Tamien Station Parking Structure Project
Introduction
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is proposing the Tamien Station Parking Structure (project). The project site is located within VTA’s existing Tamien Station surface parking lot in the City of San Jose in Santa Clara County, California. The regional location of the project and the project vicinity are shown on the map. To the north of the site are the on/off ramps for State Route 87 (SR 87, also known as Guadalupe Parkway), VTA’s Tamien Station northern parking lot and Willow Street; to the east is SR 87; to the south is Alma Avenue; and to the west are Lelong Street and the Guadalupe River.Tamien Station Parking Structure Project
Notice of Availability: Initial Study / Proposed
Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND)
*Click here for digital copy of mailer notification.
VTA is proposing a four- or five-level parking structure within VTA’s existing Tamien Station Light Rail Transit surface parking lot in San José to accommodate future parking demand due to light rail and Caltrain operations. The parking structure would provide up to 900 parking spaces.
A copy of the draft IS/MND is available here and at the following locations listed below:
(click image of document to see report)
- Valley Transportation Authority Building B-Lobby 3331 North First Street, San José 95134
- Willow Glen Branch Library 1157 Minnesota Avenue, San José, 95125
- Biblioteca Latinoamericana Branch Library 921 South First Street, San José, 95110
To learn more about the Project and draft IS/MND, please attend the following community meeting:
November 18, 2014
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
San Jose Elks Lodge no.522
444 West Alma Avenue, San Jose, 95110
Comments on the potential environmental impacts of the proposed Project are requested by 5 p.m. on December 4, 2014. Comments will be accepted at the meeting or by postal mail or email to the address below.
VTA Environmental Programs/Resources Management Department
Attention: Ann Calnan
3331 North First Street, Building B-2, San Jose, CA 95134-1927
E-mail: tamien.parking@vta.org
Individuals who require language translation, American Sign Language, or documents in accessible formats are requested to contact VTA Community Outreach at (408) 321-7575 / (408) 321-2330 TTY at least 5 business days before the meeting. The meeting facility is accessible to persons with disabilities.
Project Map
Go here to view simulation of the future parking (before and after).
Project Purpose
The purpose of the project is to accommodate future parking demand due to light rail transit (LRT) and Caltrain operations.Project Description
The project would consist of a four- or five-level parking structure with all levels above-grade. A four level structure would be approximately 40 feet high to the top of the parapet wall; a five level structure would be approximately 50 feet high. The parking structure would provide approximately 700 to 900 parking spaces. The location of the parking structure would require the existing bus transit loop to be relocated to the south side of the proposed parking structure. The map provides a conceptual site plan for the project and an illustration of the internal parking structure circulation.Two entries/exists to the parking structure would be provided off Lelong Street. One entry would be exclusive to vehicle traffic entering/exiting the garage; the other entry would be shared between vehicles using the garage and buses using the bus transit loop. Three bus bays would be provided within the loop. A passenger drop off/pick up location would be located either in the bus transit loop area or in a turnout along Lelong Street.
Lighting would be provided within the parking structure, on the top deck, and elsewhere onsite for safety and security purposes. Fixtures would be specified to minimize lighting spillover into adjacent areas including the Guadalupe River.
The project involves implementation of infrastructure and utilities, as needed, to support the parking structure, including storm drains, water (for landscape irrigation and fire protection), and electricity. Utilities would connect to existing facilities within or adjacent to the project site.
Bioswales would be located around the parking structure to capture storm water runoff. Landscaping would include native and/or drought tolerant plants in accordance with VTA’s Sustainable Landscaping Policy.
Improvements to the pedestrian tunnel walkway under SR 87, which connects the VTA parking lot on the west side of SR 87 to the Caltrain parking lot on the east side of SR 87, are not included in the project.
Construction of the project is anticipated to begin in 2017 and continue for approximately 12 months. The project is anticipated to be in use by 2018. Construction would involve site preparation, grading, excavation, and structure construction. Construction staging would occur within the project site and the southern portion of VTA’s Tamien Station surface parking lot located to the north of the SR 87 on/off ramps.
The project would be built in phases to allow for minimal disruption to transit operations. The first phase would include reconfiguration of the bus transit loop slightly south of its existing location. During the first phase, bus operations maybe relocated to the Caltrain lot, east of SR 87, until the bus transit loop is reconstructed. The second phase would include construction of the parking structure, bioswales, and other project features. During construction, parking will be limited to a small portion of the northern lot located north of the SR 87 southbound off-ramp; therefore, VTA would redirect riders to the Curtner lot or other locations.
You can also email the project directly with questions and comments. Please send to tamien.parking@vta.org.
Project Fact Sheet
Preliminary Conceptual Design of Project Area
Link to full image
