Warm Springs Extension Project

BART To Host Public Meeting Regarding Proposed Riparian Habitat Restoration for Warm Springs Extension Project
On Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:30 p.m. BART will hold a public meeting to discuss riparian habitat restoration needed for the Warm Springs Extension Project. The restoration has been proposed for the Sabercat Creek area, which is located near Becado Place. Click here for additional information and the meeting location.

 

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Now on BART TV: Warm Springs construction begins

 

Project Background

Photo Simulation of Warm Springs Station (Click image to enlarge.)

In 1991, BART prepared an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Warm Springs Extension Project (WSX) that analyzed a series of alternatives for extending the BART system to the Warm Springs district of Fremont. In 1992, the BART Board of Directors certified the Final EIR and adopted a project for the WSX; however, the project was not constructed because sufficient funds were not available.

In 2004, the project sought to become eligible for federal funds. The project was required to complete an environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This was in addition to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) clearance that was completed in 2003. The NEPA Environmental phase was completed in 2006.

For a complete chronology of the Warm Springs Extension project click here.

Project Description

Photo Simulation of Irvington Station (Click image to enlarge.)

The Warm Springs Extension will add 5.4-miles of new tracks from the existing Fremont Station south to a new station in the Warm Springs District of the City of Fremont, with an optional station to be located approximately midway, in the Irvington District. The optional Irvington Station is dependent upon future funding through the City of Fremont and may be added at a later date.

The project alignment will cross over Walnut Avenue; under Stevenson Boulevard, Fremont Central Park and the Union Pacific Railroad track in a subway; over Paseo Padre Parkway; under Washington Boulevard; under Auto Mall Parkway; and over South Grimmer Boulevard. Click here to see an image and read a detailed description of the Warm Springs Extension Alignment.

The Warm Springs Station will feature an at-grade island platform with an overhead concourse, intermodal access to VTA and Alameda - Contra Costa (AC) Transit buses, as well as taxi and "kiss and ride" passenger drop off areas, all via Warm Springs Boulevard. In addition, the new station will provide approximately 2,000 parking spaces. View Station Conceptual Design (1.5 MB)

As with all BART stations, the Warm Springs Station will be fully accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists, and will include bike lockers, elevators and escalators, Braille signs and a tactile sight path to aid riders with disabilities.

Program Purpose and Benefits

When the extension was originally proposed in 1991, congestion on I-880, the major regional travel corridor linking Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, was already severe. Since then, traffic congestion has escalated and its volume has become unacceptable.

Transportation is critical for people living and working in the southern Alameda County and northern Santa Clara County portions of the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2000, it was estimated that there were approximately 400,000 weekday automobile trips between the East Bay and Santa Clara County. By 2025, this number is expected to exceed 500,000 vehicle trips (MTC). The purpose of the Warm Springs Extension is to reduce overall traffic congestion and improve the regional transit network by shortening the travel distance for connecting transit services to and from points to the south. The extension will also reduce transit travel times and improve reliability. In addition, the extension will bring other benefits to the surrounding communities through BART's commitment to environmental quality and land use.

Environmental Quality: As patrons transfer from auto travel to transit travel, there is a corresponding reduction in the number of automobile miles traveled, resulting in conservation of non-renewable energy. The extension will promote reduction of air-polluting auto trips and support regional plans to meet state and federal air quality standards.

Land Use: The extension responds to BART's System Expansion Criteria by demonstrating a commitment to transit-supportive growth and development, which is designed to maximize ridership by supporting smart, efficient, and desirable growth patterns. The City of Fremont is the lead agency for developing the City's future land use and redevelopment goals around the Warm Springs Station. BART will continue to support the City in its efforts to encourage transit-oriented development around both the Warm Springs and optional Irvington Stations.

Ridership: The Warm Springs Extension will result in an increase in transit trips, particularly those destined for, originating in, or passing through southern Alameda County. The extension will increase transit ridership by 4,700 daily trips upon opening and 7,200 daily trips by 2025. The optional Irvington Station would provide an increase of 5,700 and 9,100 daily trips by 2025. This increase in transit trips indicates a shift in use from automobiles to transit.

