Making San Jose Streets Safer
Helping people to get to their destinations safer is also very important to Mayor Gonzales.  Under the Mayor’s leadership, the City is working hard to make San José streets safer and more pedestrian-friendly.  Under Mayor Gonzales’ leadership, the City has spent over $5 million to: 1) educate drivers to slow down when driving through congested neighborhoods; 2) provide engineering solutions (such as speed bumps and roundabouts) to encourage slower driving speeds in neighborhoods; and 3) beefed up enforcement to support the education and engineering efforts. The ultimate goal is make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists and reduce the number of accidents and the number of driver, pedestrian and bicyclist  injuries and fatalities caused by traffic accidents.     

Making Stronger Public Transportation Connections
In 2000, more than 70% of the voters approved the commitment of $6 billion over 30 years beginning in 2006 to such transportation projects as: bringing BART to San José; connecting the Airport to an automated people mover; a light rail connection from downtown to the East Valley; the double-tracking and electrification of Caltrain tracks in Santa Clara County; increased Caltrain service on the Peninsula; the purchase of low floor light rail vehicles to make boarding easier for children, seniors and the disabled; and the purchase of zero emission buses that will improve the air quality along bus routes. All of these, and other projects in Measure A, will lay the foundation for the next generation of transportation infrastructure in San José and Silicon Valley.      

Improving San Jose's Highways
For roads, more than 70% of the voters have pledged $2 billion over the same 30-year period to improve roads, streets and highways.  Current highway projects under construction impacting San José include: the widening of Highway 880 between SR 237 and Highway 101under construction projects; Projects ready to begin construction in 2003 include major improvements of SR 87 between SR 85 and Julian in downtown San José; and a new interchange at Coleman and I-880.  Recently completed traffic relief projects include the widening of Highway 101 between Cochrane and Bernal (completed six months early and $10 million under budget) and the connection between SR 85 and Highway 101 and SR 85 and SR 87 in south San José (also completed ahead of schedule and under budget).  These completed projects are already saving commuters significant time getting to and from work.  As current projects under construction are completed, more and more commuters will experience the traffic relief benefits.

Our Airport Keeps Getting Better
In March 2003, 58% of the voters passed Measure A, which allows the City, after certain transportation projects are within three years of completion, to proceed with more than $2.7 billion in the construction of a new airport that will include new terminal and larger passenger facilities, improved security, nine additional gates and new parking facilities.  The construction of these facilities will significantly improve customer service and security at the Airport.