Light Rail Station Platform Retrofit
Click here for Guadalupe Southline Platform Retrofit
Southline Construction Updates
Background
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is continuing to embrace the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by retrofitting older light rail stations to allow level boarding between station platforms and light rail vehicles. Level boarding eliminates the need for wheelchair lifts, and eases boarding and exiting for all riders.
VTA's fleet of new low-floor vehicles also provides additional space for bicycles and wheelchairs. These vehicles require a boarding platform 14 inches above the top of rail to allow for level boarding. Light Rail Stations on the Tasman West, Tasman East, Capitol and Vasona Light Rail Extension Projects were built with platforms that accommodate these new vehicles.
Platforms built as part of the original Guadalupe Light Rail Project are not as tall, however, meaning passengers currently must step up into the vehicles. Temporary ramps have been constructed at these stations to provide wheelchair access to the front door of the first car of each light rail train.
Objective
To modify existing light rail stations to accommodate the new low floor vehicles by raising the platform to a uniform height of 14 inches above the top of the rail.
Project Features
· Modifications will generally affect the platform area only
· Most stations will be closed during the permanent retrofit of the station
· No parking or business access changes during or after construction
· No parking loss
· Each Transit Mall station will be comprised of three boarding platforms with passageways between each raised platform
· Removal of wheelchair lift mechanisms once all platform modifications are complete.
Transit Mall and Convention Center Stations
The St. James, Santa Clara and Paseo de San Antonio Light Rail Stations have required special attention to preserve the pedestrian friendly nature of the Transit Mall design.
VTA and the City of Jose have reached an agreement in the design for these stations.
This design raises the station platforms in three boarding areas (which will line up with the vehicle door locations) and will include passageways between each raised platform for ease of pedestrian movement in the Transit Mall. VTA has worked with the City of San Jose and the Downtown communities on specific station design features to further enhance the current urban design and pedestrian movements on First and Second Streets. VTA will also work with stakeholders on construction methods and time frames that respond to concerns of adjoining business and property owners. Work on these stations was completed in summer 2007.
Stations Along Routes 85 and 87, and Downtown Non-Transit Mall Stations
Stations in Downtown San Jose (outside the Transit Mall) and along Routes 85 and 87 require raising the platforms by eight inches to achieve the required platform height. Work on these stations began in early 2008.
Temporary Landings
Temporary landings have been installed on the station platforms to allow for the deployment of the new low floor vehicles to the Guadalupe Corridor prior to the permanent retrofit of the stations. Passengers requiring boarding assistance should be advised to use the train door nearest the existing raised wood platform until all platforms have been retrofitted.
Project Schedule
| |
Start Date |
End Date |
| Phases One and Two |
|
Completed |
| Phase Three (Transit Mall Stations and Convention Center Station) |
February 2006 |
August 2007 |
| Phase Four (South Line Stations) |
February 2008 |
November 2008 |
Project Funding
The cost of Phase Four is $22.9 million, with federal funds expected to cover 80 percent of the cost.
How to Reach Us
If you have any question concerning the Light Rail Station Platform Retrofit Project, please call VTA's Community Outreach Hotline at (408) 321-7575, hearing-impaired (TDD only) (408) 321-2330. You may also visit us on the web at www.vta.org, or e-mail us at community.outreach@vta.org.
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