REPORT TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Selection of Member to Serve on the Station Area Task Force (Chan)
Report
BACKGROUND
The City’s General Plan includes the Santa Clara Station Area as a near-term Focus Area. Focus Areas identify where the General Plan supports future growth through redevelopment and intensification of existing land uses. Because of their integral location, changes in these areas offer an opportunity to implement the General Plan Major Strategies to enhance the City’s quality of life and foster economic vitality. Near-term development may proceed in the near-term Focus Areas without preparation of a Specific Plan.
The Santa Clara Station Focus Area consists of 244 acres generally bounded by De La Cruz Boulevard, Reed Street, and Martin Avenue to the northeast, and Franklin Street and El Camino Real to the southwest, as shown in Attachment 1. At the center of this area is the existing Santa Clara Station, which is served by Caltrain and Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) rail lines, as well as Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus service. The station area will also become the terminus for the VTA’s planned extension of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system also known as BART Silicon Valley Phase II (BART Phase II). BART Phase II is an approximately six-mile-long extension of the BART system from the Berryessa/North San Jose BART Station in San Jose to the proposed Santa Clara BART Station. As such, the station area will transform into an important transit hub for the Bay Area.
DISCUSSION
The City received $900,000 in grant funding to prepare a Specific Plan for the Santa Clara Station Area. Preparation of the Specific Plan will rely on assistance from a consultant team, in addition to City staff, to conduct planning activities including community engagement, technical analysis, and the preparation of land use policy documents.
Community engagement includes a Station Area Task Force (SATF), targeted outreach to stakeholders, and opportunities for participation by the broader community. The SATF is an eleven-member panel that was appointed by the City Council in November 2022 and will provide input during the preparation of the Specific Plan.
Regular meetings of the SATF began in spring 2023 and it will continue to meet approximately once a month over the course of the Santa Clara Station Area Specific Plan planning process.
Staff recommended that one BPAC member serve on the SATF to ensure the Station Area Specific Plan supports bicycling and walking. Former BPAC Member Casamajor was chosen to serve on the SATF. Current BPAC member Ganesh was later appointed to take the place of former BPAC Member Casamajor. Member Ganesh’s BPAC term ends in June 2025 and as such, a BPAC member should be appointed to take the place of Member Ganesh on the SATF.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Select one BPAC member to serve on the Station Area Task Force.
Staff
Written by: Steve Chan, Transportation Manager, Public Works
Reviewed by: Carol Shariat, Principal Transportation Planner, Public Works
Approved by: Michael Liw, Assistant Director/City Engineer, Public Works
ATTACHMENTS
1. Santa Clara Station Area Boundary Map