Critics panned new renderings for the 28th Street/Little Portugal station on the planned BART extension into San Jose.

"Public transit advocates are pillorying plans for the $6.9 billion extension of BART service through downtown San Jose over station designs that require passengers to descend up to 90 feet to get from the street to their trains," writes Nico Savidge.
"On Twitter, dozens of replies and quote-tweets have panned a Monday post from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority(VTA), which is building the BART extension, criticizing a rendering of the planned 28th Street/Little Portugal subway station," according to Savidge.
Here is the Twitter post in question, which includes a link to an article on the VTA website announcing two recent milestones for Phase II of the extension project:
What's happening with #BART to Downtown #SanJose, you ask? We answer!https://t.co/JexUke6U6X #HelloVTA #SolutionsThatMoveYou pic.twitter.com/8TrxVZZ5al
— BART Silicon Valley (@bartsv) May 17, 2021
Savidge also explains why the station was planned for such depths beneath the city:
One reason is that when VTA planned the extension, it faced a choice between shallower, more conventional stations that would require tearing up sections of Santa Clara Street for years at a time — which downtown businesses opposed — or a new subway building method pioneered in Spain that promised to minimize disruptions at ground level by tunneling deeper underground. VTA chose the latter.
Moreover:
VTA spokeswoman Bernice Alaniz emphasized that business disruptions weren’t the only factor, however — soil conditions, the need to work around underground utilities and a desire to avoid severing VTA’s light rail line also factored into the decision to tunnel deeper.
The article offers additional details of the thinking behind the station design, in addition to some of most scathing quips from the social media response to the renderings.
As for the Phase II milestones that were originally the purpose of the Twitter post, the aforementioned article on the VTA website, written by Bernine Alaniz, reports that Phase II "has advanced to the final step in the application process for the Federal Transit Administration’s Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Funding Program (EPD), and selected three joint ventures to submit proposals on the estimated $2 billion track and tunnel work contract." The VTA is seeking $1.735 billion in federal funds through the EPD Program to finalize funding for the project.
FULL STORY: Twitter roasts San Jose BART extension plans: ‘Journey to the center of the Earth’

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie