from cbs news bay area, this is the afternoon edition. >> a section of b.a.r.t. in the south bay is way over budget and bar behind schedule. >> it has been a major plan in this bay area for over 40 years. we are about to start digging. >> i think it is good planning, bad execution. >> today, we look at the delays, the rapid rise of the cost, and the hopes it will not become derailed. >> thanks for joining us. i am ryan yamamoto. we look at a part of the bay area that next w

getting started. we are drilling down into the headlights. heavy black smoke scoring into the sky this afternoon. our fire crews are battling the blaze on east 14th street. you can see two trucks trying to knock down those flames from high above the entire roof of the building which they collapse on the possible cause of that fire. no reports of any injuries. happening right now, the u.s. secret service giving the latest details on the security after the apec conference. they discussed the impact it will have on businesses. san francisco zoo and plaza separately back open after getting a two month facelift part of the city installed a skate park, a new workout area,

along with tables for chess, ping-pong, and even foosball. these changes will prevent the plasma from going back to an open drug market which had been keeping visitors away. we are sitting up in the upper 60s and lower 70s. it is a mild day for us today. we kicked off with some rain and we are seeing throughout the bay area as we head into the afternoon. the more in the end we go and the more north, we are going to continue to see 70s until this afternoon's forecast. well, all this week we are digging into the issues that b.a.r.t. is facing, including the continuation of the line in silicon valley. the authority

is spending $76 million for this tunnel machine tube the last five miles from north san jose through downtown, and all the way to santa clara. but with the declining ridership in lost revenue, a lot of people are wondering of this pricey project is actually worth it. our devin fehely takes a look. >> i do like the convenience factor of the train. meaning i am able to get to point a to point b without driving. >> reporter: he worked in the south bay, commuting three days a week on b.a.r.t. >> me, personally, i always wanted to work in san francisco and b.a.r.t. really give me the opportunity for transportation. >> reporter: writing b.a.r.t., he says, saves him time, steer some well clear of the headache of traffic and clears him of the expense of owning a car at all. >> leaving the apartment to

walk into the office is pretty much about an hour and 10 or hour and 15, which really is not so bad when you consider cars. >> reporter: but austin's experience is more the exception than the role. according to the valley transportation authority was paid for and built the extension into santa clara valley, the pre-ridership was a estimated 3000 people. using the bay area and stations on day one, in september of this year the stations had a combined average daily ridership a roughly 2300. the original estimate, off by nearly 90%. >> i am still supportive but i am very disappointed. >> reporter: johnny khamis is a member of the valley transportation authority board of directors. it has now arrived in santa clara county. the reality is it is woefully underutilized. and to

understand why, we may need to turn back the clock a bit. >> i feel very much exhilarated about today. >> reporter: santa clara county was not on the guest list for the b.a.r.t. opening day celebration in 1972. having the belatedly joined the party and it quite a cost. $2.3 billion to extend into san jose. >> we have to plan for the future. the future of san jose is more business and more housing in the downtown. that is where the station is planned to go. so i think it is good planning, bad execution. >> reporter: billion

and be completed in 2026. but the price ballooned. $9 billion. then to $9.1 billion. now to a whopping $1.2 billion and it is going to take longer, 10 years longer and projected to open sometime in 2036, but curling up general manager says it would be a mistake to let cost overruns and delays derail the project. >> this project is a multigenerational long-term project. how much is too much? we don't know. it is never going to be cheaper than it is now. it has been just over 40 years and we are about to start digging. so i don't want to hold it up any longer. >> reporter: working in the world of tech and finance, austin klapman says he

understands the concerns about a project that is behind schedule and over budget. but when it comes to better, more-connected transportation, he is completely onboard. >> i used to be in chicago. i find the transportation in the bay area light years ahead of chicago in terms of safety measures and accessibility. >> reporter: the bally transportation authority hoping the project much delayed is not ultimately become a project derailed. and still ahead, one of the high-profile supporters of b.a.r.t. into the south bay explains why she says despite the delays and the costs, it is worth it. plus -- >> b.a.r.t. used to be fun but b.a.r.t. now has become an ordeal. >> and we had

brink takes us to where the extension is moving forward. to dig from north san jose into downtown and then into santa clara starting in 2025. but critics say the design is running to the skyrocketing price. joining me now pta

board member cindy chavez. you say this is a significant next step bridging people in silicon valley. but what you say to the critics who are questioning that cost? >> i think i heard carolyn earlier talk about the cost of this program. let's remember. it is a six mile extension that will include four new stations. and the majority of that will be below grade. and that is exactly what we want so it protects the health and vitality of san jose. >> is there a cheaper way to do this? i do not know what the going price of a boring machine is today but $76 million sounds like a lot of money. >> we want to make sure this is done very efficiently, very safely, and very effectively.

and this meets that criteria. >> according to vta, the project and was but the latest numbers to show in september the station combined only had 2300 writers. so why is no one using30in your area? >> i think, one, it is new. we opened during the pandemic. and getting people to acclimate for it and make sure it is safe and it is frequent, we think is a great asset and we know we have to educate people about using their cars again. remember that every single system that was really robust with stately riders, including the entire b.a.r.t. alignment and also even cal,which is another board i sit on, is really focusing on

getting those office workers were starting to come back to work out of the habit of being in their cars and back in the habit of being in public transportation. and for anybody who is listening to this or has had this experience, whatever the pre-pandemic ridership is on b.a.r.t. or caltrain, the pre-pandemic traffic is backed. and i am hopeful that will get people going back on public transportation. >> no question. those earlier numbers were pre-pandemic. but it is still only 90% of pre-pandemic. how do you get those riders to hop back on those trains? >> we have to let people know it is frequent, it is clean, and it is safe, and we will continue to do that. >> this is just a personal question. i know that new extension will go to the airport. why not just go to levi's stadium? as a niners fan, i have to ask that

question. >> from b.a.r.t. and all the way into the santa clara area will do is with the caltrain connection, we will finally have a ring around the bay. while that may mean a mode shift to you, it will be a ring around the bay and that is very, very important. to all of us as we think about climate change and traffic in the future, having as many modes of transportation to get people safely around our community is going to be critical to maintaining the health and quality of life in this region. >> santa clara county supervisor cindy chavez, thank you for speaking with us. >> my pleasure. >> it is the end at dublin leaving livermore out. allies juliette goodrich reports, the valley is coming up with its own solution that could be a win for commuters.

