The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) ambitious project to provide a fully-separated east-west protected bikeway across Santa Clara County is one step closer to existence. The California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved $14 million in STIP (State Transportation Improvement Program) funds on June 27, 2025, to advance VTA’s Central Bikeway project.

The funding will allow VTA to complete environmental clearance for the planned ten-mile bikeway, a major step forward for one of Santa Clara County’s most ambitious active transportation projects.

The Central Bikeway aims to create a 10-mile, fully separated, low-stress, high-quality, east-west bikeway, connecting Berryessa BART in North San José to the Santa Clara/Sunnyvale border. The alignment will follow El Camino Real in the City of Santa Clara and Hedding Street, The Alameda, Taylor Street, and Mabury Road in San Jose.
The project builds on the 2022 Central Bikeway Feasibility Study, which engaged thousands of community members and identified a preferred alignment based on feasibility, safety, and connectivity.

Environmental clearance is expected to begin in early 2026, with additional phases of design and construction pending future funding. If total funding of $213 million is secured, the project could open in 2033.

This investment underscores the commitment of the State of California, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, City of Santa Clara, City of San José, County of Santa Clara, and VTA to safer, more sustainable transportation choices for Santa Clara County.