CC 07-15-2025 Item No. 13. Stevens Creek Blvd Vision Study_Staff PresentationA Multijurisdictional Transportation Planning Study
Stevens Creek Blvd Corridor Vision Study
Matthew Schroeder
City of Cupertino
Senior Transportation Planner
Project Background
History
•Informally initiated in 2017 as a working group for regional
transportation coordination with VTA, Santa Clara, San Jose, and
the County. The project was initiated in 2019 with the adoption of
Resolution No. 19-089.
Purpose
•Develop an aspirational community ‘vision’ for the Corridor
•Balancing the needs of all roadway users
•Not an immediate, prescriptive plan
•Phased approach based on agency discretion
Cupertino’s Role
Directed by Resolution No. 19-089
•Support efforts to study improving transit efficiency and
streetscape.
•Support continuing ongoing conversations regarding high-
capacity transit service along the Corridor, with the
understanding that it would:
•Not use general-purpose lanes or adversely impact
vehicular capacity on City surface streets;
•Be grade-separated and time-competitive with
automobile travel;
•Study an alternate alignment along I-280.
Project Location
Project Limits
•Stevens Creek Boulevard/West San Carlos Street (9 miles)
•From Foothill Blvd in Cupertino to Diridon Station in San Jose
Project Location
Project Limits
•Stevens Creek Boulevard/West San Carlos Street (9 miles)
•The roadway varies along the Corridor
Project Location
Project Structure
Group Roles & Responsibilities
•Steering Committee -5 members
•Elected officials from Cupertino, Santa Clara, San José,
Santa Clara County, and VTA
•Community Advisory Group (CAG) -12 members
•Residents, businesses, and advocacy groups
•The Public
•Surveys, webinars, and pop-up events
•Outreach led by Winter Consultants
Project Schedule
Community Outreach
Engagement Methods
•Stakeholder interviews (40)
•Focus groups (4)
•Pop-Ups (7)
•Corridor tours (4)
•Online webinars (4)
•Community Advisory Group
meetings (4)
•Steering Committee meetings (5)
•Website/agency
communications/surveys
Community Outreach
Engagement Methods
•Agencies provided an
equivalent amount of outreach
Cupertino Events
•De Anza Farmers Market
•Cupertino 4 All Regular Meeting
•Bike Corridor Tour
•Steering Committee Corridor
Tour
•High School Student Virtual
Corridor Tour
•Walking/Transit Corridor
Tour
•College Student Virtual
Focus Group
•De Anza Flea Market
Community Outreach
Community Feedback by Phase
The Vision
Vision Statement
•“The Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor transportation
infrastructure changed little in the past 50 years while the area it
serves grew into a worldwide hub of innovation. Therefore, we
envision the transportation corridor our community deserves to
support continued residential and commercial vibrancy: safe and
enjoyable travel for people of every age, ability, and chosen
mode.”
The Vision
Vision Statement
“Residents, businesses, and visitors would be served by:
•A high-capacity transit system supported by station access enhancements to connect
the Cities of Cupertino, Santa Clara, and San José from Diridon Station and Downtown
San José to De Anza College within twenty minutes, with connection to Foothill Boulevard,
for reliable travel to local and regional destinations. Station areas would be well-
maintained and inviting community assets.
•A stress-free and enjoyable walking and bicycling environment. High-quality pedestrian
and bicycle infrastructure would be prioritized to connect neighborhoods to the corridor
within a 20-minute walk of transit stops.
•Safe and efficient vehicle travel would be accommodated for connections to
neighborhoods, businesses, and expressways and freeways.
This Vision would be implemented by an open and inclusive process of continuous
evaluation to promote equitable access and use.”
Recommended Projects
‘Implementation’ Plan
•Near-Term (5 Years)
•Corridor identity and maintenance
•Bus speed, reliability, and experience
•Enhanced corridor walking and biking infrastructure and
connections
•Mid-Term (10 Years)
•Intersection and crossing improvements
•Long-Term (20+ Years)
•Separated, high-capacity transit
Near-Term Projects
Corridor Identity and
Maintenance
•Convene businesses and business
groups to explore:
•Joint advertising and
branding opportunities
•Marketing and special events
•Public safety and hospitality
•Small business grants/loans
•Communicate business resources to
Corridor businesses.
