The Joint Council & Authorities Concurrent and Stadium Authority Meeting held on September 16, 2025, in Santa Clara, California, focused on significant issues regarding pedestrian and bicyclist access along expressways. A key discussion point was the ongoing conflict between city staff and community advocates over the prohibition of pedestrian access on certain expressways.

During the meeting, a community member highlighted the historical context of the issue, noting that the Board of Supervisors (BOS) has consistently voted against restrictions on pedestrian and bicyclist access since 1988. The speaker expressed frustration over the city council's previous referrals to repeal a resolution that limits pedestrian access on expressways, stating that city staff had not complied with these requests.

The speaker also shared personal experiences of police harassment while biking and emphasized the dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians who are forced to share lanes with high-speed traffic. They pointed out that while some expressways, like Lawrence Expressway, have sidewalks, others do not, leaving a critical 1.2-mile stretch of San Tomas Expressway without safe pedestrian access.

The discussion underscored the inconsistency in city policies, as pedestrians are allowed to use bike lanes on other expressways, despite the wider bike lanes on the contested stretch of San Tomas. The speaker referenced past regulations that support pedestrian use of bike lanes where sidewalks are absent, suggesting that city staff may have overlooked or concealed these policies.

The meeting concluded with a call for city officials to reconsider their stance on pedestrian access along expressways, highlighting the need for safer infrastructure for all road users. The outcome of this discussion remains to be seen, as community advocates continue to push for changes that align with historical BOS policies and enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists in Santa Clara.