Freight Railroad Relocation Project
General Notice - Weekend and Night Work - Sept. 11, 2009
Construction Notice - PG&E Utility Relocation Work - Aug. 31 - Sept. 28, 2009
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) acquired the right-of-way in December 2002 from the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) securing a vital north/south transit corridor for Santa Clara County.
The Freight Railroad Relocation (FRR) Project spans approximately eight miles of railroad from Fremont to Milpitas and included eight creek crossing plus multiple intersecting road. The purpose of the FRR project is to relocate existing freight rail tracks to a parallel location within the railroad right-of-way and facilitate key maintenance activities. This project will help secure vital space for a future mass transit system to be built alongside the existing railroad tracks. The project will also depress and lower Warren Avenue and Kato Road beneath the railroad tracks to help ease congestion, enhance safety and improve local traffic circulation in Fremont and Milpitas.
Several maintenance activities are necessary to transform this very important corridor and make space for future transit. These important works activities include relocating UPRR freight tracks, relocating utilities, grade separating several major intersections, and enhancing flood control measures at multiple creeks.
Berryessa Creek and Track Improvements
New creek enhancements will minimize the risk of flooding to surrounding neighborhoods.
VTA is relocating Union Pacific Railroad tracks west within the Freight Railroad Relocation (FRR) Project corridor. VTA’s contractor has begun preparing an area surrounding Berryessa Creek and Abel St. Bridge for construction activities. To begin work at Berryessa Creek, the contractor has prepared a new track base to move railroad operations. This temporary diversion track base will allow existing railroad operations to maintain current service while providing space for the contractor to begin demolition of the existing creek structure and bridges.
Current Construction Activities
Time: Monday – Saturday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Location: Milpitas, south of Abel St. Bridge
Duration:Over two periods, the first beginning in May/June 2009 and ending October 2009. The second, beginning in April 2010 and ending in September 2010.
Impacts:Construction work will include the deconstruction and removal of the current creek channel and railroad bridges. Excavation equipment noise will occur in the area surrounding the new creek channel. Construction trucks hauling equipment and material will follow approved city haul routes. Expect minor diesel engine noise from
truck traffic.
Upcoming Construction Activities
The deconstruction of the Berryessa Creek channel is scheduled to begin early this summer. A larger, wider and straighter channel will be constructed to remove the current bottlenecks in the creek that cause it to periodically flood. This improvement will be built to a 100-year storm standard, minimizing the risk of flooding to surrounding neighborhoods. The new channel will cross both the Union Pacific Railroad and VTA right-of-way. During construction, the creek will be dammed and water will be pumped around the construction activities allowing the creek to continue flowing.
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Utility Relocation (July 2008 – October 2009):
Relocate existing utilities along the FRR alignment to lower depths using Horizontal Directional Drilling methods and conventional trenching.
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Flood Control and Bridge Construction (April 2009 – November 2010):
Six culverts and two bridges will be constructed during the 2009 dry season. These culverts are either a channel or tunnel that direct water underneath the railroad track. A larger, enhanced culvert will be installed at Berryessa Creek.
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Track Roadbed and General Construction Activities (February 2009 – December 2011):
VTA and its contractors will begin to construct newly relocated trackbed next to the current railroad track. This work will involve the importation of a large quantity of soil and crushed rock. Track roadbed will be built in various phases throughout the course of the Freight Railroad Relocation Project.
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Track Installation and Signal Work (July 2009 – May 2012):
Upon completion of the tracked installation, UPRR will install new railroad track and signal work to support freight operations along the corridor.
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New Railroad Bridge at Mission Blvd. (April 2010 – March 2011)
A new, longer UPRR railroad bridge will be built over Mission Blvd. to allow the widening of the road and the construction of new access ramps to Kato Rd. The new UPRR bridge will be constructed adjacent to the existing one, which will eventually be abandoned and removed.
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Kato Grade Separation (April 2010 - March 2011):
Kato Rd. access will be closed and depressed under existing railroad tracks. A single railroad bridge will be constructed.
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Warren Avenue Grade Separation (July 2011 – October 2013):
Warren Avenue will eventually be grade separated and depressed under and newly constructed single railroad bridge. This work will occur in multiple phases to allow for the continued operation of the railroad.
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Railroad Abandonment (Summer 2012):
After all railroad operations are proceeding as normal, the old railroad will be officially abandoned and removed to clear the corridor for future transit.
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Horizontal Directional Drilling:
VTA will implement horizontal directional boring technology to install relocated utilities at select road intersections and creek crossings. Directional drilling is a proven technology that creates less traffic congestion, saves time, and is safer for the environment because it does not disturb the above ground surface. Traditional trenching methods are more disruptive to the public and will be used sparingly.
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Grade Separations: Kato and Warren
VTA, in partnership with City of Fremont , plans to construct grade separations where both Warren Ave. and Kato Rd. cross the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. A grade separation is a structure that separates two different traffic movements, in this case the railroad auto/pedestrian traffic. A grade separation is safer for autos and pedestrians because it removes the potential conflicts between the two movements. With over $19 million dollars of funding provided by the California Transportation Commission, project design and engineering commenced in August 2008. Each project will reduce local traffic congestion currently caused by freight train movements across the roadway and remove noise from crossing arms and train whistles. At the end of construction, both Warren Ave. and Kato Rd. will be lowered to allow cars to pass underneath the railroad tracks above. Preliminary utility relocation work at Kato Rd. will begin in the fall of 2009.
If you have any question concerning the Freight Railroad Relocation Project, please call VTA's Community Outreach Hotline at (408) 934-2662, hearing-impaired (TTY only) (408) 321-2330 or email us at community.outreach@vta.org
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