The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Crews work to install the Tasman Corridor West-light rail line in Sunnyvale.

Crew lays tracks near Mathilda

Transit Authority pushes ahead with light-rail plan

By Natasha Collins

The Tasman Corridor West light-rail extension is one mile closer to completion.

Construction on the line, which began last year, has finally reached Sunnyvale. The orange plastic gates and construction crews can be seen on Moffett Drive, near Lockheed-Martin and Mathilda Road, as the California Transit Authority works to modify the street to accomodate the trains.

The road will remain a four-lane highway, but the landscaping and trees have been removed in order for the light rail to go through. Residents living in mobile home parks along Tasman Drive protested the removal of the trees because the landscaping offered noise protection and a pretty environment. Another concern was that the 24-inch trees that will replace those removed will not reach maturity in time to protect residents from the light-rail noise.

The Tasman Corridor West will be the county's first east-west light-rail line and is intended to give residents better access to the San Jose International Airport.

The entire project will cost the county more than $325 million. More than $45 million in federal grants and $37 million in state funds have been allocated to the project. The remaining costs will be shared by local municipalities and bonds. The City of Mountain View has already donated $15 million toward the project.

The line is expected to be fully operational by the year 2000.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, July 23, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.