2006 letter from highway staff to the City,
with Akos’ rebuttal in color. (See enlarged.)
Sidewalk
Maps of
Lawrence and
San Tomas
Expressways
within the
City.
Source:
2008 County
Expressway
Plan,
approved by
BOS and
VTA Board.
(See the Maps
enlarged in
uploaded
links.)
Sidewalk Map of
Montague
Expressway
within the City.
Lawrence
San Tomas
Montague
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal Resolution No. 5603 Page of 110 Repeal Resolution No. 5603
County Roads Dept. opposed BOS policy, opposed sidewalks, and faked “accident statistics” at City Council of Santa Clara Includes: How sidewalks were obtained along Lawrence Expressway Links to more information, document excerpts, etc.
Addendum: My speech to City Council on 9/15/2026
Akos Szoboszlay, 11/12/2024, updated 9/15/2026
The below letter from County Roads and Airports Department (on page 3 and 4) is an example of County Roads opposing the County Board of Supervisors’ (BOS) 1991 policies and the BOS-approved 2003 County Expressway Plan. In 2006, I had asked the City Council of Santa Clara to repeal the prohibition of pedestrians. This County Roads letter was presented to the City Council, opposing repeal. It is addressed to City staff (the Public Works Director) who placed it in the Council’s agenda packet. The Director of County Roads and Airports Dept., Michael Murdter, had signed the letter, and then came to the City Council meeting to verbally oppose repeal by re-iterating, and expanding, points of his letter.
This County Roads letter has many false statements that I have rebutted in color, on the letter.
Most notably, County Roads faked the “accident statistics”, both in the letter and verbally.
Verbally, County Roads claimed that a “study” showed that “60%” of pedestrian fatalities on expressways were caused by “roadway departure,” which is a motor vehicle that runs off the road and kills a pedestrian walking on the sidewalk — who just happens to be at exactly the same spot. In fact, County Roads claimed fatalities were not of pedestrians, but of motorists on freeways and national highways. [The Epilog, last page, contains email from City General Manager Sparacino that proves this.] County Roads faked their “accident statistics,” and then prevented rebuttal by not providing their data, or their source, in the agenda packet.
The goal of County Roads was to mislead Council members into believing that sidewalks are dangerous, so that they would continue prohibiting use of existing sidewalks on Lawerence Expressway (Applying their logic, bike lanes would be even more dangerous, being closer to traffic.) Why oppose sidewalks? Subsequently, a 2014 County Roads document reveals that they want to use the right-of-way of both sidewalks and bike lanes for their proposed plan for a new 10-lane freeway (including continuous exit/entry lanes), where Lawrence Expressway is today. Apparently, faking “accident statistics” gets more Council member votes to eliminate pedestrians than revealing their proposed new freeway — which was only revealed years later.
The City Council postponed action until after the 2008 County Expressway Plan. City staff has stonewalled on complying since 2009 which de-facto resulted in continuing prohibiting pedestrian use of sidewalks and paths and bike lanes, to this day. The 2008 Plan contains sidewalks along expressways, and paths have been required since 1991 by the BOS, and shoulder/bike lane use has been approved for pedestrians by the BOS in 2003. However, City staff never brought this agenda item back to the City Council to allow using these facilities.
So, pedestrians are prohibited from using sidewalks and paths and bike lanes to this day.
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal Resolution No. 5603 Page of 210 Note that Bike Lane use by pedestrians is legal under the Vehicle Code (CVC 21966) where there is no “adjacent” sidewalk or path. However, no pedestrian would use the Bike Lane if the required paths or sidewalks were created. Paths have not been implemented because County Roads has refused to comply with the BOS’ 1991 path creation order — which was fully funded — by using the City’s prohibitory ordinance as a ruse to avoid complying.
County Roads did not provide, in the agenda packet or anywhere else, their “accident statistics” data; and did not even cite the source of their data! This was to prevent me and other advocates from rebutting them. (Such claims must be in the agenda packet, available to both City Council members and the public.) The County Roads letter (below) states that they “provided” this “information,” but this also was a lie. The City Manager, Ms. Sparacino, did not even have access to it, and it took weeks for her to obtain it from County Roads. County Roads then only provided a link to a promotion of “rumble strips” on freeways and highways from the FHWA website. This is proven in the Epilog — Ms. Sparacino’s email. [See last page.] Related predecessor event in 2006:
County Roads had secretly eliminated the right of bicyclists and pedestrians to use public roads and streets in the State of California, by placing legal text to an unrelated bill, SB1233 — without informing the County. This became law on 1/1/2005. At my request, the County BOS voted to seek repeal of that, by a 5-0 vote, on 1/10/2006. The BOS vote was to oppose and undo what County Roads did behind their back — and behind the backs of BPACs and the public. Yet, just 5 months later, County Roads cites using that law change in their letter (below). County staff never complied with seeking repeal, merely writing one letter. [SB 1233 details are at this link: ModernTransit.org/Restore/contents.htm ] I had used this State law, prior to this secret change, to force removal of “Pedestrians Prohibited” signs on Lawrence Expressway (and elsewhere). Now, County Roads can put the signs back, immediately and without notice, because the City ordinance prohibiting pedestrians is already “on the books”. Their actions show that is exactly what they intend to do for their proposed new freeway.
