This week, the City Council voted to move forward with the next phase of the Diridon-Airport Connector project. The decision comes after the Council reviewed the project’s Feasibility Validation Report, which analyzed its technical, commercial, and financial aspects. The Connector, envisioned as a high-capacity, on-demand transit solution, aims to streamline travel between one of the Bay Area’s busiest transit hubs and San José Mineta International Airport. The project will now proceed into Phase 2a, focusing on refining ridership forecasts, finalizing the preferred alignment, and securing funding.

The Feasibility Validation Report found that the proposed technology is expected to meet the needs of passengers, and the proposed commercial structure is capable of delivering, operating, and maintaining the project. The financial analyses were complex and less conclusive, and the findings varied depending on what components might move forward in the project development process.

The report looked at two possible financial scenarios:

• The Base Project, in which the connector would connect Terminal B of San José Mineta International Airport with Diridon Station.
• The Base Project plus an optional extension, which would also connect the Airport’s Terminal A and Economy Parking Lot.

Our analysis tested multiple rider scenarios to better understand what will work best for the public and our partners. We’re keeping in mind the fact that projects sometimes overstate ridership. That’s why we are going to spend extra time to ensure that we know how many people are truly going to use the project to go to Diridon Station, the SAP Center, or other places nearby.

By dividing Phase 2 into smaller sub-phases, we will be able to better manage the project’s costs and risks. Phase 2a will keep the project development process moving forward for about a year. We will work with San Jose Connection Partners to:

1. Refine ridership estimates
2. Begin conceptual design, including working with the community to finalize the route alignment
3. Develop a project funding plan

Read the Feasibility Validation Report and learn more about the Connector on the project home page.