Community Outreach
Outreach to the Community is delivered in many ways, including email, web page postings like this, signage, tabling at events, presenting at your neighborhood association, home visits for specific purposes, and mail notifications. We use multiple approaches to inform the community and allow authentic engagement.
VTA staff are available to attend your neighborhood, school, and business association meeting and respond to community questions or concerns. If you would like a presentation or project update at your meeting, we ask that you provide at least 2 weeks' advance notice so we can coordinate our schedules and confirm that staff are available.
How to Reach us
- The Community Outreach Office trailer at 1091 S. Capitol Avenue (close to Story Road) is open every Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Staff are also available by appointment.
- Questions or concerns? Use our online comment form or contact us via email: community.outreach@vta.org or by calling (408) 321-7575. Please make sure to provide your name, address, a summary of your concern, supporting evidence (if possible), and your phone number.
Previous Meetings Videos
Links below are the recordings of virtual community meetings:
Project Events and Community Meetings
Learn where VTA staff are sharing project information and invite us to table at your next event!
- 2/18/26: Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Policy Advisory Board (4pm)
- 12/7/25: Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Policy Advisory Board (4pm)
- 12/6/25: Councilmember Peter Ortiz Winter Wonderland (9am - 12 pm)
- 11/7/25: Festival Dia De Los Muertos @ Aptitud School (4-6 pm)
- 11/4/25: Norwood NA Meeting @ Life Valley Church (6-8 pm)
- 10/25/25: District 8 Fall Family Festival @ Lake Cunningham Park (10 am - 2 pm)
- 10/22/25: Councilmember Peter Ortiz Community Meeting (6pm)
- 10/15/25: Evergreen Neighborhood Association Zoom Meeting (7pm)
- 10/07/25: Welch Park Neighborhood Meeting (6:30pm to 8pm)
- 10/04/25: Binational Health Week Kick-Off at Eastridge Mall (10 am to 4pm)
- 9/27/25: James Lick High School (12noon to 1:30 pm)
- 9/25/25: VTA-Hosted Public House (6-8-pm @ Rosevelt Community Center)
- 9/24/25: Aptitud (Spanish for Aptitude) Academy, Back-2-School Night (5-7pm)
- 9/23/25: Hubbard Academy of Arts & Media (Back to School Night) 25: (5-7pm)
- 9/11/25: Ocala STEAM Academy, Back-to-School Night (6-7pm)
- 9/6/25: East San Jose National Night Out (1-4pm @ Mayfair Community Center)
- 8/15/25: Katherine Smith Elementary Back-to-School Night
- 8/5/25: National Night Out (@ Foxdale Village Apartment and Welch Park)
- 7/26/25: Coffee with the Community at Emma Prusch Farm Park
- 7/15/25: Viva Parks at Capitol Park (6-8pm)
- 7/4/25: 4th of July Celebration at Lake Cunningham
- 6/24/25: Viva Parks at Welch Park (6-8pm)
- 5/17/25: Keep Santa Clara Valley Beautiful Clean-up
- 5/7/25: Hubbard Elementary Day of the Child Celebration
- 5/4/25: Cinco de Mayo Parade and Festival
- 4/30/25: Day of the Child Celebration at K&K Apartments
- 4/19/25: EBRC & District 8 Lake Cunningham Clean-up
- 4/18/25: Foxdale Apartments Spring Festival
- 4/17/25: Renaissance at Mathson Resource Fair
- 4/2/25: Evergreen Business Association Meeting
- 3/28/25: LeyVa Middle School Family Movie Night
- 3/26/25: Aptitud Elementary Spring Resource Fair
- 12/13/24: Holiday Open House and Community Appreciation - EBRC Community Outreach Office, 1093. S. Capitol Avenue, 4-7pm
- 11/6/24: Coffee with the Principal - Katherine Smith Elementary School
- 10/26/24: District 8 Family Fun Fall Festival/Cunningham Park
- 10/25/24: Foxdale Neighborhood Fall Festival
- 10/10/24: VTA hosted Community Meeting via Zoom, 6pm (facilitated in Spanish)
- 10/9/24: VTA hosted Community Meeting via Zoom, 6pm
- 10/5/24: Health Fair/Binational Health Week, 9am, Eastridge Mall
- 10/5/24: VTA hosted Community Meeting, 10am, Hank Lopez Community Center
- 10/2/24: Viva Escuela, Katherine Smith Elementary, 6am
- 9/25/24: Back to School! Aptitud Community Academy at Goss, 5pm
- 9/21/24: Join us for the housewarming/open house of the EBRC Community Outreach Office, 1093. S. Capitol Avenue, 11am-1pm.
