The Santa Clara–Alum Rock Valley Rapid Project would provide limited-stop rapid transit service for 7.4 miles, from the Eastridge Transit Center to the HP Pavilion using Capitol Expressway, Alum Rock Avenue and Santa Clara Street. Two separate Valley Rapid lines (the 522 El Camino and the 523 Stevens Creek) would operate between the Downtown Transit Mall and the Eastridge Transit Center. At the Transit Mall, the two lines would split with the Valley Rapid 522 continuing service to the Palo Alto Transit Center and Valley Rapid 523 to De Anza College.
The Santa Clara-Alum Rock Valley Rapid service would include the following features:
- Special Vehicles – Equipped with green technology and comfortable, modern interiors.
- Enhanced Stations – Offering attractive architecture, lighting, passenger amenities and advanced features.
- Dedicated Lane on Alum Rock – East of 34th street, the BRT vehicles would travel in a dedicated median busway, separated from traffic to improve reliability and travel time.
- Transit Signal Priority – Traffic signals stay green as the vehicle approaches the intersection to speed up service.
- High-Tech Communications – ‘Up-to-the-minute’ information through electronic message signs at stations and wireless capabilities.
- Rapid Boarding – Ticket machines and all-door boarding means less wait time at stations.
- Fast, Frequent, Reliable – The two Valley Rapid lines would operate during the peak at 10-minute headways with offset schedules allowing for a combined 5-minute headway between the Downtown Transit Mall and the Eastridge Transit Center.
Service would be provided at 13 stations:
- Bird Avenue (VRT 523)
- Convention Center (VRT 523)
- HP Pavillion (VRT 522)
- Transit Mall (1st and 2nd Streets)
- 7th Street
- 16th Street
- 24th Street
- King Road
- Jackson Avenue
- Capitol Avenue
- Story Road
- Ocala Avenue
- Eastridge Transit Center
Project Cost and Funding
The estimated total cost for the Santa Clara–Alum Rock Bus Rapid Transit Project is $128 million. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) allocated $90 million from State Proposition 1B funds specifically for the BRT project. The remaining $38 million needed for the project will be funded through the 2000 Measure A Transit Improvements Program.
Project Schedule
| VTA Board approves Environmental Impact Report | December 11, 2008 |
| Project Agreement with City of San Jose | February, 2010 |
| Preliminary Engineering | April 2010–September 2011 |
| Vehicle Procurement | July 2011–July 2013 |
| Final Design | September 2011–July 2012 |
| Construction | September 2012–December 2014 |
| Service Begins | August, 2014 |
What’s Happening Now?
The Santa Clara-Alum Rock Project is currently preparing architectural design schemes for each of the 13 stations in the corridor. While there will be a consistent look to all Valley Rapid stations, project stakeholders will have an opportunity to personalize their station so it enhances their community. The station personalization presentations can be viewed online here.
