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San Jose Diridon Transit Station

Diridon Transit Station is just a few blocks west of the heart of downtown San Jose. Opposite the HP Pavilion, it is surrounded by surface parking, old warehouses, and newer homes. The Alameda (Highway 82) runs near the station, which marks the southern end of an initiative that envisions a revitalized Grand Boulevard from San Jose to Daly City.

Diridon has the potential to be a world-class transit hub. Already served by Caltrain, Amtrak, ACE and VTA’s light rail, plans are in place to add BART and high-speed rail. This station can be the catalyst that breathes new life into a city often viewed as Silicon Valley’s bedroom community.

San Jose, however, is undergoing a transformation as condo towers and the new City Hall shape downtown's skyline.  The creation of a "Grand Central Station" at Diridon is a critical component for the cultural and civic center of San Jose. High-speed rail promises a two-hour ride to Los Angeles and 30 minutes to San Francisco. Redeveloping the underutilized land around the station into a compact neighborhood with a mix of jobs, shops, and homes seems primed for success.

Local Input
To make this happen, local residents need to voice ideas early in the planning process to ensure community support by the time Council is ready to make a decision.

San Jose has made great strides in pursuing more infill development and affordable homes near transit stations. However, density in the right locations alone does not create a great place. The challenge and the opportunity at Diridon Station is for San Jose to create a vibrant, inclusive and walkable community. Amenities that are important to residents such as parks, trails, and bike lanes must be a part of the final picture.

What's At Stake

To prevent poorly planned development from paving more open space and leading to more traffic congestion, infill development must be thoughtfully planned and attractive.

Coyote Valley was an attempt to create a smart growth community on working farms and open space at San Jose’s southern edge. In actuality, it was poised to become more of the same sprawl development that would drain resources from the rest of the City.

As the largest City in Northern California, San Jose is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Instead of spreading to its remaining green fields, the city can look to the landscape within the city limits.

North First Street is a wonderful example of an area ready for a makeover. The redevelopment of industrial buildings and surface parking lots into a neighborhood of businesses and homes makes better use of existing infrastructure like light rail.

Diridon Station is an opportunity to really mark San Jose as the capital of Silicon Valley. Its success depends largely on how well the City listens to and addresses residents’ concerns. Diridon Station needs to be a thriving destination as much as a job center and access point to places beyond.

What You Can Do

• The City of San Jose is about to kick off a planning process that will envision a model community at Diridon Station. Several workshops will be held to seek local input over the summer.

• Greenbelt Alliance and the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, as part of the Great Communities Collaborative, will bring together residents and local organizations to participate in this community planning process. If you are an interested San Jose resident, please contact Michele Beasley at mbeasley@greenbelt.org or 408-983-0856.