The latest BART Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigation examined BART’s oversight, governance, and communication practices related to the BART Silicon Valley Phase II (BSVII) project, following allegations concerning BART’s acceptance of a single-bore tunnel design proposed by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA).

The OIG determined that BART ultimately agreed to move forward with a modified single-bore tunnel concept that addresses the District’s safety and operational concerns. While BART’s safety standards and approval authority are formally established through the Comprehensive Agreement and the Design Criteria Manual, the investigation identified gaps in transparency and communication that have contributed to public uncertainty about the project’s evolution.

Specifically, the investigation highlights:

• Limited and inconsistent public and Board-level discussions in recent years
• Overlapping meeting schedules that constrain BART participation in key oversight forums
• The need for clearer communication regarding BART’s ongoing role in approving safety- and operations-related design elements

The OIG did not evaluate the technical merits of the single-bore design or compare it to a twin-bore alternative. Instead, the investigation focused on oversight, documentation, and transparency.

To strengthen governance and public transparency, the OIG recommends that BART provide detailed, recurring public presentations to the BART Board of Directors on the status of the BSVII project, including design review progress, safety and standards-compliance issues, and construction status. BART management agreed with the recommendation and outlined planned actions to improve reporting and coordination.

We encourage you to review the summary video and full report for detailed insights.

Transparency & Communication Gaps in the BSVII Project 

Thank you for your continued interest in our work. For access to all BART Office of the Inspector General reports, please visit our website at www.bart.gov/oig.

Sincerely,

Claudette Biemeret
Inspector General
Email: InspectorGeneral@bart.gov
Phone: 510-464-6141