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VTA seeks grants, local matches to advance Homestead Road Safe Routes to School design
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Summary
The county Roads and Airports department and VTA updated the Hewlett Committee on the Homestead Road Safe Routes to School project, saying 35% design is complete and additional grant funding and local matches are needed to finish design and environmental clearance before construction can be bid.
Santa Clara County roads staff told the Hewlett Committee Sept. 18 that the Homestead Road Safe Routes to School project has completed 35% design but still requires additional grant funding and local match dollars to progress to construction.
“The 35% design has been complete,” Roads Director Harry Freitas said. He told the committee the project was initiated and partly funded by the county, with $500,000 provided from road and general funds for project initiation and alternatives analysis. VTA later assumed project lead and secured a Measure B grant of $1 million to further the effort.
Staff described the corridor as Homestead Road parallel to U.S. 101/280 and noted the route connects Foothill Expressway and De Anza Boulevard, with multiple schools in the study area. Freitas said the VTA is seeking additional grant funding and local contributions from Sunnyvale, Cupertino and Los Altos to complete environmental clearance and final design. County intergovernmental relations staff said they are also seeking federal and state funding through congressional and legislative channels and noted a $2 million request in a House appropriations bill submitted by a city.
Committee action: Vice Chair Supervisor Arenas moved to receive the semiannual report; Chair Margaret Abakova seconded and the committee voted in favor (roll call recorded). Freitas and IGR staff asked cities for local match support and will continue federal grant advocacy.
Why it matters: County staff said timely funding is important because project costs have increased; Freitas told the committee the next design phase estimate had risen about $500,000 compared with earlier projections and reiterated that “the longer it takes, the more expensive it gets.”
Next steps: VTA will continue pursuing grant funding and local matches; county IGR staff will pursue additional federal and state resources and notify the committee of major funding outcomes.
