California’s Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) began construction on the second phase of its Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) extension, a $4.7 billion dollar project.

According to reports, this phase of the project will include building five miles of subway tunnel, a ground level station, three underground stations, a maintenance facility and storage yard and two ventilation facilities.  The overall project calls for the building of 16 miles of track and will connect north San Jose to downtown Santa Clara.  Phase II will run through 2020, with the entirety of the project estimated to be complete by 2026.

The project will be paid for through a combination of grants and local taxes.  Once completed, the system will be maintained and operated by BART.