Facebook working on plan to help ease traffic, renovate defunct Dumbarton rail bridge

MENLO PARK, Calif. -  Facebook is working on a plan to help ease traffic congestion near its Menlo Park headquarters -- and it could include renovating a defunct rail bridge that runs across the bay. 

The plan would be a public-private partnership designed to deal with the growing traffic problems near Facebook's ever expanding headquarters.

Part of the plan is to resurrect the old rail bridge that sits unused in the middle of the bay running alongside the Dumbarton Bridge.

On Wednesday night, Facebook entered into an agreement with the San Mateo County Transit District  and a development group to improve the Dumbarton corridor, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. 

Commuter train service across the bay would help get Facebook employees from the East Bay -- to and from work. And it could also improve traffic on the busy Dumbarton bridge.

Facebook is planning to build a new campus, which could eventually bring its staff to about 35,000 people -- about the same as the population of Menlo Park.  

Residents such as Rodolfo Caro of Vallejo, who live and work nearby, say the traffic is tough. 

On Thursday, John Tenanes, Facebook’s vice president of global facilities and real estate — sent a statement, which says in part: “It's still early days and we need to understand the environmental impact of this proposal. but by working to ease congestion in the area, we hope to make life better for everyone.”