The long-awaited BART extension into downtown San Jose may be getting built sooner than expected.

Federal transportation officials, joined by South Bay dignitaries, announced Wednesday that the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's BART extension into San Jose has been chosen for fast-track funding.

Acting Federal Transit Administrator K. Jane Williams made the announcement during a news conference at the BART Berryessa/North San Jose Station. She said Phase 2 of the Silicon Valley BART Extension has been selected as the first transit agency project in the nation to receive funding earlier than usual under a pilot program dubbed Expedited Project Delivery.

The grant will total $125 million, Williams said.

To receive funding under the pilot program, VTA must fund at least 75% of the project cost through local, state and other nonfederal contributions, including a public-private partnership, the FTA said. In turn, the FTA will expedite the review and evaluation of application materials under a streamlined review process as authorized by law.

Phase 2 will continue the 10-mile alignment VTA has constructed from Warm Springs in Fremont to Milpitas and Berryessa in North San Jose, adding six miles and four more stations in East San Jose, downtown San Jose and Santa Clara on a six-mile path that will run primarily underground, the VTA said.

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino were among those who spoke at the news conference.