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CC 07-15-2025 Item No. 13 Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor Vision Study_Written CommunicationsCC 07-15-2025 Item No. 13 Stevens Creek Corridor Vision Study Written Communications From:Richard Lowenthal To:City Council Cc:City Clerk; Cupertino City Manager"s Office Subject:Stevens Creek Corridor Vision Study Date:Sunday, July 13, 2025 10:17:51 PM Mayor Chao and the Cupertino City Council, Please vote to accept the Stevens Creek Corridor Vision Study. we're hoping that you’ll join the cities of San Jose, Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, and VTA to ensure a cohesive future for this very, very important boulevard in Cupertino. Most of us use Stevens Creek Boulevard every day, and many times because of traffic congestion, we take it to Santa Clara and San Jose, and indeed all the way west to Foothill Boulevard. It is particularly important for us to adopt the vision all the way up the Heidelberg Quarry, or at least to Foothill Boulevard. Our family uses that segment frequently when the 85/280 transition ramps are all plugged up with traffic. In addition we are concerned about the health and future of the bridge that carries Stevens Creek Boulevard over the creek itself. That bridge is 47 years old and is wearing out and frankly a pedestrian and bike underpass under that bridge when the bridge is ultimately replaced would be spectacular. Since that bridge is considered a County route, Cupertino’s chances of getting funding assistance for it from the County and VTA will increase if we all join in a vision that includes the area by Blackberry Farm. Thank you for taking residents thoughts into consideration. Richard Lowenthal 42 year resident of Cupertino From:Ishan Khosla To:City Council Cc:City Clerk; Cupertino City Manager"s Office Subject:Please Accept Stevens Creek Corridor Vision Study - Include in Public Record Date:Monday, July 14, 2025 10:30:22 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear City Council Members, My name is Ishan Khosla, and I am a student at Cupertino High School who relies on biking to get to school and around town every day. Stevens Creek is a major corridor in our city, and its safety and accessibility for all citizens, regardless of transportation method, is of utmost importance. Right now, it often feels quite unsafe and disconnected if you are not in a car. This is why we must accept the Stevens Creek Corridor Vision Study to make this road safer, more efficient, and better for all of our citizens, including students and families. It's a collaborative effort involving San Jose, Santa Clara, the County, and the VTA, so Cupertino should stay involved as well. Plus, accepting the study does not commit Cupertino to implementing any projects, but ensures that we have a seat at the table as planning moves forward. It will also place us in an advantageous position to receive county and state-level funding. Thank you for your leadership and for considering the voices of students and citizens. Please include this email in the public record. Sincerely, Ishan Khosla From:Aahaan Jain To:Public Comments Subject:Public Comment 7/15 - Item 13 - Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor Vision Study Date:Saturday, July 12, 2025 8:36:03 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mayor and City Council, My name is Aahaan Jain and I'm a former Cupertino resident who used to (and still do) live close to Stevens Creek Boulevard. Stevens Creek Boulevard is our city’s most important corridor for jobs, housing, and transportation, but the current design of the corridor isn’t up to the task. Its current design encourages speeding, putting everyone at risk, especially those of us who are unable to drive like children, seniors, or mobility device users. The current design is also deeply unsustainable, both environmentally and financially. With the state forcing us to plan for more development along Stevens Creek, we must ensure the transportation options along the corridor can mitigate the traffic impacts of new projects for a less congested and more livable future. The Stevens Creek Vision Study’s Recommended Plan includes proven measures to improve safety and reduce traffic, and respects the independence of our city by not forcing any projects that Cupertino residents object to. It was approved UNANIMOUSLY by the Planning Commission and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission. By accepting the study, the city will be reaffirming our commitment to safe streets and strong regional partnerships without binding the city to any new financial obligations. Please vote to accept the study so we can all enjoy the safe and sustainable Stevens Creek Boulevard that we deserve. Sincerely, Aahaan Jain From:Doron Dru To:Public Comments Subject:Public Comment 7/15 - Item 13 - Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor Vision Study Date:Friday, July 11, 2025 12:41:42 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mayor and City Council, My name is Doron Drusinsky and I’m a Cupertino resident at 11425 Charsan Lane. Stevens Creek Boulevard is our city’s most important corridor for jobs, housing, and transportation, but the current design of the corridor isn’t up to the task. Its current design encourages speeding, putting everyone at risk, especially those of us who are unable to drive like children, seniors, or mobility device users. The current design is also deeply unsustainable, both environmentally and financially. With the state forcing us to plan for more development along Stevens Creek, we must ensure the transportation options