Project Overview
The maximum speed of the VTA light rail is up to 55 mph, but VTA achieves this on only a few select portions of its system. Due to the urban landscape and various conditions, the maximum speed for a majority of the light rail system falls well below that.
The slowest segment of VTA's light rail system is in downtown San Jose, where the maximum speed is 10 mph, but the average speed is significantly lower.
The proposed Downtown San Jose Light Rail Realignment project aims to enhance safety and increase maximum operating speeds by consolidating the light rail into a...
Project Overview
The maximum speed of the VTA light rail is up to 55 mph, but VTA achieves this on only a few select portions of its system. Due to the urban landscape and various conditions, the maximum speed for a majority of the light rail system falls well below that.
The slowest segment of VTA's light rail system is in downtown San Jose, where the maximum speed is 10 mph, but the average speed is significantly lower.
The proposed Downtown San Jose Light Rail Realignment project aims to enhance safety and increase maximum operating speeds by consolidating the light rail into a two-track corridor on First Street.
Proposed Project Design: First Street Corridor
Community Outreach
The proposed project will require the redesign of both First Street and Second Street. Below is a list of community engagement opportunities, including the community meeting recording, where community and business stakeholders could provide feedback to the project team on what enhancements they value most and learn more about the project.
Community Hosted/Pop-Up Events
August 5, 2025, 4 p.m. | National Night Out: St. James Neighborhood Association, Hillbrook School Parking Lot, 227 N. First St., San Jose
August 8, 2025, 5 p.m. | San Jose Jazz Festival, Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose
August 30, 2025, 12 p.m. | Silicon Valley PRIDE, Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose
September 7, 2025, 10 a.m. | VivaCalle SJ, Rose Garden Activity Hub (City of San Jose Booth)
September 22, 2025, 12 p.m. | San Jose State Univeristy Transit Month Panel
October 4, 2025, 11 a.m. | Project Hope's San Jose Neighborhood Conference (San Jose City Hall)
Community/Stakeholder Meetings
September 23, 2025, 10 a.m. | Business Stakeholder Meeting #1
September 25, 2025, 6 p.m. | VTA Strategic Plan Open House
September 30, 2025, 6 p.m. | Virtual Community Meeting
October 7, 2025, 5 p.m. | Business Stakeholder Meeting #2
October 28, 2025, 2 p.m. | Downtown Historic District Meeting
Commununity Meeting Recording
How to Reach Us
For more information on this project, please call VTA’s Community Outreach at (408) 321-7575, (TTY) 408-321-2330, or community.outreach@vta.org.
