VTA to begin safety improvements at eight Caltrain crossings

On July 7, 2010, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will begin to improve eight Caltrain crossings located in Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Palo Alto, Calif. The improvements will make crossings safer for pedestrians, bicycles and automobiles and will include the following safety features: modified railroad crossing gates, newly-installed guardrails, fences, pedestrian and emergency swing gates, sidewalks, crossing panels and warning tactile panels to assist the visually impaired.

Surrounding neighborhoods
will be notified of the upcoming work in their area as construction moves from
each of the following crossings: Sunnyvale – Mary Avenue, Sunnyvale Avenue;
Mountain View – Rengstorff Avenue, Castro Street; Palo Alto – Alma Street,
Churchill Avenue, East Meadow Drive, Charleston Road.

The construction activity
will require one lane closure in each direction and temporary sidewalk closures
on one side of the street. Each crossing will take approximately three months
to complete. Construction will be between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.,
Wednesday through Monday. The duration of the entire improvement project is one
year, with anticipated completion by late June 2011.