Safety Improvements Coming To San Jose Railroad Crossing
SAN JOSE (KCBS) - Plans to construct a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over a busy San Jose railroad crossing are moving forward.
That area was the scene of an horrific accident several years ago, claiming the life of a toddler boy.
KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports:
In November 2007, a woman pushing a stroller with her young daughter inside and holding the hand of a 2-year-old boy she was babysitting attempted to cross the train tracks at Blossom Hill Rd. and Monterey Hwy.
Somehow the boy was left alone momentarily, when he ran into the path of an oncoming train. He was struck and killed.
The area has long been considered a danger for pedestrians and bicyclists.
"We've seen people try to cross illegally," acknowledged Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority spokesperson Brandi Childress. "It's an unsafe crossing."
Now, the VTA Board has awarded a construction contract to an Alamo-based company to begin building a bridge to span that intersection.
"It's 315 ft. long by 12 ft. wide," explained Childress. "It's a pre-fabricated structure so it's going to be pre-made and set, included in the features are also going to be fully accessible ramps."
Plans are also in the works to build fencing on the street level to discourage track crossings. Construction is expected to begin in February 2011 and be completed sometime the following year.
(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
