Traffic Concerns Sink Light-Rail-Adjacent Development in San Jose

The city of San Jose has a mixed record of moving forward with land use changes that complement its existing and expanding transit systems.

1 minute read

July 25, 2017, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The Branham light rail station area.

The Branham light rail station area. Highway 87 and the Narvaez on-ramp are also visible. / Google Maps

"The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority has pulled plans for now to build a high-density, mixed-use project near the Branham light rail station," reports Julia Baum.

"In March the VTA asked San Jose officials to amend the city’s General Plan so it could develop a 3-acre parcel at 4747 Narvaez Ave., which currently serves as the agency’s parking lot," adds Baum. Any plans to redevelop the parking lot will have to wait, and the VTA is saying it is waiting for a traffic study on Highway 87. The nearby Highway 87/Capitol Expressway/Narvaez on-ramp is notoriously congested, and "[p]revious development proposals have met with resistance from neighbors who felt area traffic and parking problems were ignored."

The setback for the proposed development breaks a hot streak for transit oriented development in the city of San Jose. Development proposals have moved forward in recent months at the future Berryessa Station and at the soon-to-be-expanded Diridon Station

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