The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will ceremonially break ground on Phase I of its Freight Railroad Relocation (FRR) Project this Friday in Milpitas, Calif.

The $36 million project begins clearing VTA-owned railroad right-of-way for a north/south transit corridor, the planned alignment for the future Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) extension to the South Bay. Construction activities include relocating utilities and existing Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) freight rail tracks to a parallel location within the eight-mile railroad right-of-way. The future mass transit system would then be built alongside the newly relocated freight line.

“Beginning these construction activities is an important milestone that clears the path for BART, while also making additional community improvements and safety enhancements for Milpitas residents,” stated VTA GMr Michael T. Burns.

Future work is planned at several intersections along the corridor to separate car and pedestrian traffic from freight and future mass transit trains through the construction of grade separations. 

VTA acquired the railroad right-of-way, from Union Pacific Railroad in 2002, and the FRR project meets a requirement of the purchase agreement.