Article last updated:
Friday, May 18, 2001 2:45 AM MST
Light rail extension relieves commute
By Sean R. Cabibi
STAFF WRITER
MILPITAS -- Local commuters looking to avoid the heavy traffic on
Highway 237 have a new option: light rail from Milpitas to the Great
America Station in Santa Clara.
On Thursday, the city of Milpitas celebrated the grand opening of a
new light rail extension connecting the Interstate 880/Milpitas Park &
Ride, at Tasman Drive and Alder Drive, with the Great America Station.
The light rail will now take passengers 1.9 miles out to the Tasman
West light rail, where they can connect with the Great America
Station, a major Silicon Valley hub.
"Milpitas understands its vital role in the Silicon Valley," Mayor
Henry Manayan said Thursday. "Transportation is a huge part of that."
The light rail extension is part of a $268 million project designed to
connect businesses and employees throughout Santa Clara.
For Fremont residents, the light rail offers an option to get to the
Great America Station without having to travel too far from home.
"Sure, it becomes another way to get around," said Fremont resident
Deena Mejia, 28, who works in San Jose.
Mejia said she would consider using the rail service if she found her
commute time dramatically cut by driving to Milpitas, catching the
light rail and then transferring at the Great America Station.
The light rail extension also connects to the Baypointe Transfer
Center near Tasman Drive and First Street in San Jose.
"I think overall it's another piece of what will hopefully become a
larger picture," Mejia said. "Try to connect every part of the Bay
Area with various transportation options that will work. We need to
continue in that direction because we're not getting any smaller."
______________
Sean R. Cabibi covers transportation and environment for The Argus. He
can be reached at (510) 353-7014 or[55] scabibi@angnewspapers.com.
________________________________________________________
©1999-2001 by MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
|