>> reporter: let's take a ride back five years to 2018. our lead story, b.a.r.t. to livermore. >> should trains run all the way to livermore? waiting on a key decision tonight. >> reporter: a proposed b.a.r.t. extension that would run along 580 to a new station near livermore. at the time, marshawn. >> we had been working to bring five miles of b.a.r.t. for 40 years. it is time. >> reporter: but it wasn't time. they voted against a b.a.r.t. to livermore extension. today, five years later -- >> b.a.r.t. is a train wreck. >> reporter: we talked to the mayor just after he rode b.a.r.t. to and alameda county commission meeting. >> there is a guy smoking crack

on monday. this is a guy smoking crack. >> reporter: he would like to see more public transit options but joins other residents in saying that b.a.r.t. is not the best option for them. >> what is the last time you talk b.a.r.t.? >> i would use it if i felt like it was a viable option. that it was safer. >> people no longer think of b.a.r.t. as safe. it used to be fun. but it has now become an ordeal. >> the driving in heavy traffic is also an ordeal. >> reporter: there is always traffic and trucks driving along this route and no public transit. once you pass the dublin station. >> one of the saving graces for

b.a.r.t. may be that it is another project that i am working on. and that is valley link. >> reporter: valley link is a trail adding stops along the way. 580 and livermore. the tryvalley san joaquin regional rail authority is leading the effort. >> is this a go? >> we are full speed ahead in the environmental engineering phase. >> reporter: how far down the tracks are we so like a ebart -. that in essence would bring their fair revenues backup because we are bringing the

customer to the front gate. >> reporter: mayor marshawn believes it is just the link they need. >> hydrogen powertrain. zero pollution. carrying thousands of people to connect with b.a.r.t. as i said, that is going to be b.a.r.t.'s saving grace. >> we know that b.a.r.t. will have some new leadership. she will not run for re-election. she says she made the decision to spend time with her family. she and her wife welcomed a baby back in 2019. in a series of tweets, she is happy she ran for re-election in 2020, help the agency navigate at risk.

the bay area events calendar. brought to you by broadway san jose. >> salute bay area veterans at the uss space museum in alameda on saturday along with a reef toss to honor those who have serve. this marks the 80th anniversary of its commissioning and 20th anniversary of its mission as a museum. and treat your taste buds to the chinatown night market. two sacramento streets will be packed with delicious food, performers, and fun celebrating the rich culture of the community from 5:00 to 9:00 on saturday. and on sale now, "mean girls ," the hilarious

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well, it has been more than two decades. it is an indispensable service for many travelers trying to catch a flight. but for one peninsula mayor, it is also causing problems. here is a look at the trade-offs. >> even people who do not need b.a.r.t. for commuting needed to get to sfo or the oakland airport. but the yellow lines both include stops at sfo. passengers get dropped off right at the international terminal of the airport. even people who do not live in areas that are serviced by b.a.r.t. see it as a transfer point. that means people as far away as gilroy can actually take public transit all the way to sfo. >> i use it pretty frequently. not when i am on a time crunch because it takes a little bit

longer but i try to use it when i can. i use it when i am going to the city or the mission and to go to restaurants and parts of the city that caltrain cannot access. >> on the other hand, after seeing the first part of our special b.a.r.t. series , the mayor emailed us saying that the end of the line is making the city less safe. when the trains sweep on house people on the end of their line, they end up staying and milk road. all three transportation agencies get huge public subsidies but expect my city with no financial support to deal with the problems they create by not maintaining safe ridership. now, the mayor also told us that the station is so unsafe that even firefighters need police escorts when they respond to calls there. >> thanks. we urge you to continue to share your b.a.r.t. experiences with us. email

them to newsdesk@kpix.com. they will hold what they call a safe and clean plan listening tour. the first one is this thursday at 7:45 a.m. they will also be at the embarcadero and pleasant hills stations next week. it will visit various rig back. >> part is a train wreck. there is a guy smoking crack on my car. >> what is the last time you rode b.a.r.t.? >> people no longer think of b.a.r.t. as safe. >> it has lost about 60% of its average daily riders. >> how did b.a.r.t. go off the tracks

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coming up tonight here on the cbs evening news, i wrap up on a major election night. we have the analysis about the big winds across the country including for democrats and abortion rights supporters. what it all signals for 2024. that a more here on the cbs evening news. >> all week we have been hearing from viewers on the state of b.a.r.t. while some of

you seem ready to write that transit system off, have you ever stopped to really think about what the bay area would look like without b.a.r.t.? >> it would really erode our overall quality of life here. >> i would say my life would be slower. it would be more expensive. >> well, b.a.r.t. is not going away but what if it did? we take a look at that scenario. that will happen tonight at 11:00. thank you for joining us for our week-long series b.a.r.t. on the brink. more streaming on cbs news bay area and you can find all of our stories on kpix.com. cbs evening news is next and i will see you back here at 5:00 p.m. ♪ ♪ >> norah: tonight, breaking news. the u.s. military carries out air strikes in syria. planes targeting a storage site targeted by iranian-ba