advertisement

---

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is soliciting public input on the agency’s supplemental draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Capitol Expressway light-rail project.

VTA hosted a public hearing yesterday and will host another on Thursday on the EIS. The proposed project would extend light rail 2.3 miles along Capitol Expressway between the existing Alum Rock Station and Eastridge Transit Center.

Drafted in accordance with current federal laws and guidelines, the draft EIS outlines alternatives for the project and reviews the environmental impact of those alternatives, VTA officials said in a prepared statement.

The agency will accept written comments on the EIS until July 3.

Meanwhile, VTA’s board recently awarded a $45 million contract to RGW Construction Inc. for the Mission/Warren/Freight railroad relocation program improvements in Fremont, Calif. The work will include preparations for future Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) service.

The improvements call for widening Mission Boulevard to three lanes in each direction from Interstate 880 to Warm Springs Boulevard and constructing Kato Road on/off ramps; relocating Union Pacific Railroad tracks; depressing Warren Avenue to separate it from UP tracks and future BART tracks; and installing new track and BART bridges where both rail systems cross over the two roadways.

The project is being pursued by the city of Fremont, Alameda County Transportation Commission and VTA. Construction is slated to begin in July and conclude in January 2015.