December 2009

All Four Lanes Opened on New Paseo Padre Parkway Underpass on November 4, 2009

All four lanes of the new Paseo Padre Parkway underpass opened on November 4, 2009 following a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate this milestone. With all four lanes of the new underpass open, motorists can now travel through the area more quickly, with reduced traffic delay. Work will continue in the area to complete the final landscaping, with the entire project expected to be completed by the end of 2009, pending weather or other unforeseen delays.

Trains to stop blowing horns!

With all four lanes of the new Paseo Padre Parkway now open, Union Pacific Railroad was able to remove the railroad crossing gates on November 11. With the gates removed, train operators will no longer need to blow their horns in the area unless there is something unsafe near or on the track. At Washington Boulevard, trains stopped blowing their horns in September 2009 signaling the end of decades of train noise in this part of the City. Despite the closing of the at-grade crossings at Paseo Padre Parkway, there are some trains that still blow their horns when passing through the area. The City is working with Union Pacific Railroad to find out why some train operators find it necessary to blow the horn and hopefully resolve their concern as soon as practical.

Landscaping of Grade Separation Projects

The City has received questions about the grass we planted as part of the landscaping for the Grade Separation Projects at Paseo Padre Parkway and Washington Boulevard. The sod placed for the landscaping of Paseo Padre Parkway, and that which will shortly be placed along Washington Boulevard is a Red Fescue. It is a taller, no-mow grass that requires less water and minimal maintenance compared to regular grass.

When it is first installed, the red fescue looks like regular grass because it is cut short for ease of delivery and installation. Red Fescue is one of the more cost efficient landscape treatments to stabilize slopes, minimize weeds and provide improved aesthetics, while requiring no mowing and less water than regular grass. The same consideration was given to the selection of the trees that are being planted for the project, most of which are required mitigation measures to satisfy our state and federal permits.

In light of the current economy and the City's budget challenges, the Fremont City Council recently chose not to install more elaborate landscaping for the project. Had we done so, it would have required additional water and more maintenance than the Red Fescue grass.

If you have any questions, please call (510) 273-2488 or send an email.

May 2009

New Washington Bridge Opened!

The Grade Separation Project marked another major milestone with the opening of the new Washington Boulevard Bridge and Osgood Road on April 4, 2009 and the new Driscoll Road in May 2009. Motorists and pedestrians no longer need to stop for trains passing Washington Boulevard. The initial Driscoll Road and Osgood Road connection will provide one lane in each direction but will be widened to two lanes in each direction by mid-summer 2009. The final Washington Boulevard configuration will open to traffic by fall 2009.