New San José overpass design addresses SVBC's concerns

Those of you traveling past the Tully Road Highway 101 overpass may have noticed something different in the past couple of weeks - namely that it's out of commission. The overpass is being replaced with a new, multi-modal design that Valley Transit Authority (VTA) fought to get approved by Caltrans. SVBC worked with VTA to provide support for the much safer highway crossing from the cycling community.

Click to enlarge.

VTA had to fight for the unorthodox design of the overpass. SVBC was called in to review the plans and help convince Caltrans that the bike- and pedestrian-friendly alterations would better serve the community. Without this concerted effort, the structure would have been replaced with the typical Caltrans design: 12-foot auto lanes, narrower widths for bicyclists and pedestrians, no bulbouts at crossings, and swooping movements to and from freeway ramps to accommodate higher speed auto movements. Instead, we get wider bike lanes and sidewalks, speed-calming ramp designs, safer crossings for pedestrians, and even some nice landscaping!

The overpass is slated to open early summer 2012. We hope you'll join us to pedal across the first of what will hopefully be many safer overpasses.