•Coordinate street cleaning and
maintenance, including graffiti
removal and sidewalk and vegetation
maintenance.
•Reduce the speed limit to 35 miles per
hour from Lawrence Expressway to
Harold Avenue.
•Coordinate vehicle speed enforcement
and speed education efforts.
•Develop a process for ongoing
community input and engagement for
corridor issues through the Stevens Creek
Boulevard Corridor Steering Committee.
Near-Term Projects
Bus Speed, Reliability, and Experience
•Complete an administrative policy for
the four agencies operating signals in
the Corridor to cooperate with VTA to
implement a corridor-wide transit signal
priority through a centralized system.
•VTA will develop a Speed and Reliability
Improvement Plan for the frequent
network routes.
•Cupertino does not support the
conversion of general-purpose lanes for
transit.
Near-Term Projects
Enhanced Corridor Walking
and Biking Infrastructure and
Connections
•Physically protect/separate/buffer
bicycle lanes while maintaining
access to driveways.
•Widen sidewalk widths consistent
with City standards
•Plant shade trees.
•Review locations for installation of
median refuge islands.
•Implement existing agency plans.
•Review the potential for leading
pedestrian intervals at signalized
intersections (LPIs).
•Implement pedestrian-oriented
lighting when street lighting is installed
or replaced in the corridor.
Mid-Term Projects
Intersection and Crossing
Improvements
•Implement enhanced, high-
visibility crossings for pedestrians
and bicyclists.
•Implement curb extensions and
protected intersections.
•Prioritize crossings of barriers for
pedestrians and bicycles
•Review key hotspots for crossing
improvements, such as Monroe
Street and Stevens Creek
Boulevard at I -880, for potential
reconfiguration to accommodate
clearer travel patterns for all
modes.
Long-Term Project
Separated High-Capacity Transit
•Continue conversations and pursue grant
funding to study the project.
Example Project Delivery Timeline
•Preliminary Engineering (2025-2028)
•Design and Engineering (2029-2030)
•Environmental Clearance (2031-2036)
•Utility Relocation (2037-2039)
•Construction (2040-2045)
Final Steering Committee Meeting
Dec 18, 2024
•Acknowledged the participation of new members on the Steering
Committee moving forward due to recent elections.
•Supported a review of the document and proposed that each
agency organize a study session tailored to the needs of each
jurisdiction.
•Approved the amended plan, changing the name from
Implementation Plan to Recommendation Plan.
BPC Meeting
April 16, 2025
•Passed a motion recommending that the City Council accept
the Study with specific qualifications.
•The City maintains final decision-making authority
regarding any projects or recommendations contained
within the Vision Study.
•The BPC reaffirms the City’s commitment to the provisions
contained within Resolution 19-089.
•All projects within the City of Cupertino, including any
intersection modifications, will conform to the City’s
standard processes, plans, and procedures relating to
public outreach and approval.
Planning Commission Meeting
May 13, 2025
•Passed a motion recommending that the City Council accept
the Study with specific qualifications.
•Prioritize investments in identity and maintenance.
•Prioritize investments in safety, with a focus on, but not
limited to, technology and innovation such as adaptive
traffic signalization and active pedestrian detection.
•Prioritize cost by limiting the corridor up to Bubb Road and
limiting the study of transit alternatives to grade-separated
transit.
•Invest in off-corridor bicycle and pedestrian networks such
as, but not limited to, the Lawrence Mitty Trail and Tamien
Innu.
Next Steps
Ongoing Coordination
•Reconvene long-term Stevens Creek Vision Steering Committee
and staff working group to lay out near, mid, and long-term
strategies for projects.
•Pursue grant opportunities to advance project recommendations.
•Accepting the Study now doesn’t constitute the approval of
approving the Study's recommended projects, like the grade-
separated transit project.
Recommended Action
•Adopt Resolution 25-068 accepting the Stevens Creek Boulevard
Corridor Vision Study, including the additional qualifications
recommended by the Cupertino Bicycle Pedestrian Commission
and Planning Commission, and directing City staff to work through
the multijurisdictional working group and Steering Committee to
further asses the Study’s recommendations and opportunities for
implementation.