El Camino Real BRT Project

NEW - View the El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment. Public meetings dates, times and locations listed below.

El Camino BRT Newsletter (September 2014)
El Camino Real BRT Project Receives 2013 Grand Boulevard Initiative Award
VTA New Release: VTA’s El Camino Real BRT Project Clears Important Funding Hurdle (Sept. 4, 2013)

What's going on now?

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY of the El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit Project Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment?

After months of planning, environmental analysis, numerous public meetings and listening to community comments VTA is releasing the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment.

VTA will hold four public hearings/meetings to share the draft results and listen to comments and concerns from the community. VTA is evaluating seven alternatives (including station options and options that vary the extent of the dedicated lane) for providing BRT along El Camino. Come share with us which alternative you prefer.
To learn more or offer formal comments about the project, please attend one of the following public hearings/meetings. VTA will use the Draft EIR/EA and comments received to select a locally preferred alternative. The same format and content will be offered at each meeting:

Thursday, November 20, 2014
8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (Presentation begins at 8:45 a.m.)
5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Presentation begins at 5:45 p.m.)
Mountain View City Council Chambers
500 Castro Street, 2nd Floor, Mountain View, CA 94041
This location is served by VTA Bus Lines 22, 34, 35, 51, 52, 522, and VTA Light Rail

Wednesday, December 3, 2014
8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (Presentation begins at 8:45 a.m.)
5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Presentation begins at 5:45 p.m.)
Santa Clara City Council Chambers
1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050
This location is served by VTA Bus Lines 22, 32, 60, and 522

If you are unable to attend these hearings/meetings, project information and presentations can be found online at this webpage. Comments on the Draft EIR/EA must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 15, 2014, at the postal or email address listed:

View the El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment.

To comment on the Draft EIR/EA
Mail: VTA Environmental Planning Department
3331 N. First Street, Building B-2
San Jose, CA 95134
Attn: Christina Jaworski
Email: ecrbrt@vta.org

The Draft EIR/EA is also available for review at the following local libraries:

Rose Garden Branch Library 1580 Naglee Avenue, San Jose
Mission Library and Family Reading Center 1098 Lexington Street, Santa Clara
City of Sunnyvale Public Library 665 West Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale
City of Mountain View Public Library 585 Franklin Street, Mountain View
City of Los Altos Public Library 13 South San Antonio Road, Los Altos
College Terrace Branch Library 2300 Wellesley Street, Palo Alto
VTA Administrative Offices – Main Lobby 3331 N. First Street, San Jose, CA
VTA Customer Service Center 55-A W. Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95113?

VTA has conducted an environmental analysis for several project alternatives for the El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit Project. The environmental analysis is now completed - VTA recently released a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (DEIR/EA), which is now open to public review. For information about how the project got to this point, check out the project history page.

About the Project

The El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit Project would upgrade the 522 Rapid Bus Route on El Camino Real to Bus Rapid Transit status. Transit improvements could include conversion of two lanes of El Camino Real (one lane in each direction, adjacent to the median) into dedicated BRT lanes that would use median stations or to install curb bulbout stations at BRT stops, in which case, the BRT vehicle would operate in the right lane, with auto traffic. Existing 522 stations would be upgraded to more substantial, rail-like stations that feature weather protection, real-time next bus information and Clipper card tap stations. The project could also install bicycle lanes on El Camino Real in areas where there are dedicated BRT lanes, provided that the cities wish to do so.

As the 522 Rapid Bus does today, the 522 BRT route would travel from the Palo Alto Transit Center to the Eastridge Transit Center, traveling through Downtown San Jose. Around 26 BRT stations would be served along the way. The line 22 local bus, which makes all local stops, would continue to operate in the right lane, as it does today.

When/How is a project alternative selected?

After the DEIR is released, VTA's Board of Directors will select a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)—that is, which version of the project they want to pursue, if they want to pursue the project at all. While this will be a VTA decision, it will be influenced by the cities along the corridor and Caltrans, the agency that owns El Camino Real north of I-880. As the owner of the street, Caltrans must approve any changes made by the BRT Project.

Project Schedule

Planning	May 2010 - September 2014
Final Design	December 2014 - September 2016
Construction	March 2017 - August 2018
First Day of Service	September 2018

Project Cost and Funding

The funding for the selected alternative for El Camino Real BRT will come from the Measure A Transit Improvement Program and FTA’s Small Starts Program.