VTA to get state money for BART extension

The California Transportation Commission approved spending $364 million Thursday for the BART to San Jose project, funds first earmarked under then-Gov. Gray Davis but frozen during the state budget crisis following the dot-com bust.

The money is to reimburse the Valley Transportation Authority $151 million for previously completed design work on the $4.7 billion project. An additional $213 million approved Thursday will help pay for further design work on the 16-mile extension from Fremont to the South Bay, a study that could be completed by the end of next year.

The VTA has now received $409 million in state aid and hopes to get $649 million through the Transportation Congestion Relief Program put in place under Davis.