Fremont’s $41 Million BART Pedestrian Bridge & Plaza Just Opened

By Eli Walsh, Bay City News Foundation

BART is officially opening the long-delayed pedestrian and bicycle bridge and plaza at the Warm Springs/South Fremont station, making it easier to get to the station for residents living to its west.

The 250-foot bridge spans across five Union Pacific Railroad tracks adjacent to the station. Since the station opened in 2017, residents, workers and other BART riders have been required to take a circuitous route around the tracks to get to the station from the west.

The city of Fremont contributed roughly $11 million to construct the bridge and plaza while the Alameda County Transportation Commission contributed $30 million.

“We are excited to open the bridge and plaza to the public this week to enable a more seamless, enjoyable commute for all who work and live in Fremont,” said BART Board Director Liz Ames, whose district includes the Fremont, South Hayward, Union City and Warm Springs stations.

Oakland’s Shimmick Construction built the bridge and plaza, which includes an amphitheater that Fremont and BART officials said will host events like concerts and farmer’s markets. The area surrounding the station, known as the Warm Springs Innovation District, is expected to include roughly 400 housing units, an elementary school and community park, commercial and office space and a hotel.

BART and Fremont officials do not plan to hold a formal opening event for the bridge and plaza in the immediate future. The bridge and plaza “soft opened” Thursday when the BART system opened at 5 a.m.

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