Milpitas, Calif. –The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is working at an aggressive pace to complete creek and flood control improvements in Fremont and Milpitas by the end of October, to make long-term community improvements associated with the preparation of the rail corridor for the planned BART Silicon Valley Project.
In partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Water District, a larger, wider, straighter channel is being constructed in the Berryessa Creek just south of the Abel Street Bridge, to remove bottlenecks in the creek that cause periodic flooding. In mid-August, concrete was poured to line the bottom and lower sides of the new creek bed. At the intersection of Kato Road and the rail corridor, flood control improvements are being executed concurrently with the new residential construction to minimize future disruptions for nearby residents. This past weekend the Scott Creek culvert was removed and replaced. This activity required close coordination and cooperation with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), who had to cease operations for 72 hours during the construction.
“The creek improvements that VTA is executing in partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Water District will be beneficial for the future BART system, but moreover, these enhancements will provide the community an immediate benefit with the anticipated El Nino year,” commented Carolyn Gonot, Chief Program Officer for the BART Project.
Additional work associated with the future BART project and supporting infrastructure includes relocating utilities along the future transit corridor and at major intersections that cross the corridor. Currently, PG&E is relocating local gas and electrical facilities at Kato Road, and telecommunications and gas lines are being relocated underneath Mission Boulevard and Warren Avenue. These utilities are being lowered to deeper depths to prepare for future grade separations at each intersection.
The future BART Silicon Valley Rail Corridor crosses major intersections in Fremont and Milpitas, including Mission Boulevard, Warren Avenue, Kato Road and Dixon Landing Road. Operational efficiencies, system safety and travel time savings for the BART system are achieved by fully grade separating BART commuter trains from all auto, truck, pedestrian and freight traffic. As a result, significant operational and safety improvements are underway or planned for these intersections.
VTA purchased the rail corridor in 2002 from UPRR. The 8-mile portion of the corridor that will be utilized for the BART Silicon Valley Project includes eight creek crossings, of which four of the smaller creek culverts will be reconstructed by the end of October.
For more information about preparing the rail corridor and the associated community enhancements, or general information regarding the BART Silicon Valley Project, please contact VTA-BART Community Outreach at (408) 934-2662, TTY for the hearing impaired (408) 321-2330, or email vtabart@vta.org.
BART to Silicon Valley
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Extension Project is an extension of the existing BART system to San Jose, Milpitas and Santa Clara. This project plans to extend the current BART system 16 miles beginning at the future 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 grade in Santa Clara near the Caltrain Station. A maintenance and vehicle storage yard would be at the terminus of the project in Santa Clara.
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 throughout the county including the cities of 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.
Rider's Links 
