The VTA megaproject to bring BART to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara, with a cost estimate that’s already ballooned to more than two and a half times its original target, is now facing yet another increase and timeline delay. Officials said this week the six-mile extension project for the rail line is expected to...
East San Jose to get long overdue light rail extension
South Bay transit leaders have approved a major contract to get construction underway on a long-planned light rail extension project in East San Jose. The VTA board of directors on Thursday unanimously approved awarding a $437 million construction contract to a joint venture of two companies to build the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector. The...
East San Jose light rail extension faces critical vote
A critical light rail extension project more than two decades in the making is set to begin major construction by April, if transit leaders give it a final OK. The Eastridge to BART Regional Connector, held up as a significant piece in addressing longstanding transit inequities in the area, is desperately needed, the transit agency...
San Jose preps plan to rework one of its most dangerous roads
One of San Jose’s most dangerous roads is gearing up for a major upgrade. King Road, a six-mile street bounded by Berryessa Road to the north and East Capitol Expressway to the south, is slated for improvements. The city’s transportation department is finalizing a plan that targets safety and traffic flow. From 2018 to 2023, eight people, including an infant,...
Los Gatos to build bike path over highway
Los Gatos is carving a new path along Blossom Hill Road in the name of public safety. The Highway 17 Bicycle & Pedestrian Overcrossing project, located between the east and west sections of Roberts Road, will be constructed next to the Blossom Hill Road bridge sitting over the highway. The roughly 20-foot-wide bridge will be...
San Jose sets fines for catalytic converter thefts
Reported thefts of catalytic converters are trending down in San Jose, and city officials are strengthening policies to ensure that thefts keep dropping. The San Jose City Council last week unanimously approved a policy that makes it a misdemeanor to possess a catalytic converter that is not attached to a vehicle without proper documentation, punishable...
Cupertino plans safety improvements for major thoroughfare
One of Cupertino’s busiest streets is on the road to becoming safer. Cupertino is receiving more than $425,600 to increase safety on Bollinger Road through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The city will match the grant with more than $106,000 from its general fund, in conjunction with San...
Sunnyvale considers ride-share service for commuting students
Sunnyvale is looking to fill accessibility gaps in existing public transit options for residents to travel around the city, and one ride-share service is taking center stage. The Sunnyvale City Council is considering signing the city up with Silicon Valley Hopper (SV Hopper), a multi-city ride-share service that operates in Cupertino and Southern Santa Clara....
Silicon Valley senator wants to consolidate 27 transit agencies
Transit agencies across the Bay Area are suffering from low ridership and fiscal strain. One lawmaker thinks combining them may be a solution. State Sen. Aisha Wahab, whose district covers Sunnyvale and Milpitas, has submitted a bill asking the California State Transportation Agency to create a plan that would consolidate the Bay Area’s 27 transit...
San Jose school districts skip electric bus grant
The federal government dished out $88 million in grants to California school districts for electric buses, but San Jose schools lost out. Due to timing, cost and a lack of infrastructure, three local school districts were unable to capitalize on funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program. Alum Rock Union School...