- 9/19/24: Alum Rock Unified School District Back to School and Resource Fair! San Antonio Elementary School, 5pm
- 9/11/24: Back to School! Katherine Smith Elementary School, 4:30pm
Station Art Enhancement
VTA has provided opportunities for community review of proposed light rail station art concepts. The designs the artists presented were inspired and influenced by community input shared in January’s Meet the Artists meetings and coupled with the artists’ research.
Eastridge Station
Our first meeting, held on August 31 revealed the design for Eastridge Station. Artists Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan presented Radiance, an abstract sculpture inspired by East San Jose’s community celebrations, agricultural history, natural environment, and quality of light.
Radiance is a metaphoric graft of aspects of the Eastridge Station’s surrounding community and nature in which its diverse cultures and landscapes come together to form a radiant whole. The sculpture forms a portal to be walked through. It is intended to be located so it will greet residents and visitors from many vantage points at the nexus of the future light rail station, bus terminals, Park & Ride, and pedestrian trails.
The sculpture changes in appearance as people move around and through it. When viewed from the front, its lower arbor pipes form a subtle heart shape. Viewed diagonally, they form a moon-like ellipse. Viewed from the side, the vertical arbor pipes with the matrix on top suggest a grove of trees. Standing beneath the sculpture will be like looking up into a tree canopy of fruit and flowers. Walking through the sculpture is intended to be a small moment of magic.
Story Road Station
Building on the momentum and spirit of weaving in community engagement and historical research, artist Amir Fallah presented his design concept for Story Road Station, Interwoven on September 13.
Interwoven was inspired by San José’s diverse patchwork of people, cultures, and landscapes. The concept transforms the three elevator towers, and pedestrian overcrossing, into a feature gateway over Capitol Expressway. Collaborating with the architects, the original metal panels design has been reimagined in a custom blueberry color palette, designed to visually connect the three towers. Standing proud of the tower cladding are sixteen glass light boxes of various sizes. The light boxes are strategically placed to be seen from every vantage point, including the roadway, sidewalks, stairs, lightrail platform, and from the train itself. The vibrant and colorful images, lit from within, will have an identity both day and night.
Interwoven features a complex array of images that portray the intersection of landscapes and cultures that is San José. The lightbox element of the artwork includes pictures and patterning from the cultures making up the tapestry of San José, including indigenous, Mexican, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian, and Persian. Throughout the artwork geometric designs refer to the larger theme of interconnectivity and community. A redwood tree refers to the nearby forests, a hand holding a mirror reflects a Mexican desert landscape, a detailed geometric motif commonly seen in East Asian artwork is placed alongside a traditional Mexican textile pattern. Driving south on Capitol Expressway a dreamed panoramic image, split in two, continues from the east elevator tower to the western tower.
Contributing an additional dimension to the work, Mr. Fallah will be commissioning four San José poets, several from east San José, to contribute lines of poetry that will be a central component of the artwork. They will be prompted to respond to themes of travel, journey, voyage, and wandering. From the submissions, Mr. Fallah will select text as part of the artwork.
Each of the recorded meetings and copy of the presentation are linked below for your review.
