Transit Agency Pushes to Condemn Homes and Businesses Now to Possibly Provide Service in 2034

Marc JoffeA northern California transit agency has voted to use its power of eminent domain to displace three San Jose small businesses and eight residential tenants to build a new subway that is not expected to begin operations until 2034.The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is planning a six ‐​mile extension to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system from North San Jose through the city’s downtown and to neighboring Santa Clara. As I discussed ina recent op ‐​ed, the proposed $9.3 billion project is unlikely to attract sufficient new transit ridership to justify its high cost.The proposed subway would be built deep underground to minimize disruption along East Santa Clara Street, downtown San Jose ’s major east‐​west thoroughfare. But the planned destruction of a mixed ‐​use building housing the residents and businesses shows that even a deep subway will adversely impact the community. According to VTA, the building must be removed to provide egress from and ventilation to the future Downtown San Jose subway station.Among the businesses that will be forced to close is Mexico Bakery, a minority ‐​owned business thatemploys ten people and has been serving the community for almost two decades. Also facing closure areEnso Nightclub and3rd& Bourbon, a new lounge and restaurant.According to VTA staff, the building needs to be removed by early 2024 to avoid impacting its construction schedul...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs