San José/Santa Clara County: VTA committees approve funding for San Antonio bikeway

As a result of a special meeting held on March 30 by the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), funding for improved bicycle facilities along San Antonio Street looks likely to be approved. The funding, which would come from VTA's Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP) would be used to improve facilities on San Antonio Street between 17th Street and South Jackson Avenue.

SVBC has been discussing these plans with officials at both VTA and the City of San José for some time, urging the creation of an East-West route to parallel Santa Clara/Alum Rock. We are proud of the progress that has been made and would like to congratulate the City and VTA for the great strides they have made. By working together to fund and construct improved bicycle infrastructure, they positively impact the daily lives of the many Eastside residents who rely on bicycles for transportation.

These improvements, if approved by the VTA Board of Directors, will provided a much needed East-West bicycle route that can be used by cyclists trying to avoid using a narrow and heavily trafficked Santa Clara Street/Alum Rock Avenue. The parallel route along San Antonio Street will be even more crucial after VTA's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project launches in 2013.

See the attached agenda for details. It contains more great projects slated for Board approval, including bikeway improvements on Park and San Fernando, bike lanes on Hedding, and colorized bike lanes on Stevens Creek in Santa Clara!