You have one more opportunity to see the artists presentations
The City of San Jose Public Art Committee will receive similar presentations from the artists when they meet on October 3, 2023 at 5:30pm. Both stations will be reviewed. The San Jose Art Commission meetings are open to the public. Refer directly to the Public Art Committee website for meeting agenda and other information.
Download the Station Art Concept presentations:
Eastridge Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Presentation 8-31-23 – English
Eastridge Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Presentation 8-31-23 – Spanish
Story Road Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Presentation 9-13-23-English
Story Road Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Presentation 9-13-23-Spanish
Or watch the recorded meetings located on SCVTA YouTube:
Eastridge Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Recording 8-31-23-English
Eastridge Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Recording 8-31-23-Spanish
Story Road Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Recording 9-13-23-English
Story Road Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Recording 9-13-23-Spanish
Previously
Meet the Artists!
We have been very excited to introduce the community to the artists selected to enhance the new light rail stations planned for Story Road and Eastridge. Through a rigorous process of artist outreach and selection, Amir Fallah, and the team of Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan, have been commissioned. These artists are all experienced public artists. Their work extends beyond their studios and responds to site and community. They also have track records for sizable, successfully maintainable, permanent public artworks.
The Station Art Enhancement Community Meetings held on January 9 and January 11 (facilitated in Spanish) were the “kick-off” for the artists’ design process, in advance of them doing any design work. The purpose of the meetings were for the community to become acquainted with the artists, and to get a sense of their visual vocabulary and their approach to public art. Each artists presented examples of previous public art installations, and their approach to the designs and mediums used. These meetings were also meant to provide foundational inspiration for the artists’ work, here, in San Jose.
Through an on-line activity, participants responded to four questions:
1. Which neighborhood are you connected to? What is important for us to know about it?
2. Think about a place that is special to you in San Jose. Describe the spot and why you chose it?
3. Please provide three words describing what is important to you personally, or which symbolize your community?
4. What is one of your favorite public artworks in San Jose (or anywhere)? Why?
The meetings provided an opportunity for the artists to learn about the community. It was not surprising that participants represented a wide variety of East San Jose neighborhoods! When asked about a place that is special in San Jose, we heard about the foothills, the greenery, the views, and about the Mexican Heritage Plaza, Alum Rock Park, Eastridge Mall, Marks Hotdogs, Emma Prusch Farm, and the list goes on.
Through the responses to the four questions, the artists gained a good sense of the community. The responses articulated the richness and diversity of East San Jose. It helped the artists get to know you.
In case you missed it, the meetings were recorded. Due to a technical glitch, the meeting on January 9 had to be re-recorded. Instead of watching the activity, we share how it went. The meeting on January 11 went off without any glitches and the recording, in Spanish, has the same artists presentation, and you can watch how the activity was facilitated. Links to the recorded meetings are available on YouTube:
EBRC Station Art Enhancement 1-9-2023
EBRC Majora artistica la estacion 1-11-2023
January 9, 2023 - presentation slides and script
January 11, 2023 - presentation slides and script (Spanish)
If you attended, or missed it, but had a thought to any of the questions asked that we should include, go ahead and send that to community.outreach@vta.org, and we will pass that along to the art team.
Later this spring, we will host the next meeting to update and share the concepts each of the artists’ have for the new stations!
Stakeholder Working Group
A Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) was created and has been active since 2020. The Eastridge to BART Policy Advisory Board members nominated each SWG member to represent the unique constituencies that live, work, and play along the project alignment. Their role is to disseminate information to the stakeholders near the project area and to give feedback to the project team. The members are listed below.
Stakeholder Working Group 2026 Meeting Dates:
February 25, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Location: Project Field Office -
5225 Hellyer Avenue, 2nd Floor, Suite 230
San Jose, CA 95138
This location is a business park. Wayfinding to Suite 230, located upstairs, will be provided.
This meeting is in-person only.
Community members are invited to attend as audience members. Time will be provided for public comment.
Stakeholder Working Group Presentations and Recordings of Meetings
In case you missed the SWG Committee meeting, you can select the following links for meeting presentations and video recordings that are direct links to the YouTube recordings.
