By Khalida Sarwari
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is beginning a yearlong project today to improve eight Caltrain crossings in the South Bay for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
Among the improved safety features are modified railroad crossing gates and newly installed guardrails, fences, pedestrian and emergency swing gates, sidewalks, crossing panels, and warning tactile panels to assist people who are visually impaired.
The crossings are located at Alma Street, Churchill Avenue, East Meadow Drive and Charleston Road in Palo Alto; Mary Avenue and Sunnyvale Avenue in Sunnyvale; and Rengstorff Avenue and Castro Street in Mountain View.
Each crossing is expected to take about three months to upgrade, and the improvement project is scheduled to wrap up in late June 2011. Construction will take place Wednesdays through Mondays between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.
During construction, residents should expect the closure of one lane in each direction and sidewalk closures on one side of the street.
Anyone with questions about construction activity can call VTA community outreach at (408) 321-7575 or visit www.vta.org.