An Assessment of the Viva CalleSJ September 2025 Event in San José

Abstract:

Viva CalleSJ is an open-streets initiative where several miles of the City of San José’s streets are closed to vehicular traffic, allowing residents to walk, bike, scooter, and skate freely. This report evaluates the Viva CalleSJ event held in San José on September 7, 2025, which attracted more than 150,000 participants. Using a mixed-methods approach, this evaluation examines aspects such as attendance, activities, modal access, and economic impacts, utilizing data from participant surveys (in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese), interviews, and observational analysis. The findings indicate that the Viva CalleSJ September 2025 event was largely successful in achieving its objectives, including promoting active transportation, fostering community connection, and supporting the local economy. Insights from the report can inform planning for future Viva CalleSJ and similar events and demonstrate that these such events have an overall positive impact on the community.

Publications:

An Assessment of the Viva CalleSJ September 2025 Event in San José (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 2025

Keywords:

Active transportation

Community engagement

Economic impacts

Viva CalleSJ

Open streets initiatives