along the corridor can mitigate the traffic impacts of new projects for a less congested and more livable future. The Stevens Creek Vision Study’s Recommended Plan includes proven measures to improve safety and reduce traffic, and respects the independence of our city by not forcing any projects that Cupertino residents object to. It was approved UNANIMOUSLY by the Planning Commission and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission. By accepting the study, the city will be reaffirming our commitment to safe streets and strong regional partnerships without binding the city to any new financial obligations. Please vote to accept the study so we can all enjoy the safe and sustainable Stevens Creek Boulevard that we deserve. ALSO: there is no reason Cupertino cannot look like Amsterdam or Copenhagen, with not only FULLY SEPARATED and SAFE bike lanes everywhere, but also separated walking trails that are not adjacent to vehicle exhaust fumes. Sincerely, Doron Drusinsky From:Braeden Webb To:Public Comments Subject:Public Comment 7/15 - Item 13 - Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor Vision Study Date:Saturday, July 12, 2025 9:12:00 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mayor and City Council, My name is Braeden Webb and I’m a Cupertino commuter. Stevens Creek Boulevard is our city’s most important corridor for jobs, housing, and transportation, but the current design of the corridor isn’t up to the task. Its current design encourages speeding, putting everyone at risk, especially those of us who are unable to drive like children, seniors, or mobility device users. The current design is also deeply unsustainable, both environmentally and financially. With the state forcing us to plan for more development along Stevens Creek, we must ensure the transportation options along the corridor can mitigate the traffic impacts of new projects for a less congested and more livable future. The Stevens Creek Vision Study’s Recommended Plan includes proven measures to improve safety, reduce traffic, and respect the independence of our city by not forcing any projects that Cupertino residents object to. It was approved UNANIMOUSLY by the Planning Commission and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission. By accepting the study, the city will be reaffirming our commitment to safe streets and strong regional partnerships without binding the city to any new financial obligations. Please vote to accept the study so we can all enjoy the safe and sustainable Stevens Creek Boulevard that we deserve. Sincerely, Braeden Webb From:Maddon Nicholas Hoh-Choi To:Public Comments Subject:Public Comment 7/15 – Item 13 – Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor Vision Study Date:Saturday, July 12, 2025 10:34:43 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mayor and City Council, My name is Maddon, a former Cupertino student. Stevens Creek Boulevard is a vital corridor for our city, but is largely unsafe for bikers, pedestrians, and people relying on transit. Speeding traffic puts children, seniors, and people using mobility devices at risk every day. The Stevens Creek Vision Study recommends proven improvements—like protected bike lanes, safer crosswalks, and pedestrian islands—that will make the corridor safer for everyone without harming traffic flow. Adopting the study does not commit the city to any projects or spending. It simply opens the door to future grants and regional partnerships that will help Cupertino plan for growth responsibly. Both the Planning Commission and the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission unanimously recommended adopting the study. Please vote to accept it and move Cupertino toward a safer future, especially as the city adds more residents and businesses to the corridor. Thank you, -- Maddon Hoh-Choi (He/Him) University of California, Berkeley | Class of 2027 Haas School of Business From:Alvin Yang To:Public Comments Subject:Public comment for 7/15 Item 13 (Stevens Creek Corridor Study) Date:Friday, July 11, 2025 8:16:09 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mayor and City Council, I'm writing today as a 25+ year resident of Cupertino to urge you strongly to approve the Stevens Creek Corridor Vision Study plan. I've seen Cupertino and the surrounding cities grow in my lifetime and they have outgrown the current design of Stevens Creek. There are simply too many points of interest on Stevens Creek to only prioritize car traffic. Between Downtown San Jose, SJSU, Valley Fair, Santana Row, Main Street, De Anza College, and the soon-to-be-completed Vallco project we simply cannot keep the design as is. The other cities and agencies of this study (San Jose, Santa Clara city + county, and the VTA) have all already come to this conclusion and are on board to adopt the plan. Cupertino should not continue to drag its feet at this critical juncture. As it stands now, if you ever travel on Stevens Creek during peak hours you'll find the road full of traffic and congestion. This is especially apparent at Valley Fair/Santa Row. By adopting this plan we can alleviate the congestion on Stevens Creek as alternative options such as public transportation will become way more enticing. This will also benefit the Cupertino side of Stevens Creek as Main Street is also a highly desirable location. You may think that since there is already existing bus infrastructure that we do not need to improve it but I would argue that the current bus infrastructure isn't good enough to be a viable alternative for the average citizen. I personally took bus 23 from Cupertino to SJSU when I went to college. I found