Kato Road Opens (Partially) to Traffic

The City of Fremont and the Santa Clara valley Transportation Authority partially opened Kato Road between Warm Springs Boulevard and Milmont Drive on Monday, according to the City of Fremont.

The road was closed for nearly a year as part of a grade separation project to extend BART into San Jose. It is now open to allow one lane of traffic in each direction.

The roadway will be completely opened in May. Traffic, which has ben detoured onto Dixon Landing Road in Milpitas for the last year, is expected to return to Kato Road and relieve some of the congestion in the area.

Kato Road now passes under the Union Pacific railroad tracks and future BART tracks. The road's improvements will include new elevated sidewalks for pedestrians and a permanent bike lane once it is completed next month.

According to the City of Fremont, the Kato Road project is one of 11 in the region to complete the BART Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension. The total cost of the Kato Road project is $52.7 million, which is being paid for through 2000 Measure A and Prop 1B Highway-Railroad Crossing Safety Account funds.

"This important project delivered in partnership with the City of Fremont will help facilitate future BART service to Santa Clara County, and reduce congestion in this area by eliminating competing freight movements with the local traffic," VTA General Manager Michael Burns said in a press release.

"We are excited that this grade separation brings us one step closer to connecting the BART system between Fremont, Milpitas and North San Jose," said Fremont Public Works Director Jim Pierson. "We expect that automobiles, pedestrians, and bicycles alike will truly appreciate the safety enhancement that this latest grade separation brings to freight and automobile traffic."

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held Friday, April 5 to celebrate the one-year milestone. The ceremony will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at 466 Kato Terrace in Fremont.