The project puts fences across the sidewalks funneling all foot traffic on both sides of the track on both sides of the street into narrow, yellow steel gates so narrow that they intend that only one person at a time can fit through, around maybe 30 inches with the gate open. Why there is an actual heavy steel, manually operated gate there is not clear. Handicapped access to the VTA light rail station looks to be cut off which is not likely legal. There is a similar, but smaller dual gate between the VTA light rail platform and the northbound Caltrian platform. Someone pushing a baby carriage carrying a bag may need two trips though they may be able to back through the gate with effort. Walking a bike is tight, most people can't lift a bike over their heads to walk through.
This crossing is not one used a few times a day, the foot traffic can be quite heavy especially in the rush hour. They have widened the sidewalk to contain a queue. The question is why the opening is so small and why the heavy steel gate at all? Naturally, the gate has a big sign telling us about a $271 fine for crossing when the overhead crossing gates come down, but that's illegal now.
Is Caltrain the culprit for the detail planning and contracting for this mess or is my information wrong? The sign says it's a Measure A from 2000 project. Again, if this is an example of they spend $5.8 million, what would they do to us with a slice of from $42 billion up to twice that much?
