New Lawrence Caltrain Station Set to Open

Caltrain's CTX construction is nearing completion and some of the project's most critical components are now beginning to come together. On Friday, March 5, Caltrain Santa Clara County, and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority will publicly unveil the new Lawrence Caltrain Station, which was completely rebuilt using a combination of state and federal grants and Santa Clara County Measure B money.

Caltrain will christen the new station with a small event on Mar. 5 at 10 a.m. that will include brief remarks from Caltrain's Board Chair and VTA Director John McLemore and Santa Clara County Supervisor, VTA Board Chair, and Caltrain Board Member Don Gage. Caltrain's Sunnyvale neighbors and passengers also will be invited to enjoy the refreshments, which will be provided by the Sunnyvale Costco located next to the new station, and take a free ride on Caltrain. The station is located at San Zeno Way and Lawrence Station Road in Sunnyvale.

The new station represents the culmination of many critical elements of the CTX project from the third and fourth passing tracks that run through the station to accommodate Baby Bullet service to the tunnel that now runs underneath the tracks making the station accessible for persons with disabilities. The tunnel will eliminate the stairways and the pedestrian overcrossing that previously provided access to platforms on either side of the rail corridor.

New shuttle drop off and kiss 'n' ride areas provide better access for passengers using alternative means of transportation to get to the station.

Caltrain also has undertaken a number of aesthetic improvements at the station, including new passenger and ticket vending machine shelters, a visual messaging system and public address system, improved lighting and new landscaping.

As the project manager for 1996 Measure B Caltrain improvement projects, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority was instrumental in developing the design for the Lawrence Station parking, bus and shuttle drop-off, and passenger facilities later incorporated into the CTX project. In addition, VTA acquired the 10,000-square-foot parcel for parking expansion and provided the use of the parcel to Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board through an easement agreement.

About the 1996 Measure B Transportation Improvement Program

The 1996 Measure B Transportation Improvement Program, which continues for nine years, is made possible by Santa Clara County voters, who approved a half-cent sales tax measure to fund a specific package of countywide transportation improvement projects. The sales tax is under the management of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors' with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority being responsible for implementation. Despite the continuing economic downturn negatively impacting the 1996 Measure B Program revenues, VTA has secured outside revenues to help fund completion of a number of the program's projects.

About the CTX Project

The CTX project is the largest rail improvement in Caltrain's history. The project is modernizing Caltrain for the 21st century, including the construction of a Centralized Traffic Control system, known as CTC, high speed passing tracks in three locations along the rail line and track rehabilitation. The CTC portion of the project eliminates the need to manually operate track switches, a key in decreasing travel time. When the improvements are completed in mid 2004, Caltrain will be able to begin Baby Bullet express service between San Francisco and San Jose.

For directions to the new station or general Caltrain questions, please call 1.800.660.4287 (or TDD only 650.508.6448).