BART will get a decade of use out of cars meant for San Jose extension on VTA’s dime

In yet another unintended consequence of the repeated delays facing San Jose’s BART extension, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is purchasing 48 rail cars for the South Bay that will run throughout the BART system and have the wear and tear of more than a decade of use before they ever travel through downtown San Jose and up to Santa Clara.

The VTA Board of Directors last week narrowly approved the $172.6 million purchase for the cars that will eventually run on the six-mile...