02/20/2025 - EBRC-SWG - This meeting provided a general project update. It provides overview of the progression and what activities, and traffic changes to expect in the coming months.
11/21/2024 - EBRC-SWG - This meeting presented an informative discussion on how construction impacts are monitored, reported, and mitigated. Responding to community concerns that there is exposure to contaminated dust from excavation activities, we provided findings that showed otherwise. Reports are available upon request.
08/15/2024 - EBRC-SWG shared construction updates, and heard from SWG members regarding any construction questions and concerns.
05/23/2024 - EBRC-SWG meeting today shared news of the construction updates, and heard from SWG members how drivers and communities are adjusting during active construction and lane closures.
03/28/2024 - EBRC-SWG meeting today shared news of the construction contract award. The SWG discussed near-term community outreach and construction activities. To see/hear the recording, select March 28, EBRC-SWG Meeting.
08/24/2023 - EBRC-SWG meeting today provided project updates and discussed upcoming station art enhancement meetings. In the project update, we shared elements of the contract that encourage small business enterprises to bid on the project and project labor agreement requirements. To see/hear the recording, you can just select the August 2023 EBRC-SWG Meeting.
03/25/2023 - EBRC-SWG meeting today provided project updates to funding (fully funded!), schedule, current outreach activities, and update to current utility relocation activities. To see/hear the recording, please select May 2023 EBRC-SWG Meeting.
08/25/2022 - EBRC-SWG meeting today provided a review of the previous two years of topical review, community outreach update, current project updates, including utility relocation activities. To see the recording, please select August 2022 EBRC-SWG Meeting.
2/24/2022 - EBRC-SWG Meeting today provided project updates, including current utility relocation activities. The discussion about noise and vibration, that was introduced last quarter, continued with a focus on vibration monitoring and the process for monitor and property inspections. To see the recording, please select February 2022 EBRC-SWG Meeting.
11/18/2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting provides an update active utility relocation, Community Outreach report, and further discussion on how the project team will be monitoring and mitigating vibration impacts from future construction activities.
November 2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting SCVTA/YouTube
8/26/2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting includes Station Art Enhancement Program presentation, and introduction to construction noise and vibration assessment and mitigation.
August 2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting SCVTA/YouTube
6/24/2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting includes detailed presentation on utility relocation.
June 2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting SCVTA/YouTube
2/25/2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting includes detailed presentation on bridge construction, and traffic.
February 2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting SCVTA/YouTube
11/19/2020 EBRC-SWG Meeting includes presentations on the future technology (light rail) and the history leading to the elimination of a station at Ocala in 2014.
November 2020 EBRC-SWG Meeting SCVTA/YouTube
8/27/2020 EBRC-SWG Meeting Orientation and project description.
August 2020 EBRC-SWG Meeting SCVTA/YouTube
Reference Materials
PG&E Greenbook: Provides information about trees clearance under and around transmission lines.
SWG Members
Laura Arechiga, Welch Park Neighborhood Association, District 8
Ernesto Barajas, Cassel Neighborhood Association, District 5
Craig Ferguson, Thompson Creek Neighborhood Association, District 8
Sandy Flores, Capitol Park Goss Dobern Neighborhood Association, District 5
Julies Nunes, Lyndale Neighborhood Association, District 5
John Peterson, Eastridge Mall
Project Videos
3-18-2024
VTA is excited to begin construction of the light rail extension in E. San Jose. Watch this video Eastridge to BART Project Benefits to learn of the benefits this project brings to the community, and VTA's transit service!
Curious to see how Capitol Expressway will look with light rail when the project is complete? Check out this video via VTA's Youtube: Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Video.
Property Damage Claims
If you have property damage (home or car, for example) that you believe was caused by construction of the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector project, contact VTA Community Outreach and Public Engagement at (408) 321-7575, or email community.outreach@vta.org.
