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Nursery Avenue Safety Improvement Project
Niles Quiet Zone at Nursery Avenue
Nursery Avenue quiet zone is a high priority project for Public Works. The City recognizes the importance of the project to the quality of life in the Niles community, and we are committed to facilitating its timely delivery.
Plans are being prepared for the construction of the enhanced safety project with a goal to establish a quiet zone when the project is complete.
The “critical path” for getting the Nursery Avenue quiet zone approved requires a major safety upgrade to the Union Pacific Rail Road (UPRR) train detection system, the crossing gates, and the interconnected communications with the adjoining traffic signals at Niles/Nursery and Mission/Nursery (a Caltrans signal). This is to ensure that traffic on Nursery is not backed up at the signals and across the tracks when a train is approaching, particularly if the train is operating in a quiet zone. The need for this safety improvement was identified in a 2012 report based on guidance from the Federal Railroad Administration.
Past City efforts to try and pursue a quiet zone now, with a commitment to building the advanced train detection system later, were rejected by UPRR. In Fall 2015, the City Council added funding to the project to address the comprehensive set of requirements from UPRR, California Public Utilities Commission, and Caltrans. The project scope includes pavement rehabilitation, median islands, sidewalks on both sides of Nursery Avenue, upgrades to traffic signal communications at the railroad crossing (UPRR operated), the signal at Niles/Nursery (City operated), and the signal at Mission/Nursery (Caltrans operated). These improvements are necessary so that the City can pursue a project that was supported by UPRR.
Given the scope of work and more significantly, all the approvals and agreements needed from UPRR, CPUC, and Caltrans for funding, design, construction, operationsand maintenance, we do not currently have a project completion date.
Key Milestone dates for the project are as follows:
Contact Information
If you have any questions regarding the project, please contact:
Jeanne Suyeishi
jsuyeishi@fremont.gov
Project Detail Map
Nursery Avenue quiet zone is a high priority project for Public Works. The City recognizes the importance of the project to the quality of life in the Niles community, and we are committed to facilitating its timely delivery.
Plans are being prepared for the construction of the enhanced safety project with a goal to establish a quiet zone when the project is complete.
The “critical path” for getting the Nursery Avenue quiet zone approved requires a major safety upgrade to the Union Pacific Rail Road (UPRR) train detection system, the crossing gates, and the interconnected communications with the adjoining traffic signals at Niles/Nursery and Mission/Nursery (a Caltrans signal). This is to ensure that traffic on Nursery is not backed up at the signals and across the tracks when a train is approaching, particularly if the train is operating in a quiet zone. The need for this safety improvement was identified in a 2012 report based on guidance from the Federal Railroad Administration.
Past City efforts to try and pursue a quiet zone now, with a commitment to building the advanced train detection system later, were rejected by UPRR. In Fall 2015, the City Council added funding to the project to address the comprehensive set of requirements from UPRR, California Public Utilities Commission, and Caltrans. The project scope includes pavement rehabilitation, median islands, sidewalks on both sides of Nursery Avenue, upgrades to traffic signal communications at the railroad crossing (UPRR operated), the signal at Niles/Nursery (City operated), and the signal at Mission/Nursery (Caltrans operated). These improvements are necessary so that the City can pursue a project that was supported by UPRR.
Given the scope of work and more significantly, all the approvals and agreements needed from UPRR, CPUC, and Caltrans for funding, design, construction, operations
Key Milestone dates for the project are as follows:
| Action Item | Date/Duration | Initiated By |
|---|---|---|
| Application to CPUC for Railroad Crossing Modification | Completed February 2018 | City of Fremont |
| Submit revised Notice of Intent | Completed June 2017 | City of Fremont |
| Approval of Preemption Timing |
Completed June 2017 | Caltrans |
| Completion of Construction Plans for Safety Project including Approval of Plans by UPRR and Caltrans |
Completed November 2017 | City of Fremont |
| Caltrans Encroachment Permit | Completed October 2017 | Caltrans |
| CPUC Permit Approval | Completed March 2018 | CPUC |
| Nursery and Mission Signal Design by UPRR | TBD | UPRR |
| Construction & Maintenance Agreement between City and UPRR | TBD** | UPRR |
| UPRR Construction and Maintenance Agreement with Caltrans | TBD | Caltrans |
| Bid and Award of City Construction Contract | TBD | City of Fremont |
| City Project Construction Period | TBD | City of Fremont |
| UPRR Project Construction Period | TBD | UPRR |
| Quiet Zone Community Education Process | TBD | City of Fremont |
| Submit Notice of Establishment | TBD | City of Fremont |
| Establish Quiet Zone | TBD | City of Fremont |
Staying "on track" will require the ongoing support from UPRR, Caltrans and CPUC.
**As of January 18, 2019, the City of Fremont is waiting for a draft Construction and Maintenance Agreement from UPRR. The City cannot bid and award the construction contract until the Nursery and Mission Signal Design by UPRR has been completed, the C&M Agreement between City and UPRR has been executed, and the UPRR Construction and Maintenance Agreement with Caltrans has been executed.
**As of January 18, 2019, the City of Fremont is waiting for a draft Construction and Maintenance Agreement from UPRR. The City cannot bid and award the construction contract until the Nursery and Mission Signal Design by UPRR has been completed, the C&M Agreement between City and UPRR has been executed, and the UPRR Construction and Maintenance Agreement with Caltrans has been executed.
If you have any questions regarding the project, please contact:
Jeanne Suyeishi
jsuyeishi@fremont.gov
Project Detail Map