At-grade light rail has a hard time safely and efficiently traversing Downtown San Jose on Second Street. A new pilot project will look to improve the situation.
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority trains traveling through San Jose have some of the slowest travel speeds of any light rail system in the country. Trolleys travel 7.5 miles per hour in downtown, with a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour.
"Now the Valley Transportation Authority is launching a $900,000, six-month pilot project to speed up the trains and erect barriers to funnel pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers to certain areas for crossing," reports Gary Richards.
The pilot project will take place on Second Street between San Fernando and San Carlos. "The VTA will test railings and street lights to delineate the sidewalk from the track," according to Richards. "The railings will have breaks for driveways and the Paseo de San Antonio crossing. The agency will also include crosswalk improvements and better warning signals for vehicles entering and exiting the Pavilion Garage."
Speeding up the trains aren't the only potential benefit of the pilot project. VTA trains have been in 125 incidents with automobiles, pedestrians, and people in bikes in the past eight years—so the project is expected to improve traffic safety as well.
FULL STORY: Slow trains in downtown San Jose may speed up
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
Podcast: Addressing the Root Causes of Transit Violence
Deploying transit police is a short-term fix. How can transit agencies build sustainable safety efforts?
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.