Community Outreach
Outreach to the Community is delivered in many ways, including email, web page postings like this, signage, tabling at events, presenting at your neighborhood association, home visits for specific purposes, and mail notifications. We use multiple approaches to inform the community and allow authentic engagement.
VTA staff are available to attend your neighborhood, school, and business association meeting and respond to community questions or concerns. If you would like a presentation or project update at your meeting, we ask that you provide at least 2 weeks' advance notice so we can coordinate our schedules and confirm that staff are available.
How to Reach us
- The Community Outreach Office trailer at 1091 S. Capitol Avenue (close to Story Road) is open every Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Staff are also available by appointment.
- Questions or concerns? Use our online comment form or contact us via email: community.outreach@vta.org or by calling (408) 321-7575. Please make sure to provide your name, address, a summary of your concern, supporting evidence (if possible), and your phone number.
Previous Meetings Videos
Links below are the recordings of virtual community meetings:
Project Events and Community Meetings
Learn where VTA staff are sharing project information and invite us to table at your next event!
- 2/18/26: Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Policy Advisory Board (4pm)
- 12/7/25: Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Policy Advisory Board (4pm)
- 12/6/25: Councilmember Peter Ortiz Winter Wonderland (9am - 12 pm)
- 11/7/25: Festival Dia De Los Muertos @ Aptitud School (4-6 pm)
- 11/4/25: Norwood NA Meeting @ Life Valley Church (6-8 pm)
- 10/25/25: District 8 Fall Family Festival @ Lake Cunningham Park (10 am - 2 pm)
- 10/22/25: Councilmember Peter Ortiz Community Meeting (6pm)
- 10/15/25: Evergreen Neighborhood Association Zoom Meeting (7pm)
- 10/07/25: Welch Park Neighborhood Meeting (6:30pm to 8pm)
- 10/04/25: Binational Health Week Kick-Off at Eastridge Mall (10 am to 4pm)
- 9/27/25: James Lick High School (12noon to 1:30 pm)
- 9/25/25: VTA-Hosted Public House (6-8-pm @ Rosevelt Community Center)
- 9/24/25: Aptitud (Spanish for Aptitude) Academy, Back-2-School Night (5-7pm)
- 9/23/25: Hubbard Academy of Arts & Media (Back to School Night) 25: (5-7pm)
- 9/11/25: Ocala STEAM Academy, Back-to-School Night (6-7pm)
- 9/6/25: East San Jose National Night Out (1-4pm @ Mayfair Community Center)
- 8/15/25: Katherine Smith Elementary Back-to-School Night
- 8/5/25: National Night Out (@ Foxdale Village Apartment and Welch Park)
- 7/26/25: Coffee with the Community at Emma Prusch Farm Park
- 7/15/25: Viva Parks at Capitol Park (6-8pm)
- 7/4/25: 4th of July Celebration at Lake Cunningham
- 6/24/25: Viva Parks at Welch Park (6-8pm)
- 5/17/25: Keep Santa Clara Valley Beautiful Clean-up
- 5/7/25: Hubbard Elementary Day of the Child Celebration
- 5/4/25: Cinco de Mayo Parade and Festival
- 4/30/25: Day of the Child Celebration at K&K Apartments
- 4/19/25: EBRC & District 8 Lake Cunningham Clean-up
- 4/18/25: Foxdale Apartments Spring Festival
- 4/17/25: Renaissance at Mathson Resource Fair
- 4/2/25: Evergreen Business Association Meeting
- 3/28/25: LeyVa Middle School Family Movie Night
- 3/26/25: Aptitud Elementary Spring Resource Fair
- 12/13/24: Holiday Open House and Community Appreciation - EBRC Community Outreach Office, 1093. S. Capitol Avenue, 4-7pm
- 11/6/24: Coffee with the Principal - Katherine Smith Elementary School
- 10/26/24: District 8 Family Fun Fall Festival/Cunningham Park
- 10/25/24: Foxdale Neighborhood Fall Festival
- 10/10/24: VTA hosted Community Meeting via Zoom, 6pm (facilitated in Spanish)
- 10/9/24: VTA hosted Community Meeting via Zoom, 6pm
- 10/5/24: Health Fair/Binational Health Week, 9am, Eastridge Mall
- 10/5/24: VTA hosted Community Meeting, 10am, Hank Lopez Community Center
- 10/2/24: Viva Escuela, Katherine Smith Elementary, 6am
- 9/25/24: Back to School! Aptitud Community Academy at Goss, 5pm
- 9/21/24: Join us for the housewarming/open house of the EBRC Community Outreach Office, 1093. S. Capitol Avenue, 11am-1pm.
