San Bruno Grade Separation Project Underway

By

November 19, 2010

An event celebrating the kick-off of a multi-million project, which is expected to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians, plus reduce traffic congestion to and from Highway 101 in the City of San Bruno, was held Thursday afternoon at the site of the former San Bruno Lumber yard.

The San Bruno Grade Separation Project will elevate the Caltrain tracks above three existing at-grade street crossings at San Bruno, San Mateo and Angus avenues.

In addition, a new elevated Caltrain station will be constructed between San Bruno and San Mateo avenues, replacing the existing station at Sylvan Avenue. A total of 201 parking spaces and a “kiss and ride” lot will serve the station at the former San Bruno Lumber site.

“Many people might think of this project as a local improvement to a station, and it is,” said Caltrain Board member Omar Ahmad. “But every station, every section of track and every grade crossing are all components of the greater Caltrain system.”

With respect to pedestrian safety and amenities, the project will provide three pedestrian underpasses - one in the vicinity of Sylvan Avenue, one at the new station and another between Euclid Avenue and Walnut Street.

Additionally, elevators will provide easy access for Caltrain customers. Streets and sidewalks, including those at Posy Park, also will be improved. The grade separation project is a catalytic project that supports the downtown revitalization goals of the City of San Bruno.

The grade separation is bounded by Interstate 380 to the north and San Felipe Avenue to the south, a distance of a little more than a mile. Construction activities will include track and signal work, utility relocations and limited right of way acquisition.

Preliminary construction will begin in November 2010. The actual grade separation and station construction work will begin in December 2011 and is expected to be completed by fall 2012.

The total cost of the San Bruno Grade Separation Project is $147 million. The funding includes $85.6 million is Measure A tax dollars; $54.8 million in state funds; and $6.6 million in federal funds.

“Measure A also has provided funds for station improvements,” said San Mateo County Transportation Authority Chair Rosanne Foust. “Nearly every rail station in San Mateo County has received millions of dollars in upgrades for better platforms and amenities, as well as safer pedestrian crossings with gates and warning systems.”

Measure A is a half-cent sales tax that has funded nine grade separation projects in the county and provided more than $222 million to cities in the county for local streets and roads since 1988.

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Caltrain is a commuter rail line operating between San Francisco and San Jose, with commute service to Gilroy. Average weekday ridership on the mix of 90 local, limited and express weekday trains is 40,000. Local, hourly service is provided on Saturdays and Sundays.

Caltrain is owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, a partnership of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the San Mateo County Transit District and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.