COMPLETE STREETS DESIGN

SJ-MC tit. 13, ch. 13.05

in effect

San José Municipal Code § 13.05.010 Purpose.

13.05.010 - Purpose. The purpose of this Chapter is to establish the City of San José Complete Streets Policy as to achieve the goals and objectives of the City's General Plan. This Chapter provides for the implementation of Complete Streets Guiding Principles, improve safety of City roadways, protect the environment, and preserve community character by recognizing that transportation needs vary. (Ord. 30100.)

San José Municipal Code § 13.05.020 Complete streets - Definition.

13.05.020 - Complete streets - Definition. The term "Complete Streets" describes a comprehensive, integrated transportation network with infrastructure and design that allows safe and convenient travel along and across streets for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, users and operators of public transportation, seniors, children, youth, and families while protecting and preserving the community's environment and character. (Ord. 30100.)

San José Municipal Code § 13.05.030 Complete streets requirement.

13.05.030 - Complete streets requirement. The City shall, to the maximum extent practicable, plan for, design, construct, operate, and maintain an appropriate and integrated multi-modal transportation system for the safe accommodation of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, and users of all ages and abilities in new construction, retrofit, and reconstruction projects of public streets. The system's design is to be supportive of the community, recognizing that transportation needs vary and must be balanced in a flexible, safe, and cost-effective manner. (Ord. 30100.)

San José Municipal Code § 13.05.040 Exceptions.

13.05.040 - Exceptions. The Director of the Department of Transportation for transportation capital operations and maintenance projects, and the City Engineer for all other projects, may determine that facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and/or persons of all abilities are not required to be provided in compliance with the Complete Streets Design Standards and Guidelines in the following circumstances: A. When establishment would be contrary to public safety or to requirements of a grant or law; B. When the cost would be excessively disproportionate to the project, or probable future use; C. Where there is no identified probable future need, or is in conflict with adopted City transportation plans; D. The City cannot feasibly attain the additional right-of-way that would be needed; E. When routine maintenance of the transportation network is performed that does not change the roadway geometry or operations, designed to keep assets in serviceable condition (e.g., mowing, cleaning, sweeping, spot repair and surface treatments such as chip seal, or interim measures on detour or haul routes). If safety and convenience can be improved within the scope of pavement resurfacing such as grind and overlay and restriping, such projects shall implement Complete Streets as outlined in the adopted San José Bike Plan and other applicable plans to provide access and increase safety for all users. Grind and overlay and restriping projects shall be limited to striping elements as called for in the Complete Streets Design Standards and Guidelines. Signalization or signage changes shall not trigger additional Complete Streets elements; provided, that such improvements shall consider the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as motorists, including transit users; F. When the roadway is a limited access roadway, prohibiting by law either nonmotorized or motorized use; G. Where implementing Complete Streets standards in a small project would create a very short section of improvements with problematic transitions on either end or that are unlikely to be followed by similar improvements at either end resulting in little progress on implementing Complete Streets networks as provided for in the City's transportation plans; and H. The City Council has directed that Complete Street principles not be applied due to other special factors for a particular street or street segment. (Ord. 30100.)

San José Municipal Code § 13.05.050 Complete streets design.

13.05.050 - Complete streets design. The Design Criteria for the street right of way - Geometric Cross sections are listed in Table 1 in Section 13.50.070. Each street designation shown has expected functional class and typology in conformance with City's General Plan. Cross sections of each street designation showing right of way and traveled way widths are shown on Figures in the City's Complete Streets Design Standards and Guidelines. All street design submitted on tentative maps and site plans that include City streets shall comply with design criteria in City's Complete Streets Design Standards and Guidelines. To create an integrated transportation system accommodating each mode of travel that is consistent with and supporting of the community, recognizing that the needs of various users will need to be balanced in a flexible manner, the City's Complete Streets Design Standards and Guidelines establishes design criteria, standards, and guidelines for Complete Streets based upon recognized best practices and sound engineering principles in street design, construction and operations. Recognized best practices include, but are not limited to, the most current editions of guidelines, standards, and practices developed by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the California State Department of Transportation, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). (Ord. 30100.)

San José Municipal Code § 13.05.060 Best practice criteria.

13.05.060 - Best practice criteria. The Director of Transportation shall modify, develop and adopt policies, design criteria, standards and guidelines based upon recognized best practices in street design, construction, and operations including but not limited to the latest editions of American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) while reflecting the context and character of the surrounding built and natural environments and enhance the appearance of such. (Ord. 30100.)

San José Municipal Code § 13.05.070 Standard right of way.

13.05.070 - Standard right of way. Right of way widths required for street right of way are listed in Table 1 in Title 13 of the San José Municipal Code. Right of way dimensions can be increased through City Council action that requires a wider right of way (e.g., sidewalk widths specified in Urban Village Plans adopted by City Council). The Director of Transportation defines and maintains the City's Functional Classification Diagram of roadways (e.g., Local, Collector, or Arterial) for engineering design purposes. Table 1 Standard Right of Way (ROW) Widths Functional Classification | Street Designation | ROW Width (ft) | Minimum Centerline Radius (ft) Local | Narrow Residential | 40, 44, 46, or 48 | 150 Minor Residential | 50, 52, 54, 56, or 60 | 150 Collector | Neighborhood Collector | 56, 60 or 64 | 300 Neighborhood Collector | 70 | 600 Major Collector | 80, 84, 96, or 90 | 600 Arterial | Minor Arterial | 106 | 600 Major Arterial | 120 or 130 | 1000 Expressway | 134 or 220 | 1000 (Ord. 30100.)

San José Municipal Code § 13.05.080 Sidewalk Through Zone.

13.05.080 - Sidewalk Through Zone. The Sidewalk Through Zone serves the primary function of the sidewalk: pedestrian movement along the street. Generally, to comply with ADA regulations, the Sidewalk Through Zone shall be designed and maintained free and clear of any and all physical obstructions at all times. (Ord. 30100.)

Source: City of San José, Municipal Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/san_jose/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT13STSIPUPL_CH13.05COSTDEFetched: 11/1/2026