- 9/19/24: Alum Rock Unified School District Back to School and Resource Fair! San Antonio Elementary School, 5pm
- 9/11/24: Back to School! Katherine Smith Elementary School, 4:30pm
Station Art Enhancement
VTA has provided opportunities for community review of proposed light rail station art concepts. The designs the artists presented were inspired and influenced by community input shared in January’s Meet the Artists meetings and coupled with the artists’ research.
Eastridge Station
Our first meeting, held on August 31 revealed the design for Eastridge Station. Artists Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan presented Radiance, an abstract sculpture inspired by East San Jose’s community celebrations, agricultural history, natural environment, and quality of light.
Radiance is a metaphoric graft of aspects of the Eastridge Station’s surrounding community and nature in which its diverse cultures and landscapes come together to form a radiant whole. The sculpture forms a portal to be walked through. It is intended to be located so it will greet residents and visitors from many vantage points at the nexus of the future light rail station, bus terminals, Park & Ride, and pedestrian trails.
The sculpture changes in appearance as people move around and through it. When viewed from the front, its lower arbor pipes form a subtle heart shape. Viewed diagonally, they form a moon-like ellipse. Viewed from the side, the vertical arbor pipes with the matrix on top suggest a grove of trees. Standing beneath the sculpture will be like looking up into a tree canopy of fruit and flowers. Walking through the sculpture is intended to be a small moment of magic.
Story Road Station
Building on the momentum and spirit of weaving in community engagement and historical research, artist Amir Fallah presented his design concept for Story Road Station, Interwoven on September 13.
Interwoven was inspired by San José’s diverse patchwork of people, cultures, and landscapes. The concept transforms the three elevator towers, and pedestrian overcrossing, into a feature gateway over Capitol Expressway. Collaborating with the architects, the original metal panels design has been reimagined in a custom blueberry color palette, designed to visually connect the three towers. Standing proud of the tower cladding are sixteen glass light boxes of various sizes. The light boxes are strategically placed to be seen from every vantage point, including the roadway, sidewalks, stairs, lightrail platform, and from the train itself. The vibrant and colorful images, lit from within, will have an identity both day and night.
Interwoven features a complex array of images that portray the intersection of landscapes and cultures that is San José. The lightbox element of the artwork includes pictures and patterning from the cultures making up the tapestry of San José, including indigenous, Mexican, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian, and Persian. Throughout the artwork geometric designs refer to the larger theme of interconnectivity and community. A redwood tree refers to the nearby forests, a hand holding a mirror reflects a Mexican desert landscape, a detailed geometric motif commonly seen in East Asian artwork is placed alongside a traditional Mexican textile pattern. Driving south on Capitol Expressway a dreamed panoramic image, split in two, continues from the east elevator tower to the western tower.
Contributing an additional dimension to the work, Mr. Fallah will be commissioning four San José poets, several from east San José, to contribute lines of poetry that will be a central component of the artwork. They will be prompted to respond to themes of travel, journey, voyage, and wandering. From the submissions, Mr. Fallah will select text as part of the artwork.
Each of the recorded meetings and copy of the presentation are linked below for your review.
You have one more opportunity to see the artists presentations
The City of San Jose Public Art Committee will receive similar presentations from the artists when they meet on October 3, 2023 at 5:30pm. Both stations will be reviewed. The San Jose Art Commission meetings are open to the public. Refer directly to the Public Art Committee website for meeting agenda and other information.
