| SUMMER 2001 |
Design Beginning for Downtown East Valley Project
The Downtown East Valley transportation plan consists of several proposed light rail and bus improvements.
 After extensive study last year,
a preferred plan for light rail
and bus improvements was
chosen. The project is currently
in the conceptual engineering
phase, which will be completed
by Spring 2002. During
conceptual engineering, there
will be decisions about the
operations of the light rail train
and bus improvements. For
example, how often the bus or
train will come by the station
and whether or not park and
ride lots will be built at the
stations. In addition, the
specific modifications to
existing roadways and
driveways, on-street parking,
sidewalks and bike lanes will
be studied. During this phase
what bus stops and light rail
stations will look like and how
they will fit into surrounding
neighborhoods will also be
determined. Downtown East
Valley lines are expected to
open in 2008.
The proposed light rail alignment extends from Downtown San Jose along Santa Clara Street and Alum Rock Avenue to Capitol Expressway where it will join with the Capitol Light Rail line (currently under construction) at the Alum Rock Station. Then the new light rail line will extend further south along Capitol Expressway to Eastridge Mall. The line would continue down Capitol Expressway across Monterey Highway then connect to the existing light rail line on Route 87 (the Guadalupe line). For the Downtown San Jose segment, two alternative routes are currently being considered for the segment between 10th Street through Downtown to the San Jose Diridon Station: Santa Clara Street and San Fernando Street. Both alternative alignments will be carried forward during this conceptual engineering phase of the project. As part of the project, Bus Rapid Transit would run on Monterey Highway from Downtown to the Santa Teresa Light Rail Station on the Guadalupe Light Rail line. Bus Rapid Transit will provide an improved level of service within the corridor by building bus-only bypass lanes, implementing traffic signal priority for buses, and providing better, more convenient passenger information. |
| D | In August 2000, the Santa
Clara Valley Transportation
Authority (VTA) Board of
Directors approved a
Preferred Investment Strategy for the Downtown
East Valley study area.
It includes both light rail
and bus rapid transit
improvements to address
transportation needs
identified through Major
Investment Study (MIS).
The project is currently in
the conceptual engineering
phase and environmental
review will begin soon.
The project timeline is
shown at right.
|
Light Rail Station
Locationsin Your Neighborhood
 |
Choosing station locations is one of the most important ways the community can participate in the design of the Downtown East Valley Light Rail and Bus Rapid Transit Project. |
Designers use several criteria to help make the decision of where to put stations. The
designers look at:
STATION SPACING
Spacing between stations is a balancing act. The stations need to be close enough to be
easy to reach from many areas
in the community by foot. However, it is also the desire to keep the train moving along
on the line, since stopping
too often will make the trip a slow one.
RIGHT-OF-WAY IMPACTS
Designers try to minimize the need to purchase land from the surrounding property owners.
Sometimes on-street parking
or turn lanes are removed to avoid having to purchase land. Station areas take even more
land than the rail line itself,
so designers look at land availability and surrounding uses when considering station
locations.
SURROUNDING LAND USES
One factor that can influence the success of the Downtown East Valley Light Rail Project
will be the line's ability to take
people where they want to go. Destinations such as The Compaq Center, San Jose State
University, Mexican Heritage
Plaza, Five Wounds Church, and Eastridge Mall are popular destinations and will need
stations to serve them. Other
places people want to go such as shopping centers, businesses, and areas where many people
live, will also need stations.
Planning for the future is important, too, so designers and the community need to consider where future new
housing, shopping or businesses will be located. Transit oriented development, meaning areas
of the community specifically planned to take advantage of the light rail and bus lines,
could and will likely be developed.
Planning for a community to be friendly to people who are walking, bicycling, or
riding the bus as well as driving
help support the light rail line, determine where stations are located and enhance access
for everyone.
TRAFFIC & PARKING IMPACTS
When designers and the community look at potential station locations, impacts on
traffic must be considered.
For example, if a station causes the street to always have a back-up then the community
is less likely to be happy with
the placement of the station. In addition, designers also analyze the potential impacts
to parking and loading areas in the vicinity of a station.
CONNECTIONS TO BUS & OTHER RAIL LINES
Stations that are located close to major cross-town roadways for bus and current or future
rail connections (such as BART and Caltrain) help make convenient and efficient transfers possible. Transfers
also provide access to more
areas of the community and the region.
 |
A station should provide convenient, safe access for pedestrians, transit riders, bicyclists, and people who arrive by car or bus. |
STATION ACCESS
A station should provide convenient, safe access for pedestrians, transit riders,
bicyclists and people who
arrive by car or bus. Road crossings should be minimized as much as possible. If road
crossings are necessary, then
traffic signs or traffic lights should be included. Station locations that offer convenient,
safe access for all types of
travel are preferred.
STATION VISIBILITY
Visible and attractive light rail stations have many positive impacts for the surrounding
neighborhood. A station can
be a focal and identity point for a community. In general, stations that are located along
busy streets, particularly at a
place where two busy streets cross, offer the highest degree of visibility for the system,
security for the passenger,
and potential for riders to use the system. Designers want to minimize the placement of
stations in off-street positions
or along less traveled streets.
| One factor that can influence the success of the Downtown East
Valley Light Rail Project will be the line’s ability to take people where
they want to go.
|
PUBLIC SUPPORT
Residents, business owners and all community members are encouraged to provide comments and input during the
design process. Stations are placed to serve the community. Who better to help choose
the station locations than the community members and potential riders themselves? To attend the community meeting in your neighborhood
where the station locations will be discussed, see the list of community meetings at right.
Or contact us at (408) 321-5744 for more information.
| P U B L I C
I N V O L V E M E N T: G E T I N V O L V E D ! |
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| Help plan the new light rail stations in your community by attending public meetings and open houses. Public Meetings:
Exhibits, 6:00-6:30 p.m.; Presentation Open Houses: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. |
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POLICY ADVISORY BOARD
Five elected officials serve on the Downtown East Valley Policy Advisory Board (PAB). The PAB meets
bi-monthly during the conceptual engineering phase. Members comment on all aspects of the project and
will make final recommendations on the conceptual engineering to the VTA Board.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY SUPERVISOR
Blanca Alvarado, Chair
SAN JOSE COUNCIL MEMBER
Cindy Chavez, Vice Chair
SAN JOSE COUNCIL MEMBER
Nora Campos
SAN JOSE COUNCIL MEMBER
David Cortese
SANTA CLARA COUNTY SUPERVISOR
Pete McHugh
For further information about Downtown East Valley, please
contact Gail Price, project manager, at (408) 321-5744 or
email downtown.eastvalley@vta.org. For information about
other VTA transit projects and bus service please explore the
VTA website at www.vta.org or call VTA at (408) 321-2300.
If you would like information in Spanish, Vietnamese,
or Mandarin Chinese, please call VTA Customer Services
at (408) 321-2300.