System Objectives

The main objectives of the Warm Springs Extension project are to:

• Improve public transportation service to increase mobility
• Generate additional transit ridership
• Reduce overall traffic congestion
• Maximize use of public transportation, particularly during peak-commute periods
• Decrease transit travel times and improve reliability
• Improve the regional transit network
• Provide inter-modal transit hubs where rail, bus, automobile, bicycle and pedestrian links meet
• Facilitate opportunities for future transit-oriented development
• Support future rapid transit extensions into Santa Clara County

Implementation Plan

In 2007, BART devised an implementation strategy whereby the project would be constructed via two large contracts: The Fremont Central Park Subway Contract and the Line, Track, Station and Systems Contract. This approach is intended to minimize overall escalation costs and most appropriately deal with the special needs associated with the underground portion of the project in Fremont Central Park.

Fremont Central Park Subway Construction Contract (Subway) – This contract will construct the trackway embankment south of Walnut Avenue and the BART subway from just north of Stevenson Boulevard, through Fremont Central Park, including a portion of Lake Elizabeth, and beneath the UPRR freight track to just north of Paseo Padre Parkway. The contract includes construction of two ventilation structures and relocation of a number of amenities within Fremont Central Park, including the Dog Park, Basketball Courts, and related parking. Construction is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2009 and last for approximately three and a half years.

Line, Track, Station and Systems Contract (LTSS) – This contract, which will be a design-build contract where the contractor will perform final design as well as construct the project, will complete the remaining parts of the project including the trackway, systems, tie-in at Fremont Station, and the new Warm Springs Station. Construction is expected to begin in 2010 and last approximately four years. 

Project Schedule

The project schedule calls for:

• Subway Contract Advertisement February 2009
• LTSS Contract Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to be advertised 3rd Quarter 2009
• Subway construction to begin summer 2009
• LTSS Contract Request for Proposals (RFP) to be advertised 4th Quarter 2009
• LTSS final design and construction to begin early 2010
• Commencement of revenue service to Warm Springs June 2014

Partners and Funding

The total project budget for the Warm Springs Extension is approximately $890 million dollars. The various funding partners and their share in the total project are as follows:

• $220.4 million from the Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority (ACTIA), Measure B Tier 1
• $100.4 million from the State Traffic Congestion Relief Program
• $176 million from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Regional Measure 2 Bridge Toll
• $118 million from the MTC, Regional Measure 1 Bridge Tolls
• $69 million from the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
• $2.2 million from the Alameda County CMA
• $40 million from MTC Proposition 1B - 50% BART (Revenue Based), 50% MTC(Population Based)
• $86 million Proposition 1B State & Local Partnership Program (SLPP)
• $24 million BART Agency Contribution
• $54 million SFO Extension Surplus Revenue 

Bid Documents

LTSS Contract Documents – Documents are expected to be available as follows:

• Request for Qualifications 3rd Quarter 2009
• Request for Proposals 4th Quarter 2009

Other Related Projects

Washington Boulevard and Paseo Padre Parkway Railroad Grade Separation Project
This City of Fremont project, which is presently under construction, will eliminate six railroad grade crossings, relocate interfering utilities and make the railroad corridor to the southeast of Fremont Central Park compatible with the WSX project alignment. This project will also construct a BART Overpass structure at Paseo Padre Parkway, by agreement with BART, so as to avoid future disruption to the public during WSX construction.  For more information on this project please visit: www.fremontgradesep.com  For more information on this project please visit: www.fremontgradesep.com

Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Corridor Project
This project is intended to extend BART service southward from Warm Springs to Milpitas, San Jose and Santa Clara.  This project is sponsored by the Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), which is responsible for its implementation under an agreement with BART.  For more information on this project please visit: www.vta.org/bart

 

Last Updated: July 1, 2009