Related subsequent event in 2006:
The 2008 County Expressway Plan had a two-year (or so) public input process. County Roads staff went to all the cities that have expressways and opposed sidewalks along expressways.
They lost all the votes, and the subsequent BOS vote. The BOS did not enact prohibitions as stated in County Road’s letter to the City Council (below). Instead, the BOS required sidewalks along all expressways (per the Sidewalk Maps for each expressway).
Despite losing their fight against sidewalks along expressways in this Master Plan, County Roads subsequently censored the documentation for the sidewalks, which are the Sidewalk Maps for each expressway. These were gone by 2023 from the County website, probably deleted years earlier. They censored the Bicycle Accommodation document in early 2024. I informed the BOS this year, and County Roads was forced to restore these.
Letter from highway staff to the City of Santa Clara is on next two pages:
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal Resolution No. 5603 Page of 310
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal Resolution No. 5603 Page of 410
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal Resolution No. 5603 Page of 510 Repeal the pedestrian prohibition of City of Santa Clara My speech and this letter to the City Council (of 11/12/24) contains reasons to repeal. Another reason is that the City’s prohibition of pedestrians enables County Roads to destroy sidewalks without even informing the City. In 1993, County Roads actually destroyed bike lanes along Lawrence and the pedestrian underpass used by Lawrence Caltrain patrons — where Lawrence goes under Central — without informing the City. In 2005, they destroyed the sidewalk on the Montague bridge over Guadalupe River — prohibited by San Jose — and destroyed the pedestrian path approach in Santa Clara. These were used mostly by Santa Clara residents walking to the Light Rail station on First Street.
Accomplishments of Akos Szoboszlay for the City of Santa Clara Akos Szoboszlay, 11/12/2024
I accomplished these for the City of Santa Clara:
•Led the repeal of the bicycle prohibition (from 1987 until winning in 1991), •Council also allowed using the pedestrian underpass (used by Caltrain patrons walking to industry) and walking on the expressway shoulders/bike lanes to access the underpass (in 1991).
•Forced County Roads to restore the pedestrian underpass (at Lawrence crossing under Central) that is used by Lawrence Caltrain patrons (circa 1995), •Obtained sidewalks along Lawrence Expressway at no cost to the City (completed in 1997). [See below: How sidewalks were obtained along Lawrence Expressway], •Restoration of bike lanes along Lawrence that County Roads destroyed in 1993 for more car traffic lanes, from 6 to 8 lanes,
•Forced removal of “Pedestrians Prohibited” signs from Lawrence Expressway (1992) by using State law that only authorized (enabled) prohibiting them from freeways. •Forced removal of “Pedestrians Prohibited” signs from Central Expressway (1990): The City repealed the prohibition on that road in 1982, but County Roads repeatedly refused to remove these signs until I told the Director that I would get the City Police Dept. to enforce the City ordinance, and I would also send out a Press Release. (“No No,” he said.) How sidewalks were obtained along Lawrence Expressway
Santa Clara City staff continued opposing bicyclists even after the BOS votes to support bicycles (1988) and to require bike lanes (1989) on expressways. Staff was so opposed to bicyclist use of bike lanes — which they lost after a 4-year fight by a narrow 3-4 vote in 1991 — that I doubted I could win for pedestrians by going to City Council. The BOS, at my request, ordered pedestrian paths along all expressways in 1991. In 1992, I forced County Roads to remove their illegal “Pedestrians Prohibited” signs on Lawerence Expressway, which violated State law that over-ruled the City’s prohibitory ordinance and only authorized prohibiting from freeways.
Despite bicyclists and pedestrians being allowed, County Roads destroyed the bike lane along Lawrence in 1993 — without informing the City Council — and forced bicyclists, pedestrians and transit patrons to walk or ride in the 50 mph vehicular traffic lane. They also destroyed the pedestrian underpass (along Lawrence, under Central Expressway) used by County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal Resolution No. 5603 Page of 610 Caltrain patrons walking to jobs in industry. County Roads actions were truly dangerous! Furthermore, highway staff from County Roads violated both the BOS bike lane (1989) and path (1991) requirements.
