Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)
HR&A advised Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) on maximizing development value and public benefits for their flagship Downtown San Jose BART station site, part of the BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension. Our strategic planning has positioned this significant transit-oriented development (TOD) to become a model in Silicon Valley while advancing VTA’s policy objectives, including affordable housing creation.
HR&A’s work for VTA centered on optimizing development potential for agency-owned land at one of the region’s most significant future transit hubs. As VTA prepared for this major transit investment, our team delivered comprehensive analysis to guide strategic decision-making for this complex, high-value site. We conducted extensive research on successful joint development projects across national and global transit systems, identifying disposition and development strategies that could maximize both financial returns and community benefits. Our case studies demonstrated various approaches transit agencies have employed to integrate high-quality transit facilities with development while achieving critical policy goals. These insights provided VTA with a robust framework for evaluating potential development paths and understanding the full spectrum of value creation opportunities.
Building on our strategic analysis, HR&A has transitioned to directly supporting VTA’s developer selection process. We are crafting customized Request for Qualification and Request for Proposal packages designed to attract qualified development teams and elicit innovative proposals aligned with VTA’s vision. This work exemplifies HR&A’s ability to bridge planning and implementation, applying market-driven insights to help public agencies transform valuable transit-adjacent properties into vibrant, mixed-use developments that serve multiple community objectives. Through this engagement, HR&A is helping VTA leverage its real estate assets strategically to enhance transit ridership, generate revenue, and create a landmark development that will shape downtown San Jose’s future.
