VTA Light Rail Efficiency Project Mountain View newsletter Spring 2014
- 1. 85 W. EVELYN AVE CENTRAL EXPWY CALDERON StevensCreek PIONEER M O O RPARK BUSH CASTROST DANA E. EVELYN AVE WHISMAN Downtown Mountain View Transit Center Evelyn Station Whisman Station Whisman Park & Ride Lot CENTRAL EXPWYEvelyn Park & Ride Lot Existing VTA Traction Power Substation 237 Mountain View Park & Ride Lot Caltrain Realignment Design: May 2014 Contract award: August 2014 Completion: December 2014 VTA Trackwork Phase One Environmental: April 2013 Design: April 2014 Contract award: August 2014 Completion: July 2015 Project Schedule 2013 2014 2015 VTA Trackwork Phase Two Environmental: August 2014 Design: July 2014 Contract award: November 2014 Completion: December 2015 Phase 1 Phase 2 Caltrain Proposed Light Rail Improvements in Mountain View VTA’s Light Rail Efficiency Program includes track improvements that yield benefits for local residents, businesses, and VTA riders. Benefits include: • more frequent service, including commute hour express service • improved light rail connections to Caltrain service • fewer delays at the Whisman and Mountain View stations • Faster travel times to and from the Mountain View Station. The proposed improvements involve adding a second set of light rail tracks from the Mountain View Station to the Whisman Station (and also an increased capacity to park extra trains at the Mountain View Station). The single set of tracks in this area often creates service delays with impacts that ripple throughout the light rail system. This work will be done in two phases. The first phase adds a second track from the Mountain View Station to just west of State Route (SR) 85 and also constructing a new, longer train storage track adjacent to the station. Projected completion date for this work is July 2015. Before the second phase of construction can take place, Caltrain tracks need to be realigned between the Evelyn Light Rail Station and SR 237 to create space for VTA’s second track. This work will be completed by December 2014. The second phase of construction will begin at SR 85, cross over Central Expressway, and end at the Whisman Station. The Phase 2 Project is within one of narrowest sections of railroad right-of-way between San Francisco and Gilroy. Projected completion date is December 2015. Almost 45 percent of light rail riders transfer to or from Caltrain at the Mountain View Station. This project provides improved schedule reliability for better transfers. Caltrain Realignment Phase 1 Project Phase 2 Project Proposed Construction Staging Area Relocation of Crossing and Signal Equipment Existing Station Platform VTA Light Rail Caltrain Caltrain $6.4 Million Phase 1 $26.6 Million Phase 2 $30 Million This project adds another light rail track between the Mountain View and Whisman stations where currently only one track exists. It also adds additional train storage capacity at the Mountain View Station. Project Details: Phase One • Adds second, 1,400-foot light rail track by extending the existing storage track east of the Mountain View Station toward the west side of SR 85 • Constructs replacement storage track. Relocated Crossing and Signal Equipment Mountain View Double Tracking Project Phase Two • Extends second light rail track by about 3,000 feet from west side of SR 85 to Whisman Station • Requires removal of Evelyn Station, which is between the northbound Caltrain track and the single VTA track and is located where the second light rail track will be added • VTA’s Board of Directors will be asked to approve the station consolidation. When taken out of service in early 2015, customers will use either the Mountain View or Whisman stations. Realignment of Caltrain tracks • Will be completed at the same time as Phase 1 due to timing constraints and to avoid construction conflicts with other Caltrain work planned for the area. Interesting Facts: • Total track length – 4,400 feet = 0.8 mile = 14 2/3 football fields • Travel time savings of up to 30%. Examples: 17% from downtown Mountain View to Lockheed Martin, 30% from future Milpitas BART Station to Levi’s Stadium • Storage track will hold two three-car trains. Project Budget
- 2. To receive e-mail updates regarding this project go to the project web page and look for this symbol in top right corner of the page and click on it. Provide the requested informa- tion and VTA will keep you informed about the project as it progresses. VTA is planning improvements to its light rail system and service to improve efficiency and meet future service demands. The opening of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, the rapidly expanding transit villages and commercial developments along North First Street in San Jose and the opening of VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Extension in 2017 will all contribute to the need to provide increased levels of service while fulfilling new opportunities and satisfy- ing new service demands. Four goals are guiding VTA’s Light Rail Efficiency Program: increase ridership, speed up the system, spend transit dollars wisely, and actively respond to the changing needs of the valley. There are a series of construction projects at the core of the Light Rail Efficiency Program. The projects include installing a second set of light rail tracks in the Mountain View area, adding a pocket track in Santa Clara at Levi’s Stadium, and improvements to speed light rail service through down- town San Jose. These improvements will facilitate exciting changes to light rail service. Proposed Light Rail Changes Add Capacity, Reduce Travel Times Mountain View Community Newsletter LIGHT RAIL EFFICIENCY PROGRAM Spring 2014 Light Rail Efficiency Project/Mountain View Quick Facts A second LRT track enables north- and south-bound trains to operate simultaneously between Whisman and Mountain View stations. This simple improvement allows VTA to: • Double the frequency of peak hour service with a new Express line • Improve connections at the Mountain View Transit Center with Caltrain, buses, and shuttles • Reduce delays in light rail service • Provide convenient service to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and direct service to BART in Milpitas (opening in 2017) How to contact us: Project website: vta.org/lre-mv Project e-mail: community.outreach@vta.org Project phone number: (408) 321-7575 TTY only: (408) 321-7575 Downtown Mountain View is a vibrant multi-modal community. These open houses will provide the public an opportunity learn about VTA’s proposal to enhance light rail service in Mountain View by adding a second set of tracks between the Mountain View and Whisman stations. Although the program is still in a preliminary stage of design, it is expected installing the second track, and also realigning a portion of the adjacent Caltrain track, will have minimal impacts on weekday service. The anticipated completion date is December 2015. During the hours of this meeting, Mountain View City Hall is served by Route 35. Additional bus service is available several blocks away on El Camino Real and Caltrain and VTA light rail service is available at the Mountain View Transit Center, which is approximately four blocks distance. North County Local Projects Open House Slated for April 9 Light Rail Efficiency Program Public Meeting Wednesday, April 9, 2014 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mountain View City Council Chambers 500 Castro Street, Mountain View If you would like more information in your language, please contact VTA’s Community Outreach Department at (408) 321-7575. Si desea más información en su idioma, por favor comuníquese con el Programa de Extensión a la Comunidad, Community Outreach, de VTA al (408) 321-7575. Kung gusto ninyo ng higit pang impormasyon sa inyong wika, mangyaring tawagan and Community Outreach Department ng VTA sa (408) 321-7575. Fremont Red Line Red Line Express – Peak hours only Blue Line Express Levi’s Stadium – August 2014 BART Extension to Silicon Valley – 2017 Green Line Blue Line Purple Line Stations with Park & Ride Lots Transfer Stations Proposed VTA Light Rail System (2017) 1403-9388 New express peak hour service between Mountain View and Alum Rock will be added, which will provide a direct link between the Milpitas BART Station projected to open in 2017 and downtown Mountain View. Additionally, express service from south San Jose to downtown San Jose will also be expanded from peak hour to all day service. These investments in its light rail system will enable VTA to improve on-time performance and deliver significant time savings to current and future riders.