Council approves rainbow crosswalk at Monroe and Franklin, opts for thermoplastic ladder design

The Santa Clara City Council approved a location and design for a permanent rainbow crosswalk on Tuesday, selecting the intersection of Monroe Street and Franklin Street and approving a ladder‑style thermoplastic crosswalk with perpendicular rainbow stripes.

Transportation Manager Steve Chan reviewed the staff analysis, which prioritized locations with higher pedestrian activity, lower vehicle speeds and fewer conflicts that would suit a permanent installation. Staff recommended a perpendicular ladder pattern of high‑durability thermoplastic material to preserve color vibrancy and provide long‑term traction. Chan said thermoplastic is more durable than standard paint and that Caltrans‑spec friction beads would be applied to avoid slipperiness.

The Cultural Commission had recommended the southcrosswalk at Scott Boulevard and Anna Drive as its top choice and Monroe and Franklin as a secondary option. Several council members and the cultural commission noted the Scott/Anna location’s visibility, but staff and some council members favored Monroe/Franklin because of proximity to the Saturday farmers market and local businesses. A resident who called the council during the meeting said she favored the Franklin location and asked staff to ensure vendor truck staging would not block the crosswalk during market hours.

Councilmember Jane moved approval of the staff recommendation for the Monroe/Franklin crosswalk and the perpendicular ladder design; the motion included a CEQA exemption and design details. The motion passed 6–0 with one abstention recorded on the roll.

Staff said the project budget allocated $100,000 for the rainbow crosswalk program and noted next steps to finalize design details, secure required permits and schedule installation with a thermoplastic vendor. The council’s decision will guide permanent materials, maintenance planning and coordination with events such as the farmers market.