the bus would get stuck in traffic during rush hour adding an extra 10-20 minutes to my commute. Furthermore the bus route itself took so long that the overall travel time on just the bus alone was nearly an hour. This was partially alleviated when VTA started rolling out limited stop bus routes but the bus would always get stuck in traffic and stop constantly at all the red lights. One of the short term plans for the Vision Study is to give signal and lane priority to existing buses. This alone would greatly increase the speed of the bus and make it a viable alternative to driving. The plan document estimates a 50% reduction in corridor travel time which is insanely good return on investment. If you've ever been stuck queuing for parking at Santa Row you can easily see how the bus becomes a very enticing option. I recognize that the budget has been on the City Council's mind since the loss of Apple online sales tax revenue. I would posit to you that implementing this plan is an investment in the future of the city. If Cupertino chooses to adopt the plan you will find that businesses on Stevens Creek will have an increase of customers as it will be easier and more convenient for more people to reach these places. This in turn will boost revenue for the city. It is imperative that the city council acts now while we both still have the capital and have this incredible opportunity. It is very rare to have all these citys and agencies in agreement for such a project. Passing it up now would be detrimental to any future collaboration on not just Stevens Creek but any other future projects. In the past Cupertino has led the way on Stevens Creek improvements but by dragging your feet with this study we are at risk of being left behind. I ask that Cupertino take charge once more and approve the Stevens Creek Plan for the future benefit of its citizens and of the South Bay Area. Regards, Alvin From:Cate Crockett To:City Clerk; City Council Subject:Stevens Creek Blvd Date:Saturday, July 12, 2025 1:50:21 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mayor and City Council, My name is Cate Crockett and I’m a 30 year resident and Cupertino home owner. Stevens Creek Boulevard is our city’s most important corridor for jobs, housing, and transportation, but the current design of the corridor isn’t up to the task. Its current design encourages speeding, putting everyone at risk, especially those of us who are unable to drive like children, seniors, or mobility device users. The current design is also deeply unsustainable, both environmentally and financially. With the state forcing us to plan for more development along Stevens Creek, we must ensure the transportation options along the corridor can mitigate the traffic impacts of new projects for a less congested and more livable future. The Stevens Creek Vision Study’s Recommended Plan includes proven measures to improve safety and reduce traffic, and respects the independence of our city by not forcing any projects that Cupertino residents object to. It was approved UNANIMOUSLY by the Planning Commission and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission. By accepting the study, the city will be reaffirming our commitment to safe streets and strong regional partnerships without binding the city to any new financial obligations. Please vote to accept the study so we can all enjoy the safe and sustainable Stevens Creek Boulevard that we deserve. Sincerely, Cate Crockett From:Joe To:Public Comments Subject:Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor Vision Study Date:Sunday, July 13, 2025 2:22:07 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. UBJECT: Public Comment 7/15 - Item 13 - Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor Vision Study Dear Mayor and City Council, My name is and I’m a San Jose resident & Commuter who uses the San Jose Cupertino corridor. Stevens Creek Boulevard is our city’s most important corridor for jobs, housing, and transportation, but the current design of the corridor isn’t up to the task. Its current design encourages speeding, putting everyone at risk, especially those of us who are unable to drive like children, seniors, or mobility device users. The current design is also deeply unsustainable, both environmentally and financially. With the state forcing us to plan for more development along Stevens Creek, we must ensure the transportation options along the corridor can mitigate the traffic impacts of new projects for a less congested and more liveable future. The Stevens Creek Vision Study’s Recommended Plan includes proven measures to improve safety and reduce traffic, and respects the independence of our city by not forcing any projects that Cupertino residents object to. It was approved UNANIMOUSLY by the Planning Commission and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission. By accepting the study, the city will be reaffirming our commitment to safe streets and strong regional partnerships without binding the city to any new financial obligations. Please vote to accept the study so we can all enjoy the safe and sustainable Stevens Creek Boulevard that we deserve. Sincerely, Joe Neil CTO Phonix.io From:Carol Stanek To:City Council Cc:City Clerk Subject:Support for the Stevens Creek Corridor Vision Study Date:Sunday, July 13, 2025 12:52:39 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mayor, Vice Mayor and City Councilmembers, I am writing today to voice full support of the Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor Vision Study and urge you to accept the Vision Study. Cupertino needs to look to the future and actively pursue improved