Construction has started for the West Portal at VTA's Newhall Yard & Maintenance Facilty!
Construction at VTA’s Newhall Yard and West Portal
Background and Purpose
The West Portal, located between Brokaw Road and I-880, serves as the launching point for the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) to dig the five-mile tunnel. The West Portal is located along a construction site that crosses between the City of Santa Clara and City of San José. The West Portal refers to the overall construction site where many support facilities are located as well as the specific shaft that the TBM will enter the ground.
Construction Elements On-Site
The West Portal serves as the assembly and eventual launching point for the TBM and, accordingly, the area will house many large support structures.
The site at West Portal hosts several important elements:
- During operation, the West Portal itself, also known as the TBM shaft, will also remove excavated soil out of the tunnel so that tunnel lining segments will be brought into the tunnel and installed
- The tunnel lining factory and tunnel lining storage is where tunnel lining segments will be fabricated and stored. The lining segments will be placed in the tunnel as soil is removed to create a structurally sound tube underground. One ring of the tunnel is comprised of nine segments; up to six rings per day will be installed
- The Grout Plant is also integral to the lining of the tunnel. Grout will be used to seal the tunnel lining segments in place as the TBM advances
- The Excavated Materials Bin is where the excavated soils from the tunnel will be stored until hauled offsite to be repurposed or disposed of
- A noise curtain will be constructed along the west side of the site to reduce noise from construction activities. The contractor will determine the exact length of the curtain to ensure they meet the noise mitigation requirements
Early Work Construction Activities
VTA will conduct several activities within an initial phase of preparing the site for tunneling operations called Early Work Construction, including:
- Constructing on-site access points, designated crew parking, and office space
- Excavating the portal and establishing the excavated materials bin
- Constructing and operating the facilities needed to produce the tunnel lining
- Assembling the tunnel boring machine (TBM) required to create the tunnel
What Are the Project’s Working Hours?
Construction activities at the Newhall Yard and West Portal for early work construction activities will be single shift only (6 AM to 6 PM working hours and 6 AM to 4 PM hauling hours, including Saturdays).
Working hours will increase when the excavation of the portal begins, requiring double shifted work hours and hauling hours (6 AM to 4 AM including Saturdays and lasting 22 hours per day). We expect that these 22-hour work shifts will last 15 months. After this portion of construction activities is complete, hauling shifts will return to 12 hours and on-site work hours will last 22 hours per day. The working hours for when the TBM is operational have yet to be determined.
Where Will the Dirt Go?
Excavated material removed from the tunnel is referred to as muck. The excavated material will be temporarily stored within VTA’s construction staging area and may be reused as fill material or loaded onto trucks for reuse or disposal. Muck removed during tunnel excavation will require a large number of dump trucks. As such, VTA will coordinate with the City of Santa Clara and City of San José to determine the most direct and least disruptive routes to transport the muck.
What Will the Site Be Used for in the Future?
Once the tunnel construction is complete, the project will begin construction of the Newhall Maintenance Facility and the Santa Clara BART Station. The Newhall Maintenance Facility is a key component of the Phase II extension, as it allows for end-of-line maintenance and storage of BART vehicles. Without this facility, BART trains would need to return to the East Bay at the end of service each day.
Within the Maintenance Facility there will be a BART train maintenance shop, train car wash, maintenance and engineering offices, a yard and control tower, and other support facilities. Most maintenance activities will occur inside enclosed buildings, resulting in minimal noise from trains. The operations at the yard and maintenance facility will commence with passenger service of the Project.
How did VTA prepare the Construction Transportation Management Plan (CTMP)?
In preparation for construction, VTA proactively developed a plan to outline the modifications to access and circulation in and within the station areas during construction. This plan is referred to as the Construction Transportation Management Plan (CTMP). The goal is to maintain site conditions that allow for efficient construction while minimizing impacts to the community to the extent feasible. To develop the CTMP, VTA and the Contractor engaged in regular coordination with key stakeholders including the Cities of San José and Santa Clara, PayPal Park, and adjacent businesses and developments within the construction area. Watch the video of the March 2023 Public Meeting to learn more about the CTMP and early construction at the West Portal. Future CTMPs will be drafted for the other constructions areas as more details about the construction means and methods are developed.
