Article last updated:
Friday, May 18, 2001 2:45 AM MST
Fremont critical link in transit corridor
BART extension is key to the puzzle
By Sean R. Cabibi
STAFF WRITER
FREMONT -- Santa Clara County's transportation and congestion relief
plans will involve Fremont. But how Fremont will be involved is the
question.
Wednesday evening, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
held a public meeting in Fremont to gather ideas and discuss how to
shape transportation improvements through the Silicon Valley Rapid
Transit Corridor, one of the Bay Area's most congested commutes.
The corridor stretches 20 miles from the Decoto Road/Mission Boulevard
area down to the Tully Road/Monterey Highway area in San Jose.
"This is to allow everyone to have input on the Major Investment
Study, which needs to be completed so we can get federal funding for
the project," said Lisa Ives, VTA principal transportation manager.
The investment study requires all transportation options, such as
express bus service, light rail, commuter train or BART-type heavy
rail, to be studied to determine which form will be the most effective
and feasible transportation option, VTA officials said.
But the VTA's plans hinge on BART extending its service from the end
of the line in Fremont, near Paseo Padre Parkway and Mowry Avenue, to
the Warm Springs district.
"We are working on the premise that Alameda County and BART will come
through with the extension plans," VTA spokeswoman Anne-Catherine
Vinickas said.
The VTA's plans could be changed and the project completed with
alternative solutions to the gap if the BART extension does not
materialize, Vinickas said.
"We would continue and take another look at options if the BART
extension were to fail," she said.Fremont extension
Current plans by BART have an extension from the Fremont BART station
that would stretch under Lake Elizabeth and connect with the Union
Pacific railroad line heading south through the Irvington district and
into Warm Springs, where a transfer center would be built.
BART is preparing to conduct a supplemental environmental impact
report, updating an EIR completed in 1992 on the proposed extension.
The supplemental EIR is scheduled to be completed by fall 2002 and
construction could be complete within five years if the report is
favorable. BART has roughly half the funding needed to build the
extension.
The VTA's study is scheduled to take nine months to complete before a
preferred transportation option is selected, known as the Preferred
Investment Strategy. From there, the VTA will begin its EIR process on
that selected option, Vinickas said.11 options
Of the 11 options, two are BART extension options, four are light
rail, three are commuter train and two are express bus service
options.
All plans generally follow the existing Union Pacific railroad lines
that stretch between Interstate 680 and Interstate 880 and west of
I-880. The express bus service would travel outside of traffic along
the lines, Vinickas said.
The various transportation options along those lines converge at a
main transfer center to be located near San Fernando Street and the
Guadalupe Freeway in San Jose.
The VTA plans to have a system up and running sometime between 2008
and 2010.
More public meetings are scheduled during the summer throughout the
Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Corridor. The next meeting is scheduled
for 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, at the Dr. King Main Library, 180 W. San
Carlos St., San Jose.
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Sean R. Cabibi covers transportation and environment for The Argus. He
can be reached at (510) 353-7014 or at[55] scabibi@angnewspapers.com.
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