Update from the Civic Engagement Team

Hello Petition Supporters,

My name is Alexandra, and I'm on the Civic Engagement team at Change.org. Our team works to connect petition starters and supporters with the public officials who have the power to act on the issues you care about. I spoke with a Santa Clara City Council member, who asked to remain anonymous at this time, regarding concerns about pedestrian and bicycle safety along El Camino Real.

The councilmember shared that they have been actively engaged on this issue for years, including previously serving as Chair of the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. They emphasized that improving safety along this corridor has been a long-standing priority.

They explained that El Camino Real is a state highway controlled by Caltrans, which limits the City’s ability to make direct changes such as installing protected bike lanes. However, when Caltrans recently repaved and restriped the roadway, the City requested narrower lane widths to create additional space for future bike and pedestrian infrastructure. That additional space is now visible along parts of the corridor.

The City is continuing to work with local businesses, VTA (regarding bus stops), and Caltrans to advance improvements. The councilmember noted that planning is ongoing across multiple jurisdictions, including neighboring cities like Sunnyvale, and that the intent is to move forward with safety improvements, though timing depends on approvals and coordination. They also clarified that many of the infrastructure costs would be handled through Caltrans rather than the City directly.

They also highlighted that the City recently adopted a Vision Zero plan, which includes funding, mapping of safety “hot spots,” and a commitment to reducing serious injuries and fatalities for pedestrians and cyclists. They stressed that, despite perceptions, the City has been actively working on safety issues, even though progress can be slower due to state-level jurisdiction.

Residents are encouraged to report safety concerns through the MySantaClara app, where issues like potholes or unsafe conditions can be submitted and routed to the appropriate department.

I’ll continue to monitor this and share updates as coordination between agencies progresses and additional information becomes available.