Diridon Station to Airport Connector
Phase 1 Feasibility Validation Report and Phase 2A Recommendation City of San José Department of Transportation
San José Mineta International Airport
John Ristow, Director of Transportation
Mookie Patel, Director of Aviation
Ramses Madou, Division Manager, Department of Transportation Ryan Sheelen, Planner IV, Department of Aviation
City Council
March 25, 2025
Item 5.1
Project History
2000
Measure A
has
Airport
Connector
2000-2017
Studies
2017
Alignment
changed
to Diridon
July 2019
Request
for Info.
May 2022
Request
for
Proposal
April 2023
Phase 1
Start
Jan. 2024
Intra-
Airport
Sept 2024
Feasibility
Validation
Report
March
2025
Phase 2a
Oct. 2023
Agreement
Signed
Feb. 2023
Connectio
n Partners
*Council
Actions
Project Timeline
3 PHASE 1 PHASE 2A PHASE 3 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS
Planning and
Commercial
Structure
Finalize
Implementation
Agreement
Implementation Agreement
Final project terms, costs, roles, and
scopes are contractually agreed to.
Pre-Development Agreement
A PDA is a highly structured, exclusive, City-committed co- development process.
Today
PHASE 2B
Investment Grade Ridership
Preferred Alignment
Funding Plan
Environmental
Engineering/Design
One Year One - Two Years Six Months Four Years
The Connector’s
Value for San José*
4 • Make San José Mineta International Airport more connected to the regional transit hub
• Provide a new, reliable, travel option that avoids traffic congestion
• Prove out scalable technology for future transit expansions across San José
• Make development around Diridon Station more attractive • Build flexible infrastructure to evolve with technology • Increase the ridership of existing transit services at Diridon Station
*From City Council Directed RFP
Project Definition
Base Project
Connects Diridon Station and San José
Mineta International Airport terminal B.
Extension Project
Adds an intra Airport Loop connecting
terminal A and the long-term parking lot the
to the base project.
5 6
Technical Feasibility
o Technology development progress and roadmap
o Study Alignment
Financial Viability
o Construction and operating cost estimates
o Range of ridership and revenue estimates
o Range of operating results which determine the
amount of potential private investment
Commercial Structure
o Partnership structure and proposed risk allocation
Benefit – Cost Analysis
o Range of Benefit - Cost results
o MTC’s regional analysis
Phase 1 Feasibility Report
7 Major Findings:
• Vehicle and systems development has made significant
strides. 2nd generation prototypes now testing
• Roadmap towards commercial readiness looks feasible
• Conceptual design for feasibility alignment enabled initial estimates of capital cost, operating costs, and travel times Key areas for next phase:
• Development of beta vehicles
• Public agency and emergency services coordination
• Design in the ability to utilize alternate transit vehicles • Create contingency plans for continuous circulation
• Refine alignment to avoid or mitigate conflicts and to reduce costs
Technical Feasibility
Alpha prototype
Beta prototype
Major Findings:
• Connector construction costs estimates, based on conceptual design of a representative alignment, range between
• $489 to $592 million for Base Project
• $707 to $821 million including the optional Extension • 90% or more of construction costs would be paid by public funds, 10% or less likely paid by private investment
• Operating subsidies may be required for the base project based on Airport's historical growth rates.
• Fare revenues cover operating and maintenance expensesfor all growth rates if optional intra-airport extension is constructed. 8 Key areas for next phase:
• Updating and refining ridership and revenue forecasts • Develop funding strategy for obtaining Federal, State, and regional grants to build the Connector
• Incorporate value engineering into preferred alignment selection to lower both construction and operating costs
Financial Feasibility
Staff Recommendation
9 Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or her designee to:
1) Negotiate and execute an amendment to the pre-development agreement, task orders, and change orders with San José Connection Partners to refine ridership and revenue forecasting, develop a funding strategy, and develop a preferred alignment for the Base Project and the Optional Intra-airport Extension Project in an amount not to exceed $14.7 million, subject to the appropriation of funds; 2) Secure funding for the project, including the negotiation of a new funding agreement with the Valley Transportation Authority for Phase 2a project planning, subject to the appropriation of funds by the Valley Transportation Authority.
Diridon Station to Airport Connector
Phase 1 Feasibility Validation Report and Phase 2A Recommendation City of San José Department of Transportation
San José Mineta International Airport
John Ristow, Director of Transportation
Mookie Patel, Director of Aviation
Ramses Madou, Division Manager, Department of Transportation Ryan Sheelen, Planner IV, Department of Aviation
City Council
March 25, 2025
Item 5.1