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Santa Clara weighs reconnecting Benton Street and Brokaw Road across rail tracks

Santa Clara weighs reconnecting Benton Street and Brokaw Road across rail tracks

Built World Santa Clara, CA local

Task force has not picked a crossing; community survey on eight concepts runs through November 15

October 26th, 2026: BPAC scheduled to receive study update

Overview

Updated Oct 31

The Union Pacific Railroad corridor separates Benton Street from Brokaw Road in Santa Clara. The city is studying whether a new crossing for walkers, cyclists, drivers and buses should reconnect them. The study is funded by a grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, a regional transportation agency.

At an October 14 community workshop, the team presented eight preliminary concepts. These range from upgrades to the existing pedestrian undercrossing to new bicycle, pedestrian or all-mode crossings over or under the tracks. The Station Area Task Force heard the concepts on October 15 and did not pick one. Consultants will gather more input and evaluate the concepts before recommending any. An online community survey is open through November 15, 2026. The study is expected to finish in 2027.

Why it matters

Reconnecting these streets would shorten trips across the rail corridor and improve access to jobs, schools, grocery stores and regional transit.

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Key Indicators

2
Community meetings held
Virtual meeting #1 in June 2026. Meeting #2 on October 14, 2026 reviewed the eight preliminary concepts.
8
Preliminary crossing concepts
Options range from upgrading the existing undercrossing to new over- or under-rail crossings.
2027
Feasibility study completion target
The study takes about 18 months, with completion anticipated in 2027.

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Organizations Involved

CS
City of Santa Clara Department of Public Works
Municipal Department
Leading the feasibility study

The city department conducting the Benton-Brokaw Multimodal Crossing Feasibility Study.
SA
Station Area Task Force
City Advisory Body
Heard the Benton-Brokaw crossing study on October 15 and did not choose a concept; next meeting November 19, 2026

A Santa Clara advisory body reviewing planning matters near the rail station area; it took up the Benton-Brokaw crossing options at its October 15 hearing.

Timeline

June 2026 October 2026

6 events Latest: October 26th, 2026 · 2 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. BPAC scheduled to receive study update

    Latest Procedural

    The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee agenda includes a project update covering work since its first meeting and the second round of engagement. The outcome has not been reported.

  2. Task force hears testimony on Benton-Brokaw crossing alternatives

    Public Hearing

    The Station Area Task Force met at 6:03 p.m. and worked through pedestrian and bicycle crossing concepts, vehicle options and a proposal for automated "glideways" across the rail corridor. The transcript records no vote on which alternatives advance.

  3. Community Workshop #2 on crossing concepts

    Community Meeting

    The city held its second community meeting to present the eight preliminary crossing concepts. An online survey on the concepts followed.

  4. Agenda lists public hearing on Benton-Brokaw crossing study

    Procedural

    The Station Area Task Force agenda adds a public hearing on the feasibility study for October 15.

  5. City announces community workshop on crossing concepts

    Announcement

    The city invites residents to a workshop to review crossing concepts and help choose which alternatives move forward for further study.

  6. First virtual community meeting on Benton-Brokaw crossing study

    Community Meeting

    Santa Clara's Department of Public Works hosts a virtual meeting introducing the study and gathering community priorities for the corridor.

Scenarios

1

Santa Clara task force advances Benton-Brokaw crossing options

Possible Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: City staff and task force members (the hearing is a decision checkpoint)

After hearing public testimony, the task force votes to keep one or more crossing alternatives in the study for further technical analysis. This moves the project closer to a recommended concept and a cost estimate.

2

Santa Clara task force defers Benton-Brokaw crossing decision

Possible Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: City staff (agenda items are regularly deferred or withdrawn)

The task force hears testimony but defers action, asking for more engineering detail or another round of community input. The study continues without a narrowed set of options.

3

Study narrows options after public feedback

Likely Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: The city's project outreach materials

Drawing on hearing and workshop feedback, the study team eliminates some crossing concepts and retains others for detailed engineering review. The city publishes an updated study scope showing the shortlist.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

October 1989 - 1991

Embarcadero Freeway removal, San Francisco (1989-1991)

The Loma Prieta earthquake in October 1989 damaged San Francisco's double-deck Embarcadero Freeway along the waterfront. The city chose to remove it rather than rebuild, tearing it down over the next two years.

Then

Businesses near the freeway initially opposed removal, but the Ferry Building and waterfront saw increased foot traffic and new development.

Now

The project became a national case study in removing urban infrastructure that divided neighborhoods.

Why this matters now

Shows that reconnecting a city divided by infrastructure is possible but requires years of planning and political resolve.

1991-2007

Boston's Central Artery/Tunnel, the Big Dig (1991-2007)

Boston buried an elevated highway that had separated the North End from downtown and the waterfront. The project put the Central Artery (Interstate 93) underground, replacing it with a surface boulevard and green space.

Then

The 16-year project saw major cost overruns, with the final price exceeding $14 billion.

Now

The new surface streets reconnected neighborhoods, boosted waterfront access, and generated billions in adjacent development.

Why this matters now

Illustrates both the potential benefits of reconnecting divided neighborhoods and the long, costly path to get there.

Sources

(10)
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City of Santa Clara Legistar City of Santa Clara GovDelivery VTA City of Santa Clara Audioscrape Govly City of Santa Clara Legistar The Silicon Valley Voice City of Santa Clara GovDelivery City of Santa Clara Legistar