County Roads did not want me to take this danger to the BOS. This was a roadway design failure of County Roads that, furthermore, violated BOS requirements. County Roads had already lost 3 out of 3 votes at the BOS. (Eventually, County Roads lost 7 out of 7 votes at the BOS. See Timeline in Links page.) And, County Roads lost at the City Council that allowed not only bicycles, but also use of the pedestrian underpass and walking on the expressway shoulders/bike lanes to access the underpass (1991). This indicated a full repeal in the future was likely.
I met with Scotty Bruce, Deputy Director, Design and Construction, Santa Clara County Transportation Agency [named Roads and Airports Department in 1995], who agreed to restore the bike lanes, restore the pedestrian underpass, and construct sidewalks the entire way for the scope of the lane addition project — from the bridge over Fwy. 101 to Stevens Creek Blvd. These were completed by 1997.
Request to City Council Members: Let me prove the truth. (9/15/2026) Please let me show video clips of the lies of highway and city staff at the November 2025 meeting, contradicted by document excerpts. I can do this at the Council meeting, or individually to interested Council Members.
Contact info: Akos Szoboszlay
email: expressway [“at” symbol] akos.us
call or text: 408-221-0694
Invitation: Bike tour San Tomas Expressway with Akos Szoboszlay I would show how easy it is to create the required paths. I will show the most dangerous spot for pedestrians. (Hint: It’s for crossing the expressway, and it is easily corrected.) I am now retired, so I am flexible as to date and time. Please contact me (at email or phone, just above).
Links, in topic order (updated, 9/1/2026)
City of Santa Clara items
This article: Includes 2006 letter from highway staff from the County to the City of Santa Clara, with my rebuttal in color: ModernTransit.org/2024/SCarticle.pdf Link P: Video clip and document proof that highway staff from County lied to Santa Clara City Council that the BOS “supports” prohibition of pedestrians from expressways:
ModernTransit.org/2026/BOSproof.pdf
Link J: Jurisdiction of City vs. County, legal opinion: ModernTransit.org/expy/jurisdiction.html Speech (11/12/2024) to City Council: ModernTransit.org/2024/SCspeach.pdf Letter to City Council 11/12/2024: ModernTransit.org/2024/SantaClaraRepeal.pdf (Links continue, next page.)
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal Resolution No. 5603 Page of 710 Slide shows regarding pedestrians on expressways. No narration is needed.
Link B: ModernTransit.org/2025/Background.pdf for background and BOS requirements.
Link K: ModernTransit.org/2025/KillAndDestroy.pdf shows 3 kill sites and 5 destroy sites in San Jose, caused by San Jose City ordinance prohibiting pedestrians.
BOS votes, quotes, accomplishments
Link V: BOS Votes (page 1) and Quotes (page 2): ModernTransit.org/BOSvotesQuotes.pdf Link M: Sidewalk Maps for each expressway: ModernTransit.org/expy Select the expressway at top of the page. Now, these Maps can also be downloaded from the County website.
Link RR: BOS votes to Restore the Right to use expressways: ModernTransit.org/restore Timeline of expressways events, sorted by County and cities: ModernTransit.org/expy/#timeline County Expressway Plans, a history: ModernTransit.org/expy/ped-element.html County Roads’ subversion of County Expressway Plans:
Link R: The Report [8 pages]: ModernTransit.org/2026/Report.pdf Link A: Appendices of the Report [14 pages] has document excerpts and video clips:
ModernTransit.org/2026/ReportAppendices.pdf
More highway staff’s subversions of the Plans (in addition to those in the Report):
Link C: Referral of Supervisor Chavez to VTA BPAC: ModernTransit.org/2024/refer.pdf Link F: My rebuttal of Freitas reply to 3 Supervisors: ModernTransit.org/2024/rebuttal.pdf Deterioration of safety by highway staff of County Roads County Roads is pushing to replace sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides of expressways by a single “shared-use path” on one-side-only, which is dangerous, shown graphically here:
Link S: ModernTransit.org/2025/shared.pdf These graphics are on page 3.
