Who is to blame for BART’s slow construction to San Jose?

Q

Mr. Roadshow, is there a plausible explanation for VTA being involved with the construction and operations of BART in Santa Clara County? This doesn’t happen in other counties — San Francisco, Contra Costa or Alameda — so why in Santa Clara County?

Is it because we need another layer of bureaucracy to gum up the works?

We, the taxpayers, have spent billions to bring a few miles of BART track from Warm Springs to Berryessa and it is years behind schedule.

VTA does not have its finger in other rail operations — Caltrain, ACE or Amtrak — so what political nonsense got VTA on the BART train?

If VTA did a good job with its light rail (worst system in the country), I could understand them pitching in to help.

In the old railroad days, this was called “featherbedding.” — John Mitchell, San Jose

A

Money. Those other extensions were mostly approved by regional, rather than county transportation leaders who put it on the ballot.

Santa Clara County placed four measures on the ballot over nearly 20 years ago to build the Fremont to Santa Clara BART extension. A big chunk of the total cost of this extension is coming from Santa Clara County taxpayers.

Q

Time to poll your readers, Gary. How many think BART will be transporting passengers to downtown San Jose by 2030, and how many think not? I get to vote first: NOPE! — Tom Darb, San Jose

A

Many, including me, hope you are wrong.

Q

In the Mercury News you said that building BART is more difficult than building the new Warriors arena.

I find it interesting that the BART general manager, Robert Powers, has no idea when the Fremont to San Jose BART operation will start.

But currently, BART has 1,000 problems slowing down the process.

Then I read that he wants $100 billion to build an additional cross-bay tube.

Gary, if BART cannot manage an extension from Fremont to San Jose on time and on budget, if they got $100 billion, I can see an operational start date of 2045, that is unless they use used parts.

Who is providing the oversight to Mr. Powers?

Whoever it is, in my opinion, has not done their job! — Dave Bunger

A

A flurry of Steph Curry three-pointers should end your negativity, but I do get your point.

Join Gary Richards for an hourlong chat at noon Wednesday at www.mercurynews.com/live- chats. Follow Gary at Twitter.com/mrroadshow, look for him at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-920- 5335.