Kato Grade Seperation

Overview

In 2002, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) acquired eight miles of property (right of way) from the Union Pacific Railroad spanning from Grimmer Boulevard in Fremont to Montague Expressway in Milpitas. This property allows the future BART Silicon Valley Project to be built alongside the existing Union Pacific railroad tracks.

To transform this very important corridor a separation is planned for where Kato Road crosses the railroad tracks in Fremont. This separation will be created by lowering Kato Road, so that it passes beneath the current ground/street level railroad tracks. A grade separation is a physical separation of two different travel movements. In this case, the movements are freight/transit and cars/pedestrians.

Objective

VTA in partnership with the City of Fremont has a goal of reducing safety concerns at intersections where freight and auto traffic mix. This grade separation project enhances safety because it completely separates roadway traffic from freight trains and the future BART Silicon Valley system.

Benefits

• Reduces traffic and congestion at crossing
• Decreases vehicle emissions and commute times
• Removes train bells and horns at intersection
• Improves pedestrian safety and access

Projected Schedule

• Utility Relocation: Beginning Summer 2010
• Civil Construction: Winter 2010 – Winter 2012
• Partial Kato Rd. Closure: Spring 2011 – Fall 2011 (One lane each direction)
• Full Kato Rd. Closure: Winter 2011 – Summer 2012 (Approx. 6-10 months)
• End Construction: Spring 2013

Partners

VTA, City of Fremont

Map and Example

To Learn More

Informative outreach to the surrounding community is an important aspect of the Kato Grade Separation Project. VTA will provide advance notification of all construction activities and traffic update through the mail and continued website updates.

Printable Kato Grade Separation Fact Sheet

How to Reach Us?

If you would like to be added to a project mailing list, have any questions, comments/concerns, or would like to have a project representative meet with you please contact VTA-BART Community Outreach at:

Phone: 408-934-2662 
TYY: 408-321-2330 
Email: vtabart@vta.org