transportation routes. I strongly disagree with the Planning Commission's recommendation to limit the study to Bubb Road. This is short sighted and dangerous. Anyone who travels between Bubb Road and Foothill knows that this section is routinely used as a popular shortcut by motorists to avoid the Hwy 85 to 280 interchange. This is particularly problematic on weekdays in the mornings and afternoons, the same time as parents are taking their children to and from Stevens Creek Elementary School. This is the only route to take children to school! There are times when it is impossible to turn onto Stevens Creek toward Foothill from the surrounding neighborhoods. In addition, the pedestrian crossing at the entrance to the Blue Pheasant and Blackberry Farm golf course is another place that is rife with safety issues. Motorists routinely speed down the hill, so much so that Sheriff officers often position themselves here to catch speeders. This should all be included in the Vision Study. To suggest that the study be limited short of this section is foolish and dangerous. We already know the issues. The Vision study will provide additional data to guide us in our decision making. The other jurisdictions and agencies have agreed that the corridor should be studied to the end. Why wouldn't we want the data too? Let's get to work to study the corridor all the way through to Foothill! Sincerely, Carol Stanek Speaking for myself Note: Please include my comments in the public record. From:Jian He To:City Council Cc:City Clerk; Cupertino City Manager"s Office Subject:Urging Acceptance of the Stevens Creek Corridor Vision Study Date:Monday, July 14, 2025 12:08:59 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Members of Cupertino City Council, As a resident of Cupertino for more than 20 years, with my family living near Stevens Creek Boulevard and my husband relying on his bike for his daily commute, I am writing to strongly urge your immediate acceptance of the Stevens Creek Corridor Vision Study. This critical initiative represents a collaborative effort between the cities of Cupertino, Santa Clara, and San Jose, along with the County of Santa Clara and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), all united in the goal of comprehensively improving Stevens Creek Boulevard. The future of this corridor directly impacts my family and many others in our community, making your decision on this matter incredibly important. Cupertino has already demonstrated its commitment to this vital project. In July 2019, our City Council adopted a resolution specifically affirming Cupertino's support. This vision study is the culmination of extensive multi-year input from various stakeholders, including the broader public, a dedicated Steering Committee composed of elected leaders from all three cities, and a Community Advisory Group of respected community leaders. Such a thorough and inclusive process ensures that the recommendations reflect the diverse needs and aspirations of our shared community. It is imperative to note that the City Councils of San Jose and Santa Clara, the County, and the VTA have already voted to accept the results of the Vision Study. Cupertino currently stands as the only major participant that has yet to formally accept these results. This is crucial because accepting the study keeps the City of Cupertino actively engaged with Santa Clara, San Jose, the County, and VTA in deciding the future of Stevens Creek Boulevard. Now, Cupertino must do so as well to maintain its vital role in this collaborative effort. It's important to emphasize that the Vision Study does not mandate any specific changes or projects. Instead, it serves as a foundational document, laying out a comprehensive vision for the corridor's future. Any specific projects that emerge from this vision will require separate and individual approval processes, ensuring that Cupertino retains full control over local implementation. Furthermore, unanimous acceptance of the study by all participating cities, the County, and VTA will significantly elevate the priority of specific projects for state and county grant funding. This will directly benefit Cupertino by increasing our chances of securing the necessary resources to realize these improvements. Finally, I must strongly advocate that the corridor vision study encompass all of Stevens Creek Boulevard, extending all the way to Foothill Boulevard, and not terminate at Bubb Road as recommended by the Planning Commission. All other participating cities, the County, and the VTA recognize the paramount importance of improving this vital corridor from end to end. An inclusive approach ensures a cohesive and effective strategy for the entire length of Stevens Creek Boulevard, benefiting all residents and commuters. By accepting the Stevens Creek Corridor Vision Study, the Cupertino City Council will reaffirm its commitment to inter-agency cooperation, demonstrate its dedication to thoughtful urban planning, and unlock significant opportunities for future funding and improvement within our city. Thank you for your time and consideration of this urgent matter. Sincerely, Jian He, Cupertino Resident Many blessings to you all, "...all things work together for good..." --- Romans 8:28 From:Winnifred Homer-Smith To:City Council Cc:City Clerk; Cupertino City Manager"s Office Subject:Vision Study for Stevens Creek Corridor Date:Saturday, July 12, 2025 7:47:29 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Cupertino City Council Members, I am writing to express my support and enthusiasm for the Vision Study for the Stevens Creek Corridor. It is very valuable to give all the