Downtown Street Networks

People of all ages and abilities experience Downtown San José streets in different ways and have various needs. During the day, you may be sitting, walking, or riding a bike. You may use personal transport devices like a wheelchairs or scooters. Or perhaps you’re riding transit, driving alone, carpooling, moving goods, doing business, or providing services on the street.

However you get around, the Downtown San José Transportation Plan is an opportunity to make your voice heard. We need your help to design streets that balance the needs of diverse users and safe, active, enjoyable, and equitable public spaces.

The proposed Downtown Street Network comprises networks for four types of street users:

  • Transit riders
  • People who bike or use small transportation devices
  • People who walk or use wheelchairs
  • Drivers

The pages below illustrate how Downtown streets can prioritize the needs of different types of uses. For more information on the impact of these networks, the pages include a map, video, and details.

We are excited to hear your thoughts and ideas on the proposed Downtown Street Network! Please take some time to review the content and answer the survey questions at the bottom of each page. Your input will influence the kinds of street projects and supportive programs we build in the future.

Four Street Networks

We want your thoughts and ideas for the Downtown Street Network! Please take a few minutes to read the content linked to in each section below. Then answer the questions at the bottom of each page. Thank you for your time!

Transit: The Proposed Downtown Transit Network represents transit corridors in Downtown.

Biking and Scooter: The proposed Biking and Scooter Network includes paths and lanes for people biking or using scooters and other small transportation devices Downtown.

Walking: The proposed Walking Network shows streets, paseos, and trails for people walking or using wheelchairs Downtown.

Driving and Delivery: The proposed Driving and Delivery Network provides streets for people driving motor vehicles – e.g., cars, motorcycles, vans, and delivery trucks, etc. in and around Downtown.

Types of Streets

The Downtown Transportation Plan will identify different types of streets for the Downtown. These street types show how different designs impact travel patterns. They also suggest a variety of purposes that our streets may serve in the future. The map below illustrates how downtown streets come together to form a network. To learn more, read the content below the Street Types map.

Map of combined proposed Downtown Street Network

Each street in the map is designated as one of six “types,” described below.

Example of a Major Transit Corridors

Major Transit Corridors provide you with frequent and high-quality transit routes to and from the center of San José. These corridors would be designed to provide safe, efficient, and reliable transit trips and promote economic development. Please see the Transit Page for more detail.

Example of Premium Biking Corridors

Premium Biking Corridors are the key routes for biking and scooter trips in Downtown. These streets would be comfortable for people with less experience to travel by bike and scooter. Scooters are generally allowed on bike facilities but not on sidewalks. Please see the Biking and Scooter Page for more detail.

Example of a Premium Walking Street

Premium Walking Streets are some of the best walking routes between your destinations as well as pleasant places to visit and linger. These streets also provide bicyclists and transit riders with features that help them when they arrive at their destinations. They are often lined by first-floor storefronts and multi-use buildings that attract people to the street and frequently. Please see the Walking Page for more detail.

Example of a Paseo

Paseos, Walkways, and Trails are where exercise, leisure, and travel all come together on paths for people who walk, bike, skate, or use wheelchairs. They would be designed for recreational, civic, cultural, or business activities. New paseos would be created by permanently closing some streets to motor vehicles. Please see the Walking Page for more detail.

Example of a Vehicle Corridor

Driving and Delivery Corridors are key driving routes to enter or leave Downtown. These corridors are close to freeway on-ramps and off-ramps. They are the best routes for drivers to enter and drive around Downtown and to access parking lots and garages. Because they carry lots of traffic and intersect biking and walking routes, these corridors would be designed to reduce speeding and ensure safe pedestrian and bike crossings. Please see the Driving and Delivery Page for more detail.

Example of a Residential Street

Residential Streets serve as the less-traveled routes between and within neighborhoods. These routes are primarily used by residents or local business owners and link neighborhoods together. Drivers would be encouraged to drive on Vehicle and Delivery Corridors for most of their trips and make turns onto Residential Streets to get to their homes and other destinations. Cut-through traffic would be discouraged. Please see the Driving and Delivery Page for more detail.