SJRRC Selects LAN for Altamont Corridor Express Platform Extension Project

By Jay Srinivasan

(SANTA CLARA COUNTY – Nov. 26, 2019) The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) has selected civil engineering firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) to provide rail engineering support services for Altamont Corridor Express® (ACE) platform extension at Fremont station.

SJRRC owns and operates ACE rail, which brings commuters from the San Joaquin Valley to the Silicon Valley. ACE operates four daily weekday roundtrips and two Saturday round-trips between Stockton to San Jose, providing an alternative to the heavily congested I-580/I-680 corridor. More than 1.3 million riders take the ACE every year. Since 2011, ridership has doubled and is continuing to grow.

With the ridership projected to increase to 1.65 million annual riders by 2025, SJRRC is planning major upgrades and expansion of the existing system in the coming decade. More than 25 capital projects that will improve ACE reliability and capacity and expand services to residents in several counties are in the works.

The project will extend the platform at Fremont station by 400 feet to accommodate longer 10-car trains. Currently, ACE runs six-car trains at its existing stations. Platform extensions to accommodate eight-car and 10-car trains are under development at four ACE-controlled stations. Fremont will be the fifth station to extend its platform length. LAN will provide scheduling, cost estimating, public outreach, and railroad coordination for the Fremont platform extension project.

“The trains are nearing full capacity, and at times, there is standing room only conditions,” said Timothy Schmidt, LAN’s California transit director. “Extending the platforms to allow for longer trainsets will ease congestion during peak hours and provide a more comfortable ride for passengers.”