Project Overview

Study Bollinger Road from De Anza Boulevard to Lawrence Expressway to identify improvements that will enhance pedestrian, bicycle, motor-vehicle, and transit operations and safety. These could include improved crossings, a road diet, RRFBs, Hybrid Beacons, tightening curb radii, eliminating free right turns in some locations, relocating bus stops, adding bike boxes, improved lighting, and more.

2020 Study

As part of the 2020 study, an analysis of existing conditions and a summary of past collisions along the corridor was conducted. This was followed by an online outreach portal that gathered public input on location-specific improvement needs along the corridor.  The portal gave the users the ability to provide their input through means of a general survey as well as a “social pinpoint” map where users provided location specific input using an online mapping tool. This outreach portal was distributed by City of Cupertino and City of San Jose staff through each City’s respective social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Next Door as well as working groups such as Walk Bike Cupertino, Bicycle-Pedestrian Commission, and Safe Routes to School. Users were able to provide their input over a course of three weeks.

The responses and suggestions provided in the first round of outreach were used to guide concept development. Based upon results from the existing conditions analysis and the public survey, specific improvements were identified that would address the challenges the corridor presents. Two alternatives were created to reflect different priorities and strategies for improving the corridor:

• Alternative A includes a road diet where the road would be reduced to one travel lane in each direction, including the provision of a center two-way left turn lane.
• Alternative B maintains the existing lane configuration while providing spot improvements, primarily at intersections.

On May 19, 2021, a virtual neighborhood meeting was held to discuss these improvement concepts. Notifications were sent to residents and those who responded during the first round of outreach. Methods of outreach for this event were similar to those used during the first round of public outreach. The meeting included a presentation introducing the study, explaining the existing conditions, summarizing the first round of outreach, and then explaining both proposed concepts along with their key attributes and differences. The meeting also included an interactive discussion session where attendees were able to provide written or verbal questions.

2024 Update

Grant funding now allows the further design and analysis work required. This includes a topographic and utilities survey of Bollinger Road, preliminary engineering and final design, and traffic analysis. The traffic analysis would determine the potential for the road diet (Alternative A) to increase congestion or divert traffic onto residential streets, and any corresponding mitigation measures to limit that impact. Community outreach efforts should continue in future project phases to ensure community awareness and support of the project.

The study was cancelled by the newly installed City Council after six months of their tenure in June 2024, based upon fears that car traffic would be slowed if any changes were made to improve the safety along the corridor. The grant to cover 80% of the cost of the study was rejected and returned to the federal government.

Why Does Walk-Bike Cupertino Support this Project?

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Bollinger Road has documented safety issues, including fatalities

The corridor has been an area of concern in the Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) as a high-injury corridor and also listed as a recommended area for improvement based on its high number of KSIs per Cupertino’s Approved Vision Zero Plan (approved July 9, 2024 by the City Council). These issues need addressing to make this a safe corridor to use for all transportation users, whether by car, bike, walking, or transit. This study will determine the most effective way to address the concerns.

Narrowing lanes to add protected bike lanes, one possibility for this corridor, has been shown to improve traffic flow.

A Johns Hopkins study from 2023 of over 1100 streets in seven cities shows that’s not the case. The number of crashes on a street with standard 12-foot lanes is significantly higher than on streets with narrower 9 foot lanes at the typical city 30-35mph speed limits. “On streets that are busier, have trees, lots of pedestrians, a bike lane, and bikes on the street, drivers feel less safe driving fast and will drive slower, regardless of the speed limit.” A slower speed of cars also substantially reduces the risk of crashes, per the same study.

A road diet, which is one possibility for this corridor, has been shown through studies to improve emergency response time.

Some examples are this study from the University of Iowa in 2024, and this study in 2024 from Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives.