The pledge is the keystone of a three-way funding agreement among MTC, BART and SamTrans. The hefty infusion of local funding will allow work to continue on excavating and building the subway portion that will go from Colma to just opposite the airport.
Delays cost money.
Crews also are preparing the underground shells for the stations at South San Francisco and San Bruno. But annual allocations by Congress have fallen short of what the full-funding agreement called for, contributing to a project deficit. Escalating construction costs and rising real estate prices have exacerbated the problem. Under the agreement, BART will repay the loans as promised federal grants materialize, and as the airport line opens for business and generates an operating surplus. With this recent action, we're standing by our commitment to deliver this critical extension that will link BART to the airport and to the Caltrain commuter rail system in Millbrae.