As traffic picks up nationwide ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend, San Jose’s airport is running without hiccups. A spokesperson for Mineta San Jose International Airport said they’re expecting more than 280,000 passengers between June 30 and July 8. That’s a 20% increase compared to the 232,000 passengers during the same week last...
New San Jose speed limits applauded, but still fall short
Drivers will need to start pumping the brakes because speed limits are coming to some busy San Jose streets. The City Council this week approved speed reductions on smaller roads in specific San Jose business districts. The locations, which include Evergreen Village Square, portions of Almaden Avenue, Jackson, Post, Santa Clara and Willow streets, will...
No more parking incentives for electric cars in San Jose
Despite San Jose’s lofty goal to reduce its carbon footprint, City Hall is eliminating a program that incentivizes people to drive electric vehicles. The city’s clean air parking permit program that provides free parking for electric vehicles at city-owned parking lots and on-street parking meters, is sunsetting at the end of June. The program began in 2001. But...
San Jose refreshes its approach to abandoned vehicles
The San Jose Department of Transportation has recalibrated its approach to vehicle towing. Post-pandemic, the Parking Compliance Unit of the transportation department is working smarter in how it responds to public reports. New policy prioritizes cases based on a vehicle’s condition and likelihood to be towed. Reports of abandoned, non-working vehicles will be investigated over...
Santa Clara County officials request state audit of VTA
A California legislator fighting to change VTA’s leadership is shifting tactics in the wake of public pushback. Assemblymember Marc Berman announced Monday he is not advancing Assembly Bill 2181 this year, which would eliminate VTA’s board of directors on or after July 2023 and shrink the board from 18 to 12 members, at least six...
San Jose councilmembers want to cut parking requirements
San Jose officials are green lighting a plan to reduce parking in new developments, but some are concerned about how it’ll impact residents. San Jose councilmembers voted unanimously Tuesday to create a policy to eliminate the city’s minimum parking requirements for new developments. The policy would incentivize alternative modes of transportation, like biking and public transit. The...
San Jose officials memorialize former Mayor Norm Mineta
“Welcome home, Norm,” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said as friends and family of Norm Mineta, former U.S. secretary of transportation and the city’s first Asian American mayor, gathered Wednesday at City Hall to celebrate and memorialize his life. Mineta died on May 3. Mineta is a local legend known for his advocacy during the September...
San Jose could cut parking requirements for new developments
San Jose planning officials are split on a proposal to eliminate minimum parking requirements for new building projects and what it could mean for the future of the city. The San Jose Planning Commission voted 6-2-3 Wednesday to receive a report with several alternatives for reducing parking spaces. Commissioners Rolando Bonilla and Jorge Garcia voted against...
San Jose transit workers raise alarm over spitting and assaults
If you drive a VTA bus, sooner or later someone is going to spit on you. “It happens to everybody,” a VTA operator told San José Spotlight. The worker requested anonymity to avoid retaliation. “If you’re there long enough, you’re guaranteed it’s going to happen to you—it’s absolutely horrible.” Spit, threats, punches and sexual harassment...
San Jose council nixes Liccardo’s Qatar travel plans
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s travel plans to Qatar got axed by the City Council after they cited human rights concerns. Liccardo was invited by the foreign ministry of Qatar to attend the country’s Environment and Energy Research Institute from June 11-13 and learn about their water conservation efforts. All travel accommodations and meals would...