. Lessons from San Francisco’s Market Street disaster make it clear we must avoid this path.
Post-COVID, our city is at a critical juncture. Downtown San Jose is in the midst of recovery efforts, with small businesses regaining footing and the city attracting new investment. Tearing up Santa Clara Street would be a blow from which our downtown might never recover. Prolonged construction would drive away customers, force businesses to close and scare off investors.
In contrast, the single-bore method minimizes street-level disruption. While there would be some construction impacts, they would be far less damaging. Santa Clara Street could remain open, businesses could keep operating and we would not lose the progress we’ve made in attracting people back downtown, including a $1M investment to make Santa Clara Street more attractive. The choice is clear: Single bore is the best solution for bringing BART downtown without sacrificing the heart of our city.
Critics argue that single bore is too expensive, suggesting double bore could save money. However, switching now would require a significant redesign, triggering delays to the project that would add to the construction costs. The VTA has said in public meetings that consultant costs are running at $30 million per month, so the cost of delay would be significant. We worry the delay could also jeopardize the $5.1 billion in federal funding. Any potential savings from double bore would be wiped out by the financial burden of this delay, making it impractical.
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Let’s stay the course. Since 2016, officials studied and selected single bore, receiving federal environmental clearance. This option was chosen for minimizing street-level disruption and avoiding extensive utility relocations. It complies with rigorous safety standards set by the National Fire Protection Association, just like all modern transit systems in the United States. The single bore approach has been used successfully in other projects worldwide, proving a solid choice for dense urban areas like downtown San Jose. VTA’s work on refining this design has ensured it is feasible, safe and reliable.
We need BART in downtown San Jose — no one is questioning that. But we must ensure that its arrival strengthens our city rather than crippling it. San Francisco’s Market Street is a cautionary tale we cannot afford to ignore. Our downtown’s future is at stake. Single bore is the only choice that allows us to have both a modern transit system and a thriving downtown.
Alex Stettenski is chief executive officer of the San Jose Downtown Association. Dan Phan owns Paper Plane bar in downtown San Jose.