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VTA Breaks Ground on Clearing the Way for BART
| Release Number: | nr05-01 |
| Release Date: | May 02, 2009 |
Milpitas, Calif. – The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will ceremonially break ground on Phase I of its Freight Railroad Relocation (FRR) Project, Friday, May 8, 2009, 10:30 a.m., at the Lower Berryessa Creek construction site, 390 Railroad Court, Milpitas.
Planned speakers and gold shovel wielders include: Carl Guardino, President and CEO Silicon Valley Leadership Group; Sam Liccardo, VTA Board of Directors Vice Chair and City of San Jose Councilmember, District 3; Pete McHugh, Vice Mayor, City of Milpitas, Richard P. Santos, Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors, District 3; and Michael T. Burns, General Manager, VTA.
The $36 million project begins clearing VTA owned railroad right-of-way between Grimmer Boulevard in Fremont to Montague Expressway in Milpitas. This vital north/south transit corridor is the planned alignment for the future BART extension to the South Bay. Construction activities include relocating utilities and existing Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) freight rail tracks to a parallel location within the eight-mile railroad right-of-way. The future mass transit system would then be built along side the newly relocated freight line.
“Beginning these construction activities is an important milestone that clears the path for BART, while also making additional community improvements and safety enhancements for Milpitas residents,” stated VTA General Manager Michael T. Burns.
The eight-mile section also includes multiple roadway intersections and eight creek crossings. Through a partnership and contribution of $16 million from he Santa Clara Valley Water District, this first phase of the railroad relocation activities include improvements at several of the creek crossings, including culverts and a seismic retrofit of the Abel Street Bridge, enhancing local flood control measures for residents and businesses. Future work is planned at several intersections along the corridor to separate car and pedestrian traffic from freight and future mass transit trains through the construction of grade separations.
VTA acquired the railroad right-of-way, from Union Pacific Railroad in 2002, and the FRR project meets a requirement of the purchase agreement.
SVRTP Alternative
The Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Project (SVRTP) alternative would consist of a 16.1-mile extension of the BART system. Six stations are proposed: Milpitas, Berryessa, Alum Rock, Downtown San Jose, Diridon/Arena, and Santa Clara. The line would begin at the planned BART Warm Springs Station in Fremont and proceed on the former Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way through Milpitas to south of Mabury Road in San Jose. The extension would then descend into a 5.1 mile-long subway tunnel, continue through downtown San Jose, and end at ground level in Santa Clara near the Caltrain Station. A maintenance and vehicle storage yard would be at the terminus of the project in Santa Clara. The first segment of the project is proposed to Berryessa, with subsequent phases to be built. Ridership is projected to be approximately 98,750 by 2030.
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About VTA
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district that provides sustainable, accessible, community-focused transportation options that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and promote the vitality of our region. VTA is responsible for bus, light rail and paratransit operations; congestion management; specific highway improvement projects; countywide transportation planning and provides these services to cities throughout the county including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale. VTA continually builds partnerships to deliver transportation solutions that meet the evolving mobility needs of Santa ClaraCounty.
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