Download the Station Art Concept presentations:
Eastridge Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Presentation 8-31-23 – English
Eastridge Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Presentation 8-31-23 – Spanish
Story Road Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Presentation 9-13-23-English
Story Road Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Presentation 9-13-23-Spanish
Or watch the recorded meetings located on SCVTA YouTube:
Eastridge Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Recording 8-31-23-English
Eastridge Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Recording 8-31-23-Spanish
Story Road Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Recording 9-13-23-English
Story Road Station Art Enhancement Community Meeting Recording 9-13-23-Spanish
Previously
Meet the Artists!
We have been very excited to introduce the community to the artists selected to enhance the new light rail stations planned for Story Road and Eastridge. Through a rigorous process of artist outreach and selection, Amir Fallah, and the team of Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan, have been commissioned. These artists are all experienced public artists. Their work extends beyond their studios and responds to site and community. They also have track records for sizable, successfully maintainable, permanent public artworks.
The Station Art Enhancement Community Meetings held on January 9 and January 11 (facilitated in Spanish) were the “kick-off” for the artists’ design process, in advance of them doing any design work. The purpose of the meetings were for the community to become acquainted with the artists, and to get a sense of their visual vocabulary and their approach to public art. Each artists presented examples of previous public art installations, and their approach to the designs and mediums used. These meetings were also meant to provide foundational inspiration for the artists’ work, here, in San Jose.
Through an on-line activity, participants responded to four questions:
1. Which neighborhood are you connected to? What is important for us to know about it?
2. Think about a place that is special to you in San Jose. Describe the spot and why you chose it?
3. Please provide three words describing what is important to you personally, or which symbolize your community?
4. What is one of your favorite public artworks in San Jose (or anywhere)? Why?
The meetings provided an opportunity for the artists to learn about the community. It was not surprising that participants represented a wide variety of East San Jose neighborhoods! When asked about a place that is special in San Jose, we heard about the foothills, the greenery, the views, and about the Mexican Heritage Plaza, Alum Rock Park, Eastridge Mall, Marks Hotdogs, Emma Prusch Farm, and the list goes on.
Through the responses to the four questions, the artists gained a good sense of the community. The responses articulated the richness and diversity of East San Jose. It helped the artists get to know you.
In case you missed it, the meetings were recorded. Due to a technical glitch, the meeting on January 9 had to be re-recorded. Instead of watching the activity, we share how it went. The meeting on January 11 went off without any glitches and the recording, in Spanish, has the same artists presentation, and you can watch how the activity was facilitated. Links to the recorded meetings are available on YouTube:
EBRC Station Art Enhancement 1-9-2023
EBRC Majora artistica la estacion 1-11-2023
January 9, 2023 - presentation slides and script
January 11, 2023 - presentation slides and script (Spanish)
If you attended, or missed it, but had a thought to any of the questions asked that we should include, go ahead and send that to community.outreach@vta.org, and we will pass that along to the art team.
Later this spring, we will host the next meeting to update and share the concepts each of the artists’ have for the new stations!
Stakeholder Working Group
A Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) was created and has been active since 2020. The Eastridge to BART Policy Advisory Board members nominated each SWG member to represent the unique constituencies that live, work, and play along the project alignment. Their role is to disseminate information to the stakeholders near the project area and to give feedback to the project team. The members are listed below.
Stakeholder Working Group 2026 Meeting Dates:
February 25, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Location: Project Field Office -
5225 Hellyer Avenue, 2nd Floor, Suite 230
San Jose, CA 95138
This location is a business park. Wayfinding to Suite 230, located upstairs, will be provided.
This meeting is in-person only.
Community members are invited to attend as audience members. Time will be provided for public comment.
Stakeholder Working Group Presentations and Recordings of Meetings
In case you missed the SWG Committee meeting, you can select the following links for meeting presentations and video recordings that are direct links to the YouTube recordings.
