When this project is complete, VTA riders will be able to board light rail at the Eastridge Station, and connect directly with BART at the Milpitas Station.
To better reflect VTA’s diverse transportation services provided to the growing Santa Clara County, the Capitol Expressway Light Rail Project has been renamed Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Project-Capitol Expressway Light Rail Project.
This project will extend light rail from the existing Alum Rock Light Rail Station to the Eastridge Transit Center with elevated structures at Capitol Avenue, Story Road, and Tully Road. The...
When this project is complete, VTA riders will be able to board light rail at the Eastridge Station, and connect directly with BART at the Milpitas Station.
To better reflect VTA’s diverse transportation services provided to the growing Santa Clara County, the Capitol Expressway Light Rail Project has been renamed Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Project-Capitol Expressway Light Rail Project.
This project will extend light rail from the existing Alum Rock Light Rail Station to the Eastridge Transit Center with elevated structures at Capitol Avenue, Story Road, and Tully Road. The Eastridge extension will include light rail stations at Story Road and at the Eastridge Transit Center.
Background
Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Project is the last portion of the larger Capitol Expressway Transit Improvement Project that transforms Capitol Expressway into a multi-modal boulevard offering bus rapid transit (BRT), light rail transit, and safe connections to the regional transit system.
VTA first addressed pedestrian access and improved safety measures along the expressway between Quimby Road and Capitol Avenue. This was completed in Fall 2012 and included new sidewalks, street lighting, and a landscaping buffer. Next was the reconstruction of the Eastridge Transit Center which was completed in 2015.
Project Status
In June 2016 VTA Board of Directors approved funding to complete design, acquire right of way and relocate utilities. Construction is dependent on the Board of Director's approval of the funding/financing plan.
The first visible field work is starting, although construction is not expected to begin until late 2020. Geotechnical data is required at thirty-two locations to further develop design plans for the project’s two stations and elevated tracks. Activities will begin on or about May 6 and last up to two weeks. Please select Notice of Construction for further details.
Environmental Documents
The environmental phase of the project was completed in Summer 2019. After the approval of the Final Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Report in June 2019, VTA is proposing changes to the Project as a result of advances in engineering and updated electrical designs from PG&E. These changes are summarized below:
- Design Change #1 - Maintain an existing second left-turn lane on northbound Capitol Expressway at Ocala Avenue.
- Design Change #2 - Add a supplemental feeder system and increase the size of two new traction power substations.
- Design Change #3 - Modify PG&E electrical distribution service for two new traction power substations.
- Design Change #4 - Provide in-lieu funds instead of replacing trees removed as part of the Project.
- Design Change #5 - Include parking canopies with a solar panel system at Eastridge Park & Ride lot.
Summarized in the 2020 Second Addendum to the Final Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Report, none of these changes are anticipated to have any new significant impacts or an increase in severity of previously identified impacts.
Previous Environmental Documents
Addendum to Environmental Documents
2019 Final Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Report
2018 Draft Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Report
2014 Final Subsequent Mitigated Negative Declaration
2012 Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement
2012 Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report
2009-2011 Misc. Environmental Document
2010 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (Categorical Exclusion)
Stakeholder Working Group
A Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) has been created. Each SWG member was nominated by the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Policy Advisory Board to represent the unique constituencies that live, work, and play along the project alignment. Their role is to disseminate information to the stakeholders near the project area and to give feedback to the project team.
The Stakeholder Working Group will meet quarterly. The first meeting was held on August 27, 2020, 6:30 pm. Due the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting was held via Zoom Webinar. This first meeting was a Project Orientation Meeting. These meetings are open to the public. Meeting log-in information will be posted a minimum of 2 weeks before the scheduled meeting.
Verbal public comment will be accepted through the video and teleconference meeting. (Please note that technology limitations may limit the ability to receive verbal public comments during the meeting.)
Upcoming Meetings
November 19, 2020, 6:30 p.m.
Stakeholder Working Group Presentations
August 27, 2020: Orientation Meeting slides (includes the agenda)
Video of the meeting is available via SCVTA/Youtube.
