VTA will begin work this fall to create a much-needed biking link between the soon to open Berryessa BART station and other major arteries throughout Santa Clara County.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) awarded VTA with an $800,000 grant to conduct a Central Bikeway Feasibility Study to map out a safe, continuous, 10-mile bicycle superhighway. Ideally, the bikeway would connect the Berryessa BART station, which is set to open in December 2019, with the El Camino/Central Expressway corridor in Santa Clara and link to the San Tomas Aquino Creek, Guadalupe River and Coyote Creek trails.

A major component of the study will be extensive community outreach to solicit feedback and comments from the public. VTA will lead the study and work closely with staff from the cities of Santa Clara and San Jose, and Santa Clara County to analyze the feasibility of various alternatives. VTA’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager, Lauren Ledbetter, says the study will “provide a much-needed east-west connection across the middle of our county,” a valuable car-free project no one city can accomplish alone. VTA will contribute a funding match of $103,649.

The study will begin in October with the process expected to last two years.  Read more about VTA’s Countywide Bike Plan here.

*the above photo is courtesy of Richard Masoner