March 16, 2012 > BART-to-San Jose construction to start in April BART-to-San Jose construction to start in April Submitted By AP Wire Service SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP), Mar 13 - Federal, state and local transit officials say the long-awaited construction to extend Bay Area Rapid Transit service to San Jose will begin next month. Transportation leaders on Monday signed final documents pledging $900 million in federal funds for the $2.3 billion Berryessa extension, scheduled to open in 2016. The money will fund a 10-mile BART link from Fremont to San Jose's Berryessa district. Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority CEO Michael Burns called the occasion a celebration as he signed the documents along with Federal Transit Administration deputy administrator Therese McMillan at City Hall. Groundbreaking is set for April 12. Officials are now eyeing a proposed $4 billion extension that would connect an underground link from downtown San Jose to a street level link in Santa Clara. Burns says he's optimistic as Santa Clara County voters have already approved two sales tax increases for BART.