Hoofing It to the New Rail Platform

Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Over the weekend I went out to the new rail platform to take a closer look at the track relocation project, also known as "The Path to Progress." Walking from the Sacramento Valley Station Depot to the new platforms took about five or six minutes and was about a quarter mile. I found myself thinking while shuffling out to the new platform that this is far less convenient for everyone. Even with the covered pathway; the weather is going make this hike even more of a chore with baggage in hand. Something else to consider, if you did not use the restroom before leaving the main depot., you better be prepared to hold it because this $50 million project does not include any at the new platform.

Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

The new platform was built anticipating an intermodal depot would be built close by shortly after completion. There are currently only vague conceptual plans for the new intermodal depot with no additional funding to build it. So this barren hike from the old depot to the platform will now be many passengers first and last image of Sacramento for years to come. The city recently won a federal grant to rehabilitate the current depot with work expected to start next summer.

Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814



Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814






New train platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

New train platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814



Looking back at the depot - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814



Railroad Track Relocation

Sacramento railroad track relocation project (click to enlarge)

This project is relocating and realign about 2.3 miles of Union Pacific railroad track to make room for an expanded Sacramento Valley Station, which will be turned into an intermodal hub that will handle Amtrak and Capitol Corridor service as well as light rail and bus services. The cost to relocate the track is $45 million and paid for by both The Department of Transportation that won $20 million in federal stimulus money and more than $25 million in state Proposition 1B money.

The track relocation project began in April of last year is estimated to be completed in December 2012.

Railyards Owner Removes Consultant

It was only a matter of time before Inland American Real Estate Trust Inc. canceled their consultant contract with Thomas Enterprises. Last month after working nearly ten years on the project the owners ended the contract which should rise questions as to what the future holds for the railyard project.

After Inland American Real Estate Trust Inc. foreclosed on the property last year and took control from former owner Thomas Enterprises Inc. Inland agreed to keep the Thomas team on as consultants for at least six months. Currently there is $130 million in federal and state money building infrastructure within the 200 acre site, and there is word that Inland will reexamine the density of the project in light of changes to the real estate market, but there are no immediate plans to build. That could mean the project could see changes to the designs that have been refined over the past decade.

Currently, the rail track relocation is on budget and on schedule to have the new tracks in operation next May. This undertaking will open the property to auto traffic. Also in progress are three pedestrian tunnels and a new water main.

Track Relocation & Depot Retrofit

Today the City Council will approve additional funding for several sub-projects that are part of the Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Facility (SITF or Intermodal) family of projects. These projects include Track Relocation (Intermodal Phase 1), Improvements to the Sacramento Valley Station (Intermodal Phase 2), and the Depot Retrofit Project. These additional funds will be for design and construction to the historic Depot and Intermodal site that provide upgrades and new development to enhance this area as a transportation center and retail, commercial, cultural and civic destination.

Track Relocation (Intermodal Phase 1) - is the top priority transportation project in the region. In 2010, bids came in above available funds. Since then the project has been redesigned and reissued for bid. In March 2011, the City will award the construction contract in order to maintain funding.

Intermodal Phase 2 - After Track Relocation, improvements to the existing station are planned to enable the station to function better. Phase 2 will incorporate components such as a transitway and circulation, site and parking improvements, passenger amenities and refurbishing of the Depot to foster greater use of the building. Built in the 1920’s, the existing Depot station requires seismic strengthening and structural upgrades to meet current building standards. This project will provide these structural improvements and will also provide accessibility and fire-life safety improvements. This project is currently in design and is planned to be under construction in spring 2011.

Track Relocation (Phase 1 estimated cost $56,169,000), improvements to the existing Sacramento Valley Station, which includes the current Southern Pacific Railroad Depot (Phase 2 estimated cost $21.9 million), and eventual transformation of the Station into a multimodal transportation center (future Phase 3 estimated cost $261.9 million).

The Railyards

Despite the start of foreclosure proceedings with the Railyards a couple weeks ago, infrastructure and construction progress moves forward with all the earth work finished for the three 5th and 6th Streets bridges. It’s now time for pile driving and bridge construction with approximately 220 pipe piles for three bridges, each 103 feet long and 4.3 tons in weight. Pile sections welding is in progress at this time and footings have been excavated.

Last May five construction bids to move the railyard tracks to the north came in higher than the city was budgeted for, so as of today the city is still deciding how to bridge the funding gap to proceed forward. Design work on additional infrastructure projects, including major roads and a concrete viaduct along 5th Streets east of the Central Shops, will also go out to bid soon.

Follow The Railyards redevelopment effort in pictures by visiting http://www.sacramentorailyards.com/ and clicking on VIEW LATEST IMAGES.

New Bids Needed for Railyard Project

Next Tuesday City officials will ask the Sacramento City Council to reject five bids made for moving the railyard tracks to the north. The City had hoped to see work start this month, but all five construction bids came in higher than the $45 million the city has budgeted for the project. The three lowest bids were in the $57 million range.

The Sac Bee also reported that next Tuesday the council will be asking to proceed with a $4.5 million contract for a new bridge to extend Sixth Street north into the railyard from downtown.