Passenger Trains > BART: Fremont extension gets closer to Silicon Valley

Feb. 11 news blurb from RAILWAY TRACK & STRUCTURES Magazine:
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BART moves forward with subway section of Fremont extension

BART is moving forward on a major phase of the Warm Springs Extension project that will ultimately bring BART closer to Silicon Valley. BART has just begun seeking proposals to build the Fremont, Calif., Central Park Subway, an extensive construction project that will create jobs and help stimulate the Bay Area economy. The deadline for proposals is March 31, 2009.

"The Fremont Central Park Subway construction project is the next phase to extend BART service 5.4 miles southward to a new station in Fremont’s Warm Springs District," BART Board President Thomas Blalock said. "It closely follows the City of Fremont’s Washington Boulevard/Paseo Padre Parkway grade separation and overpass structure project that’s on-time and under budget. When it’s complete, the Warm Springs Extension will offer riders additional relief from traffic congestion and be the first step along the way to extend BART into the South Bay."

BART estimates the value of this contract to be more than $200 million. The work will create thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities as it involves constructing the Warm Springs Extension alignment between Walnut Avenue and the eastern side of Fremont Central Park. The project includes building a subway under Stevenson Boulevard, Fremont Central Park and the Union Pacific track east of the park, constructing two ventilation structures and relocating a number of amenities within Fremont Central Park including the dog park, basketball courts and some parking.

BART anticipates that the construction will begin in the summer of 2009 and last for approximately three-and-a-half years. All park facilities will remain open and all recreation activities will continue as usual.

BART is inviting prospective bidders to a pre-bid meeting at 11 a.m. on February 20 at the Joseph P. Bort Metro Center, 101 Eighth Street, in Oakland. Contractors must contact Senior Contract Administrator Sunni Gunawardena at 510-464-6550 if they plan to go or if they have questions about the bidding process.

tomk Wrote:
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> How close does the proposed subway come to
> crossing the fault line that forced the city of
> Fremont to tear down its relatively new , and very
> ugly, city hall?

No closer that it already is to the BART station in Fremont. In fact the new line as it leaves the Fremont station will make a turn to the left towards Central Park and away from the actual fault line.

Finally...finally...this project is getting started. Can't wait--we need more BART extensions, and soon, before oil prices go through the roof again.