El Camino Real BRT Project Alternatives
Below are the seven project alternatives. The alternatives feature combinations of mixed flow and dedicated lane street configurations.
In a mixed flow configuration, the BRT vehicle operates in the right lane, with cars, stopping at curb bulbout stations. In a dedicated lane configuration, one lane in each direction of the street, adjacent to the median, would be converted into a BRT-only lane, leaving two lanes in each direction for autos. In this configuration, stations would be located in the median of the street, like VTA's light rail stations.
Since the dedicated lane configuration would require a complete street transformation, VTA is offering to install bicycle lanes and make other streetscape, signal and safety improvements as part of the project if the cities prefer. The mixed flow configuration would only consist of improvements at the station areas and as such, the project would not include any of the street improvements.
Information regarding how VTA arrived at these seven alternatives can be found on the project history page. Click the maps for larger versions.
The No Build Alternative analyzes what would happen if VTA didn't do the project. This is a requirement of any environmental analysis and can be used as a baseline for comparing the other alternatives.
The All Mixed Flow Alternative would install a mixed flow street configuration with curb bulbout stations throughout the entire corridor. No bicycle lanes or street improvements outside of the station areas would be included in the project.
The Short Dedicated Lane, No Build North of Santa Clara Alternative would install dedicated BRT lanes between Lawrence Expressway and Lafayette Street in the City of Santa Clara and would install curb bulbout stations at two locations along The Alameda in San Jose. Due to the complete street transformation in their jurisdiction, Santa Clara would have the option of receiving bicycle lanes and other street and safety improvements as part of the project. No changes would be made in Palo Alto, Los Altos, Mountain View and Sunnyvale. This creates a potentially confusing operating scenario as the BRT-branded vehicles would operate in those cities but would offer a rider experience similar to the current 522 Rapid Bus.
The Short Dedicated Lane Alternative would install dedicated BRT lanes between Lawrence Expressway and Lafayette Street in the City of Santa Clara and would install a mixed flow street configuration with curb bulbout stations in Palo Alto, Los Altos, Mountain View and Sunnyvale. Due to the complete street transformation in their jurisdiction, Santa Clara would have the option of receiving bicycle lanes and other street and safety improvements as part of the project.
The Long Dedicated Lane to Showers Alternative would install dedicated BRT lanes between Showers Drive in Mountain View and Lafayette Street in Santa Clara. Segments of the corridor between the Palo Alto Transit Center and Showers as well as between Lafayette Street and Downtown San Jose would recieve a mixed flow street configuration with curb bulbout stations. Due to the complete street transformation in their jurisdictions, Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara would have the option of receiving bicycle lanes and other street and safety improvements as part of the project.
The Long Dedicated Lane to Grant Alternative was requested by the City of Los Altos. This alternative would install dedicated BRT lanes between approximately Grant Road in Mountain View and Lafayette Street in Santa Clara. Segments between the Palo Alto Transit Center and approximately Grant Road as well as between Lafayette Street and Downtown San Jose would receive a mixed flow street configuration with curb bulbout stations. Due to the complete street transformation in their jurisdictions, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara would have the option of receiving bicycle lanes and other street and safety improvements as part of the project.
This Long Dedicated Lane to Palo Alto Alternative was requested by the City of Mountain View. This alternative would install dedicated BRT lanes between approximately Embarcadero Road in Palo Alto and Lafayette Street in Santa Clara. The segment of El Camino Real between the Palo Alto Transit Center and Embarcadero would be unchanged and would serve as a space for the BRT vehicle to change from the BRT lane to the curbside lane. The segment between Lafayette Street and Downtown San Jose would receive a mixed flow street configuration with curb bulbout stations. Due to the complete street transformation in their jurisdictions, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara would have the option of receiving bicycle lanes and other street and safety improvements as part of the project.
