An Assessment of the Viva CalleSJ Event in San Jose

Abstract:

This report evaluates the Viva CalleSJ event held in San Jose, California, on September 8, 2024. As a celebrated open-streets initiative, Viva CalleSJ temporarily transformed six miles of city streets into car-free zones to encourage active transportation, foster community engagement, and support local businesses. This assessment employed a mixed-methods approach, including participant surveys, interviews with stakeholders, and observational analysis. Key findings highlighted the event’s success in attracting a diverse audience, promoting physical activity, and driving economic benefits. Over 50% of attendees arrived by bicycle, and 77.7% planned to spend money at the event, averaging $54.23 per participant. Community-building impacts were significant, with 76% of participants feeling more connected to their community and 80.4% discovering local businesses. The report concludes with actionable recommendations to maximize the social, economic, and environmental benefits of future Viva CalleSJ events while advancing San Jose’s mobility and community goals.

Publications:

An Assessment of the Viva CalleSJ Event in San Jose (Full Report)

Research Brief

Authors:

RICK KOS

Rick Kos is a certified urban planner and a faculty member in the Master of Urban Planning program at San Jose State University since 2007. He serves as the department’s Graduate Advisor and Practitioner-in-Residence, preparing his graduate students for professional practice in urban planning. Rick’s areas of research and teaching include applications of GIS to urban analysis, community engagement in the neighborhood planning process, and transportation planning. Rick earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental planning and urban design from Rutgers University and a Master of Regional Planning degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

ADAM COHEN

Adam Cohen is a senior researcher in innovative and emerging mobility. He has two decades of experience as a researcher with the Mineta Transportation Institute of San Jose State University and the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Adam also chairs the Transportation Research Board’s Standing Committee on Innovative Public Transportation Services and Technologies (AP020). He has a master’s degree in city and regional planning and a masters degree in international affairs from Georgia Tech.

Published:

December 2024

Keywords:

Active transportation

Community engagement

Economic impacts

Viva CalleSJ

Open streets initiatives