View public meetings regarding Early Construction Activities at VTA's Newhall Yard - Online Meeting 3/16/23
Read the West Portal Early Works CTMP and watch previous City Council meetings where it was approved:
Construction at VTA’s Newhall Yard and West Portal
Background and Purpose
The West Portal, located between Brokaw Road and I-880, serves as the launching point for the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) to dig the five-mile tunnel. The West Portal is located along a construction site that crosses between the City of Santa Clara and City of San José. The West Portal refers to the overall construction site where many support facilities are located as well as the specific shaft that the TBM will enter the ground.
Construction Elements On-Site
The West Portal serves as the assembly and eventual launching point for the TBM and, accordingly, the area will house many large support structures.
The site at West Portal hosts several important elements:
- During operation, the West Portal itself, also known as the TBM shaft, will also remove excavated soil out of the tunnel so that tunnel lining segments will be brought into the tunnel and installed
- The tunnel lining factory and tunnel lining storage is where tunnel lining segments will be fabricated and stored. The lining segments will be placed in the tunnel as soil is removed to create a structurally sound tube underground. One ring of the tunnel is comprised of nine segments; up to six rings per day will be installed
- The Grout Plant is also integral to the lining of the tunnel. Grout will be used to seal the tunnel lining segments in place as the TBM advances
- The Excavated Materials Bin is where the excavated soils from the tunnel will be stored until hauled offsite to be repurposed or disposed of
- A noise curtain will be constructed along the west side of the site to reduce noise from construction activities. The contractor will determine the exact length of the curtain to ensure they meet the noise mitigation requirements
Early Work Construction Activities
VTA will conduct several activities within an initial phase of preparing the site for tunneling operations called Early Work Construction, including:
- Constructing on-site access points, designated crew parking, and office space
- Excavating the portal and establishing the excavated materials bin
- Constructing and operating the facilities needed to produce the tunnel lining
- Assembling the tunnel boring machine (TBM) required to create the tunnel
What Are the Project’s Working Hours?
Construction activities at the Newhall Yard and West Portal for early work construction activities will be single shift only (6 AM to 6 PM working hours and 6 AM to 4 PM hauling hours, including Saturdays).
Working hours will increase when the excavation of the portal begins, requiring double shifted work hours and hauling hours (6 AM to 4 AM including Saturdays and lasting 22 hours per day). We expect that these 22-hour work shifts will last 15 months. After this portion of construction activities is complete, hauling shifts will return to 12 hours and on-site work hours will last 22 hours per day. The working hours for when the TBM is operational have yet to be determined.
Where Will the Dirt Go?
Excavated material removed from the tunnel is referred to as muck. The excavated material will be temporarily stored within VTA’s construction staging area and may be reused as fill material or loaded onto trucks for reuse or disposal. Muck removed during tunnel excavation will require a large number of dump trucks. As such, VTA will coordinate with the City of Santa Clara and City of San José to determine the most direct and least disruptive routes to transport the muck.
What Will the Site Be Used for in the Future?
Once the tunnel construction is complete, the project will begin construction of the Newhall Maintenance Facility and the Santa Clara BART Station. The Newhall Maintenance Facility is a key component of the Phase II extension, as it allows for end-of-line maintenance and storage of BART vehicles. Without this facility, BART trains would need to return to the East Bay at the end of service each day.
Within the Maintenance Facility there will be a BART train maintenance shop, train car wash, maintenance and engineering offices, a yard and control tower, and other support facilities. Most maintenance activities will occur inside enclosed buildings, resulting in minimal noise from trains. The operations at the yard and maintenance facility will commence with passenger service of the Project.
How did VTA prepare the Construction Transportation Management Plan (CTMP)?
In preparation for construction, VTA proactively developed a plan to outline the modifications to access and circulation in and within the station areas during construction. This plan is referred to as the Construction Transportation Management Plan (CTMP). The goal is to maintain site conditions that allow for efficient construction while minimizing impacts to the community to the extent feasible. To develop the CTMP, VTA and the Contractor engaged in regular coordination with key stakeholders including the Cities of San José and Santa Clara, PayPal Park, and adjacent businesses and developments within the construction area. Watch the video of the March 2023 Public Meeting to learn more about the CTMP and early construction at the West Portal. Future CTMPs will be drafted for the other constructions areas as more details about the construction means and methods are developed.
View public meetings regarding Early Construction Activities at VTA's Newhall Yard - Online Meeting 3/16/23
Read the West Portal Early Works CTMP and watch previous City Council meetings where it was approved: