Across Barrier Connection Plan

VTA seeks proposals from qualified firms to provide non-architectural and engineering consulting services for the Across Barrier Connections Plan detailed in the attached Request for Proposal S25020 document.

Project Description

The Across Barrier Connections Plan: Improving Pedestrian and Bicycle Connections Across Freeways (“ABC Plan”) will identify and prioritize locations in Santa Clara County where bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Caltrans’ limited access freeways can significantly benefit neighboring communities and encourage walking and bicycling. Most of Santa Clara County’s underserved communities are located within 1,000 feet of the freeway and experience more severe pedestrian and bicycle crashes, worse pollution, and greater connectivity barriers than other parts of the county. The ABC Plan will evaluate conditions within 1,000 feet of freeways; research and evaluate the historical impacts of freeway construction on communities; evaluate the current impact of freeways on community connectivity, health, and safety; evaluate current and future land use and destinations; and develop the plan to meet community needs and desires. The project will invite the community to identify barriers and develop recommendations through broad outreach to the entire county and through focused outreach to specific priority areas with assistance from local community-based organizations, neighborhood associations, and other groups. Recommendations will include safe-systems approach countermeasures, freeway ramp modifications, new or improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure through interchanges or along overpasses/underpasses, new or improved pedestrian/bicycle bridges across freeways, and interchange redesigns.

Interchanges are often the only option for crossing freeways, and these can be challenging to navigate for people walking or riding bikes. By bringing the design of these crossings into the spotlight, we can remove one of the biggest barriers to walking and cycling in many communities. Freeways are the pinnacle of car infrastructure, allowing motorists to travel long distances safely and conveniently. But when freeways run through urban areas, they have major impacts on people’s ability to walk and cycle.

The 145-mile-long limited access freeway system in Santa Clara County provides significant mobility and economic benefits, these benefits came with historic burdens on the community. Freeway construction required eminent domain, relocation of households, and severed some communities. While many freeways in the County were built through farmland, in some locations, (e.g. I-280/87 interchange) neighborhoods were razed to make way for freeway interchanges. Additionally, freeway construction in Santa Clara County continued through the late 1990s. People in their 40’s and 50’s have stories of watching the freeway being built next to their backyards.

VTA has fully embraced Complete Streets policies, and recent interchange reconstruction projects have incorporated high-quality pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. These include 101/Blossom Hill Interchange (opened 2022) in San Jose, 101/237/Mathilda Interchange in Sunnyvale (opened 2020), 101/Trimble Interchange in Santa Clara and San Jose (under construction), 280/Wolfe Interchange (in design), and State Route 17/State Route 9 Interchange (in design).

While these projects significantly improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and connectivity, and have shown to increase walking and biking activity, all were first identified due to a need to improve vehicular circulation and/or safety. VTA does not have a comprehensive list of highway projects necessary to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and circulation. This plan aims to remedy that by systematically identifying and prioritizing locations in Santa Clara County where bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Caltrans’ limited access freeways can significantly benefit neighboring communities.