How to greatly improve safety by sign changes
Link SS: Greatly improve expressway Safety by Signs: ModernTransit.org/2025/Signs.pdf Link BL: Politics of Bike Lane signs: ModernTransit.org/2025/BikeLaneSigns.pdf Links for Lawrence Expressway:
Highway staff, once again, is trying to destroy bike lanes and sidewalks on Lawrence:
Link AA: Alternatives Analysis Lawrence freeway: ModernTransit.org/2024/LawrenceAA.pdf Link L: Proposals and links for Lawrence Expressway. ModernTransit.org/2024/Links.pdf Link SC: City of Santa Clara repeal effort (to 2024): ModernTransit.org/2024/SCrepeal.pdf County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal Resolution No. 5603 Page of 810 Epilog
The email below is from Santa Clara City Manager, Ms. Sparacino, answering our question for the source of the 60% figure in staff’s “accident statistics” for pedestrian fatalities, and requesting their data. Both County highway and City staff verbally told City Council on 6/20/2006 that “roadway departure” of motor vehicles caused 60% of pedestrian fatalities on Santa Clara County expressways. In fact, these were of motorist fatalities on interstate freeways, from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) website. By far the most pedestrians fatalities on County expressways are for crossing the expressway.
Update (9/1/2026): Vision Zero San Jose shows 19 pedestrian fatalities were for crossing Capitol Expressway alone, but zero pedestrian fatalities on sidewalks, paths, bike lanes and bus stops on all 23 miles of expressways in the City. ========= email from City General Manager, Ms. Sparacino, 8/1/2006 ========== August 1, 2006
To: Akos Szoboszlay, President, Modern Transit Society
Dear Mr. Szoboszlay:
I am writing with reference to your correspondence dated: (1) July 6, 2006, (2) July 19, 2006 and (3) July 24, 2006.
You stated that at the City Council meeting of June 20, 2006, Mr.
Yoshino gave a figure of 60% for fatalities that result from roadway departures, and you requested a copy of the data. Attached are copies printed from Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) websites, indicating that approximately 60% of all fatal crashes in study year 2003 are roadway departure fatalities. The websites are as follows:
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/facts/road_factsheet.htm
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/crt/marketready/rumblestrips.pdf
Sincerely,
Jennifer Sparacino
City Manager
cc: Mayor Mahan [of Santa Clara in 2006]
Director of Public Works
Traffic Engineer
M. Murdter, Director of Roads and Airports, County of Santa Clara County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal Resolution No. 5603 Page of 910 My speech to City Council of Santa Clara under Public
Presentation
09/15/2026
Note: Color blue means not stated due to time limit.
In 1987, I came before you to stop the police harassment, of me and others, for bicycling in bike lanes. Highway staff from the County came to the meeting and stated that they opposed repeal because they want to convert all expressways into freeways. They told the truth, and lost the vote. Apparently, Council members do not want freeways in peoples back yards. On Lawrence, their recent document shows they want to demolish peoples homes for a 10-lane freeway.
I talked to many people walking in bike lanes of expressways. Most are transit patrons.
They walk at the road edge, even safer than bicycling. It’s also legal under State law if there is no sidewalk. But they fear police due to your Pedestrians Prohibited signs. After victory for bicyclists in all cities, I fought to repeal this pedestrian prohibition.
Highway staff and city staff changed tactics. Instead of stating that they want freeways through neighborhoods, they use scare tactics, lies, and years of stonewalling, to prevent City Council from voting on repeal.
In 1991, the County Board of Supervisors, at my request, required pedestrian paths or sidewalks along the “entire expressway system,” with completion in 1995. Highway staff refused to comply because, “that would encourage pedestrians to violate the city ordinance.” City staff opposed repeal because highway staff did not comply. And highway staff refused to comply due to your prohibition. This was a Catch-22.
In 2006, I requested repeal and highway staff wrote City Council a letter, shown with my rebuttal in color, and it’s uploaded. It lied that sidewalks are dangerous by citing fake data. City staff omitted this crash data from the agenda packet so I couldn’t rebut it.
Weeks later, Ms. Sparacino provided the data. It was motorist fatalities on interstate freeways, not pedestrian fatalities. Both city staff and highway staff lied to the City Council that sidewalks are dangerous due to “roadway departure” of vehicles.
Vision Zero San Jose proves that the 23 miles of expressways in San Jose had zero pedestrian fatalities on sidewalks, paths, bike lanes and bus stops. But, many are killed crossing expressways, the widest arterials. Highway staff uses crossing crashes as propaganda to fight against sidewalks.
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal Resolution No. 5603 Page of 1010 Staff asked Council to postpone the repeal vote to after the 2008 Expressway Plan, claiming this Plan would support prohibitions. However, the BOS rejected all prohibitions, and instead, required sidewalks.
At last November’s meeting, highway staff contradicted himself, by stating:
(1) this BOS vote never occurred, and
(2) the BOS supports the City’s prohibition.
Which is true? In fact, both are lies. The vote did occur and highway staff lost the vote.
The result is the Sidewalk Maps for each expressway, shown here and in my links.
Last November, City staff prevented my rebuttal. Only after public comment, they brought highway staff to the podium, and told more lies, not during presentation. Please let me show video clips of more lies, and prove the truth. My contact info is uploaded.