cities involved this opportunity to make significant improvements in this ever-so-important corridor that we all use so frequently. It is also very important that it include the entire length of the corridor, as was recommended by the team that produced the Vision. It is my understanding that all the other cities involved have already approved it. It was brought into existence after many years of preparations participated in by many different interest groups. If unanimously approved, it will most likely bring important grant funding. While it does not specify projects, it clearly opens an opportunity to bring this vital corridor into the present, and to prepare it well for our future. I certainly hope we - our city - will continue to support this project to continue all that has been achieved already. Sincerely, Winnifred Homer-Smith 23300 Via Esplendor, V58 Cupertino, 95014 From:Neil Park-McClintick To:Public Comments; City Council Cc:City Clerk; Cupertino City Manager"s Office Subject:Yes on Item 13—Public Comment Date:Monday, July 14, 2025 1:58:37 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mayor and City Council, My name is Neil Park-McClintick and I lived in Cupertino for over 15 years, and my family is still lives there. I also do not own a car and rely on VTA and my bicycle to go to work, get groceries, receive healthcare treatments, meet friends+family, volunteer, and to do basically everything in life, usually on a daily basis. Cupertino and Silicon Valley are fabled throughout the world—many of my relatives in Korea imagine grand cities, rich in amenities, nice facilities, and world class infrastructure. Of course, when people actually come here, they instead witness office parks, surrounded by sprawling suburbs, and limited pedestrian and foot traffic due to car dominance. For all of the massive wealth we have here, our communities are deeply underwhelmed by fault in many cases of those who came before us, before we knew we'd become a epicenter for jobs, housing, and schools. In many ways, Cupertino is actually better planned than much of the South Bay, including our portion of the corridor, but nonetheless our roads, transit systems, bikeways, and major corridors are all connected across cities, counties, agencies, and so on. We have an opportunity and duty to play a key role, as a leader in our region, to reverse the poor decisions of the past—please accept this study, so we can make our community: (1) Better for Bus Users, Pedestrians, and Cyclists: Here is a simple visual of how important a well operated, efficient bus system can be. Often the narrative is focused on how a bus is empty. First, the 23 and 523 (the corridor lines) are two of the most used bus lines in the entire VTA network. But also, we perpetually create a self fulfilling prophecy when we purposely hinder a bus's success under the suspicion that it's underutilized. If the bus takes longer to get to your destination, you will take active steps to use the bus less or not at all, and therefore ridership declines. People need to see the government and its respective services run well and efficiently before they see those as competitive alternatives. images.jpeg 2. Good for Drivers: An underrated reality of having a more shared, safer corridor is that we could also create a better experience for drivers as well. If we can get more people to use the bus, we can create a less congested corridor, especially during prime time traffic and closer to Santana Row/VF, and drivers will have to sit in traffic less. Better cyclist and walking planning also means that drivers are less likely to accidentally come into contact with active transportation, reducing fatalities, crashes and accidents (which lead to more congestion and road closures), and making driving far less stressful. 3. Good for Workers and Students, and Elderly: Cupertino, just like any community in the bay area, is highly dependent on lower-waged workers, who are often Latino (less than 5% of the city), and whose families cannot afford to live in the high rent/purchase homes of our city. In many cases, they rely on the bus to get to and from work, and are the lifeblood of our city—fueling the few retail stores we frequent, the facilities we operate, the roads we operate, the coffee shops and bakeries we eat at, and the grocery stores we depend on. Catch the bus during commuting hours, and you will see these workers, riding the bus to and from work, often sitting in gridlock traffic because of our poor corridor design. Similarly, students, especially De Anza students, ride the 23 and 523 at extremely high volumes, aided by their smart-pass deal that FHDA has with VTA, which allows for free bus use. These workers and students cannot afford a car, especially in this economy—they are living paycheck to paycheck or stretching their financial aid to the absolute last dollar. Finally, if you regularly ride this corridor, you will frequently see elderly who rely on the bus to be able to freely live their lives, many of whom are Asian-American, and who otherwise would be homebound or highly dependent on their families to have freedom. This corridor study will not undo decades upon decades of failed planning, but this is a necessary step to bring the vibrancy, safety, and convenience that Cupertino and Silicon Valley deserves. This DOES NOT preclude future expansions of transit or alternative transportation, but it's a statement and set of policy recommendations that will steer us away from dying strip malls, communities oriented around auto dealerships, unnecessary traffic, and tangibly improve a lot of people's lives. Sincerely, Neil Park-McClintick