Warm Springs/South Fremont station
| Company type | Rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | March 25, 2017 |
| Headquarters | Fremont, California , United States |
Area served | Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system |
| Products | BART Orange and Green line service |
Warm Springs/South Fremont station is a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stop located in the Warm Springs area of Fremont, California. It accommodates both the Orange and Green lines. The station commenced operations on March 25, 2017, initially acting as the southern endpoint for these lines until June 13, 2020, when the Milpitas and Berryessa/North San José stations opened as components of the Silicon Valley BART extension.
This facility includes an island platform situated between tracks at ground level, with a fare mezzanine positioned above and a pedestrian bridge linking to a rotunda-style entrance.
Planning
The concept for extending BART to Warm Springs originated circa 1994; by 1998, BART projected costs around $550 million and anticipated daily ridership of approximately 7,800 by 2010. Meanwhile, a 1994 study by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission estimated daily boardings near 3,200 for that year.
A ceremonial groundbreaking event for the Warm Springs Extension took place in September 2009, with an initial target completion date set for 2014. Actual construction activities began in 2011. On May 24, 2012, the BART Board formally designated the station as Warm Springs/South Fremont, blending the traditional neighborhood name with the South Fremont identifier.
Opening
The Warm Springs Extension experienced several postponements beyond its planned 2014 launch due to unforeseen requirements such as replacing power cables and difficulties integrating new train control technology with BART’s existing infrastructure. By September 2016, BART aimed to open the station in October to coincide with a November bond measure vote; however, this schedule was not met. Despite these setbacks, full staffing of the station commenced in September 2016 because union staffing adjustments occur only twice per year.
The station officially began service on March 25, 2017. Conceptual design was created by local architect Robin Chiang and finalized by HNTB. The entrance rotunda, featuring Catherine Widgery’s “Sky Cycles” artwork, received commendation from San Francisco Chronicle critic John King; he noted that while the rotunda was scaled down from Chiang's initial vision, platform seating remained insufficiently provided. Adjacent to the rotunda on its southern side are seven bus bays utilized by AC Transit buses and private shuttle services.
Initially, due to delays in introducing new BART railcars into operation, Warm Springs was served by only one line at a time: weekdays before 6 pm by the Green Line and at other times by the Orange Line, with the alternate line terminating at Fremont. Full service on both lines extended to Warm Springs/South Fremont beginning September 10, 2018.
Following increased rail service levels, several VTA bus routes were rerouted from Fremont to Warm Springs effective October 8, 2018. Nevertheless, three out of four VTA routes serving this station were discontinued during a network restructuring on December 28, 2019; the final remaining route ceased operations coinciding with phase one of the Silicon Valley BART extension opening on June 13, 2020. Since then, only AC Transit buses continue to serve this location.
Adjacent development
The Warm Springs/South Fremont station serves as the central feature of the Warm Springs Community Plan area in Fremont, California, which is designated for federally-supported transit oriented development (TOD) characterized by greater density compared to nearby residential zones. The Union Pacific Railroad (UP) Warm Springs Subdivision runs immediately west of the BART tracks. In 2011, UP acquired land adjacent to the former NUMMI factory with plans to construct a rail yard, a proposal that conflicted with the city's vision for development. To counter this, Fremont engaged a lobbyist to expedite TOD initiatives and block the rail yard project. By May 2015, Lennar purchased the northern portion from UP, facilitating opportunities for both residential and commercial projects.
In 2016, the city of Fremont approved construction of a cable-stayed pedestrian and bicycle bridge linking the station mezzanine to a newly created west plaza. This infrastructure was designed to enhance access from emerging developments and the neighboring Tesla Factory, which previously lacked safe pedestrian pathways due to intervening rail lines. Although originally budgeted at $25 million with an anticipated completion date in 2018, costs escalated to $41 million, and delays postponed the opening until February 2022. Construction commenced in early 2019, with the primary span installed in September of that year.
As of , BART intends to seek developers between 2029 and 2033 for transit-oriented projects that will replace existing surface parking areas at the station. This initiative aims to boost density and improve transit connectivity consistent with regional growth objectives.