02/20/2025 - EBRC-SWG - This meeting provided a general project update. It provides overview of the progression and what activities, and traffic changes to expect in the coming months.
11/21/2024 - EBRC-SWG - This meeting presented an informative discussion on how construction impacts are monitored, reported, and mitigated. Responding to community concerns that there is exposure to contaminated dust from excavation activities, we provided findings that showed otherwise. Reports are available upon request.
08/15/2024 - EBRC-SWG shared construction updates, and heard from SWG members regarding any construction questions and concerns.
05/23/2024 - EBRC-SWG meeting today shared news of the construction updates, and heard from SWG members how drivers and communities are adjusting during active construction and lane closures.
03/28/2024 - EBRC-SWG meeting today shared news of the construction contract award. The SWG discussed near-term community outreach and construction activities. To see/hear the recording, select March 28, EBRC-SWG Meeting.
08/24/2023 - EBRC-SWG meeting today provided project updates and discussed upcoming station art enhancement meetings. In the project update, we shared elements of the contract that encourage small business enterprises to bid on the project and project labor agreement requirements. To see/hear the recording, you can just select the August 2023 EBRC-SWG Meeting.
03/25/2023 - EBRC-SWG meeting today provided project updates to funding (fully funded!), schedule, current outreach activities, and update to current utility relocation activities. To see/hear the recording, please select May 2023 EBRC-SWG Meeting.
08/25/2022 - EBRC-SWG meeting today provided a review of the previous two years of topical review, community outreach update, current project updates, including utility relocation activities. To see the recording, please select August 2022 EBRC-SWG Meeting.
2/24/2022 - EBRC-SWG Meeting today provided project updates, including current utility relocation activities. The discussion about noise and vibration, that was introduced last quarter, continued with a focus on vibration monitoring and the process for monitor and property inspections. To see the recording, please select February 2022 EBRC-SWG Meeting.
11/18/2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting provides an update active utility relocation, Community Outreach report, and further discussion on how the project team will be monitoring and mitigating vibration impacts from future construction activities.
November 2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting SCVTA/YouTube
8/26/2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting includes Station Art Enhancement Program presentation, and introduction to construction noise and vibration assessment and mitigation.
August 2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting SCVTA/YouTube
6/24/2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting includes detailed presentation on utility relocation.
June 2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting SCVTA/YouTube
2/25/2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting includes detailed presentation on bridge construction, and traffic.
February 2021 EBRC-SWG Meeting SCVTA/YouTube
11/19/2020 EBRC-SWG Meeting includes presentations on the future technology (light rail) and the history leading to the elimination of a station at Ocala in 2014.
November 2020 EBRC-SWG Meeting SCVTA/YouTube
8/27/2020 EBRC-SWG Meeting Orientation and project description.
August 2020 EBRC-SWG Meeting SCVTA/YouTube
Reference Materials
PG&E Greenbook: Provides information about trees clearance under and around transmission lines.
SWG Members
Laura Arechiga, Welch Park Neighborhood Association, District 8
Ernesto Barajas, Cassel Neighborhood Association, District 5
Craig Ferguson, Thompson Creek Neighborhood Association, District 8
Sandy Flores, Capitol Park Goss Dobern Neighborhood Association, District 5
Julies Nunes, Lyndale Neighborhood Association, District 5
John Peterson, Eastridge Mall
Project Videos
3-18-2024
VTA is excited to begin construction of the light rail extension in E. San Jose. Watch this video Eastridge to BART Project Benefits to learn of the benefits this project brings to the community, and VTA's transit service!
Curious to see how Capitol Expressway will look with light rail when the project is complete? Check out this video via VTA's Youtube: Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Video.
Property Damage Claims
If you have property damage (home or car, for example) that you believe was caused by construction of the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector project, contact VTA Community Outreach and Public Engagement at (408) 321-7575, or email community.outreach@vta.org.