Santa Clara VTA to boost light-rail safety in San Jose

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) yesterday announced a six-month pilot project aimed at increasing light-rail safety in downtown San Jose, California.

The project calls for installing railings along Second Street between San Fernando and San Carlos streets to help delineate the sidewalk from the trackway, VTA officials said in a press release.

"The current design of the transit mall lacks definition between the pedestrian and transit environments," agency officials said. "This can sometimes cause unpredictable pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle intrusions into VTA’s trackway."

Designs are expected to be completed by summer's end. The pilot's results will help inform future improvements.

Downtown San Jose is the slowest part of VTA's light-rail system. The regulated operating speed for trains in the area is 10 mph, although trains average about 7.5 mph between stations.