City

Answered: What would you name the VTA tunnel boring machine?

From proper punny names to the downright bizarre, VTA’s tunnel boring machine is connecting more than just BART to Santa Clara.

November 21, 2023 • 
Gregg Aronica
A rendering of BART's phase 2 in downtown San Jose, featuring tunnels beneath the Lacey Bryant mural on San Carlos Street.

VTA’s rendering of Phase 2 of the project to connect downtown San Jose to Santa Clara.

Photo courtesy VTA

Table of Contents
🥁 Proper puntification
🚈 Name McNamingface
🦈 Sports-themed
Other Unique ideas

BART’s expansion into San Jose requires pretty heavy machinery. As is tradition when it comes to machines of this nature, VTA wants you to come up with a name.

While the naming contest doesn’t begin until 2024, we asked you: what would you name the tunnel boring machine? Here’s what you said:

🥁 Proper puntification

  • San Hole-sé (@bro_gus + @connor.wolf)
  • BARTbasaur (@adayinthelifeofunohoo)
  • Bore-ange Sauce (@jodyamable)
  • La Vicbore-ia (@matxalonso)
  • Mt. Umunhole (@twophonebabydeej)

🚈 Name McNamingface

  • Boring McBoringFace (@jrbinsv)
  • Barty McBartFace (@fancy.francie)
  • Tunnel McTunnelFace (@eddiethegoat2)
  • Diggy McDiggerson (@brownbat)

🦈 Sports-themed

  • Sharktransportes (@pinkthebarber)
  • Shark City Tunnel (@4o8_zachh)
  • San Jose Land Shark (@emikomasukawa)
  • The Zamboni (@joaquin_in_power)
  • The Earth Quaker (@aahn.7)

Other Unique ideas

  • The Way to San Jose (@shariskatesthriftsanddiys)
  • Holy Bartoroni (@jazzzzzzzae)
  • San Jose Molés (@vote4phildolan + @angeljesus1mtz)
  • Ohlone Tunnel (@whoisollie16)
  • Ya Digging Machine (@expressrailfanner)
  • The BARTonator (@adriantherealest1)

Do you have an idea for the machine’s moniker? Let us know.