Timeline
Title
Preliminary Engineering
Phase Date Range
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Title
Design and Engineering
Phase Date Range
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Title
Environmental Clearance
Phase Date Range
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California Environmental Quality Act Final Environmental Impact Report, dated April 2005 is approved for the Capitol Expressway Light Rail project with an alignment from Alum Rock to Neiman Blvd. in two phases. First phase extends light rail to Eastridge. Second phase to Nieman. Scope includes:
- Elevated tracks from Alum Rock to south of Story Road
- At-grade through Ocala and Cunningham
- Tunnel under Tully Road
- New stations at Story, Ocala/Cunningham, and Eastridge
- Story Road pedestrian overcrossing at all four corners of the intersection to the elevated station
- Kiss and ride lot on the southeast corner of Story Road
- Station located between Ocala and Cunningham
- Pedestrian facilities along Capitol Expressway (new sidewalks, lighting, landscaping)
- Transit Center at Eastridge
- Original draft study evaluated an alignment between the Alum Rock Station and SR 87
California Environmental Quality Act Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report, dated April 2007.
Changes are the result of preliminary engineering and include:
- Elimination of the Nieman extension
- Change from tunnel to elevated alignment at Tully Road
- Elimination of 2 of the 4 pedestrian overcrossings at Story Road
- Elimination of the kiss and ride lot at Story Road
- Move station between Ocala and Cunningham closer to Ocala
- Modify electrical transmission towers relocation (PG&E towers)
Phase 1 to include pedestrian and street improvements, followed by the new Eastridge Transit Center.
Phase 2 to complete the light rail extension to Eastridge Transit Center.
Funds to be used for pedestrian and bus improvements, and utility relocation.
California Environmental Quality Act Revised Addendum to the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report.
Approves the phasing (Phase 1) of the Pedestrian and Bus Improvements as Phase 1a and Phase 1b.
Staff completes Federal Categorical Exclusion (National Environmental Policy Act, Categorical Exclusion) that makes the Eastridge Transit Center Improvements eligible for federal funding.
Title
Construction
Phase Date Range
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Title
Construction
Phase Date Range
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Phase 1b is to rebuild a new Eastridge Transit Center. Construction is expected to be complete in spring, 2015.
Community, Elected Officials, and VTA staff celebrate the groundbreaking construction of the new Eastridge Transit Center.
Including $24 M for transit center property and transfer of $18 M of available budget from Caltrain Capacity Improvement to this project.
California Environmental Quality Act, dated February 2014. This action removes the Ocala light rail station, eliminates the sidewalk widening between Foxdale Drive and Ocala Avenue, (and resulting property acquisition), and expands Eastridge parking. This was based on environmental review from FTA while VTA was preparing a Federal EIS in order to be eligible for federal funding.
Note: VTA decided to suspend the NEPA process in late 2017 due to lack of federal funding available for this project.
Community, local officials, and VTA staff celebrate the completion and opening of the new Eastridge Transit Center.
Title
Design and Engineering
Phase Date Range
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Engineering contract approved with BKF Engineers for preparation of construction documents for the light rail extension to Eastridge.
Updates to roadway geometry and light rail alignment are to improve the project and mitigate community impacts.
Eastridge to BART Policy Advisory Board recommends approval of staff recommended geometry and light rail alignment changes for VTA Board of Directors action in May 2018. Specifically, the VTA Board will be asked to approve two items:
1. Staff to perform the environmental analysis of the light rail project using California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) criteria, and the staff recommended geometry and vertical light rail alignment.
2. Funding strategy that uses a combination of SB-1 funds and projected savings from other Measure A projects to fund the increased cost resulting from the proposed changes. if the environmental document update and the project changes are approved by the Board at the completion of the environmental analysis.
Project changes to be evaluated in Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report
- Extension of elevated structure between Story Road and Tully Road
- Roadway design changes
- Modification to Story Road Pedestrian Overcrossing and Median Access
- Modification to Eastridge Station and Park-and-Ride-Lot
The Draft Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Report was released for public review and 45 day comment period.
A Public Meeting was held on October 22.
Comments are due by November 19.
The FINAL Second Addendum to the Final Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (Final SEIR-2) for the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector-Capitol Expressway Light Rail Project (EBRC-CELR) evaluates design changes that have occurred since the Final SEIR-2 was approved in June 2019. VTA is proposing changes to the Project as a result of advances in design and engineering, and updated electrical designs from PG&E. None of these changes are anticipated to have any new significant impacts or an increase in severity of previously identified impacts.
The purpose of today's industry review is for VTA to share an overview of the EBRC project and solicit comments, suggestions, and questions from the contractor community to allow VTA to validate the proposed design approach. The webinar was recorded and will be available July 31. The presentation is available - Industry Review Presentation
A Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) has been created. Each SWG member was nominated by the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Policy Advisory Board to represent the unique constituencies that live, work, and play along the project alignment. Their role is to disseminate information to the stakeholders near the project area and to give feedback to the project team. For more information, select SWG Orientation Meeting.