A Better BART for Downtown Without the Destruction
Supporting Small Businesses
Starts with Smart Construction
Any construction that includes a Cut, Kill and Cover method for the BART extension through downtown San Jose will cause major destruction. This approach involves extensive street-level excavation that will severely impact foot traffic, access, and day-to-day operations.
Cut, Kill and Cover - A threat to downtown
Digging a massive 40ft to 60ft deep trench in the middle of Santa Clara Street will result in blocked streets, rerouted traffic, loss of business, blocked entrances to stores and a likely historical loss of visitors to downtown. If history is a guide, this will lead to the death of businesses throughout downtown.
This construction method drives away foot traffic, devastates sales, and forces local businesses to close – permanently.
Why the Construction Method Matters to You
Benefits of Building Without Cut, Kill and Cover
• Minimal surface disruption.
• Construction happens deep underground.
• Most street-level activity stays intact.
• Shops stay open and accessible.
• No large-scale street closures means your customers can still reach you.
• Avoids demolition or damage to buildings and streetscapes.
• Shorter surface-level construction time.
Risks of Cut, Kill and Cover
• Blocks access for months or years.
• Streets are excavated, sidewalks closed, and traffic rerouted.
• Construction barriers discourage shoppers and diners, lowering foot traffic.
• Threatens business survival.
• Limitations on building housing downtown.
• Prolonged destruction has forced small businesses to close in other cities.
Short-Term Savings, Long-Term Business Losses
Money Spent: $76M and Ready to Ship – In 2018, VTA chose a boring machine. Now, VTA is reconsidering the Cut, Kill and Cover method to cut costs. But the real cost? Your business.
Past Cut, Kill and Cover Projects
History shows this method devastates local businesses.
- BART in 1969 caused widespread closures along their routes.
- Many businesses were forced to close due to the light rail construction in 1985-1989.
- 50 years later, Mid-Market SF still hasn’t recovered from BART’s original Cut, Kill and Cover construction.
Your Voice Matters
Santa Clara Street is not just a transit corridor—it’s the heart of downtown commerce and community life. Downtown San Jose leads in post-COVID resiliency compared to the rest of the country. Let’s keep the momentum we’ve built.
Take Action Today
BART should stick to the plan that the Board approved in 2018, the one that the boring machine was purchased to accomplish and the one their consultants paid hundreds of millions to design.
Join SJDA in urging VTA not to repeat past mistakes that harmed businesses. Speak up and show that downtown matters.
Attend key meetings:
- June 27, 9 a.m., County Board of Supervisors’ Chambers, 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose, CA 95110
- July 10, 12 p.m. (noon), VTA Conference Room B-106, 3331 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134
Email contacts to voice your opinion:
Mayor Matt Mahan: Tasha.Dean@sanjoseca.gov
David Cohen (D4): lam.Nguyen@sanjoseca.gov
Michael Mulcahy (D6): Amber.White@sanjoseca.gov
Carl Salas (D3): James1.Williams@sanjoseca.gov
Margaret Abe-Koga (D5): Marico.Sayoc@bos.sccgov.org
Betty Duong (D2): District2@bos.sccgov.org
Sergio Lopez (D2): Sergiol@campbellca.gov
Pat Burt (Palo Alto): Patrick.Burt@cityofpaloalto.org
Suds Jain (D5): Brisa.Rojas@sanjoseca.gov
San Jose Downtown Association
Gumby Marques: gumby@sjdowntown.com
