Diridon Station Planning History

How Did Diridon Station Planning Get to Where it is Today?

The Diridon Station Program has a long history of planning and community engagement for the Diridon Station Area. The many related planning processes are summarized on this page. Use the left and right arrows to view a timeline of key milestones from the Diridon Station Program. For more information, visit the drop-down menu below and Archive page.

Diridon Station Area Planning History

Select a drop-down to learn more about each planning process related to the Diridon Station Program.

  • The City of San José (City) adopted the Diridon Station Area Plan (DSAP) in 2014. The purpose was to prepare for big transportation investments and land use changes in the area. The DSAP created a blueprint to develop a 250-acre district surrounding San José Diridon Station (the Diridon Station Area). The goal was to transform the area from parking lots and old industrial buildings to a dynamic mixed-use urban neighborhood anchored by a world-class transportation hub and the SAP Center.  

    2014: The DSAP was created and adopted by City of San José. 

    2018 - 2019:  

    • The City conducted an extensive community engagement process to gather input on the future of the Diridon Station Area. 

    • The City and Google began working with each other to develop Downtown San José. Public outreach and community engagement, related to key milestones in the planning process, began. 

    2020:

    • An amendment included the Google Downtown West Project and added development capacity for non-Google sites. It updated the sections on land use, design, transportation, and public spaces. The City also prepared the Diridon Affordable Housing Implementation Plan. This established strategies for protecting nearby affordable housing and renters vulnerable to displacement.  

    DSAP planning continued under the “Google Downtown West Mixed-Use Project.” Click the section below to read more.   

  • The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) plans, designs, builds, and will operate a reliable, zero-emission high-speed rail system. This will connect places in California, contribute to economic development, create jobs, and preserve agricultural and protected lands. Diridon Station will help connect 21 miles of rail track and service within City of San José limits. Many options and designs were evaluated. The final two Northern California projects sections (San José–Merced and San Francisco–San José) reached environmental approval in 2022.  

    2008: The Authority issued Notice of Preparation/Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the San Francisco to San José Project Section. This section includes Diridon Station. 

    2009: The Authority issued Notice of Preparation/Notice of Intent to prepare an EIR/EIS for the San José to Merced Project Section. This section includes Diridon Station. 

    2009 – 2015: Alternatives development and technical studies took place. 

    2019: The Authority issued a new Notice of Preparation/Notice of Intent to prepare an EIR/EIS for the San Francisco to San José Project Section. This reflects the transition to the at-grade two-track blended system reflecting the transition to the at-grade two-track blended system. 

    2020: Draft EIR/EIS released for both Northern California project sections. 

    2022 

    • Spring: The Authority’s Board of Directors certified the Final EIR/EIS and approved the Preferred Alternative for the San José to Merced Project Section. This includes changes  to the existing Diridon Station to include high-speed rail service. 

    • Summer: The Authority Board of Directors certified the Final EIR/EIS for the San Francisco to San José project section. 

  • The City of San José and Google want to create a welcoming and accessible urban destination in the area near Diridon Station (known as Downtown West). The goal is to have a mix of land and transportation use. Google, as the project sponsor, proposed the Downtown West Mixed-Use project to the City of San José. This built upon the City of San José’s 250-acre Diridon Station Area Plan (DASP), to create a mixed-use, 80-acre urban destination near public transit. The project allows for the construction of office spaces, housing units, parks and open space, and more.   

    2018: The City and Google entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work on the development in Downtown San José. Public outreach and community engagement, related to key milestones in the planning process, began.  

    2019 

    • Summer: Google informed the City that they would apply for the State’s Assembly Bill (AB) 900 program. This is known as the Jobs and Economic Improvement through Environmental Leadership Act. It allows for large development projects that create jobs and meet a high standard of public benefits. 

    • Fall: Google submitted their application for the AB 900 program. They began scoping for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 

    2020 

    • Spring: Design priorities and the EIR were drafted. A City Council Study Session was also hosted. 

    • Summer: The development agreement was drafted and addressed the City Council’s top priorities. This included affordable housing, anti-displacement, economic and educational opportunities, park and open space, transportation, and environmental sustainability. 

    • Fall:  The EIR is finalized. Project hearings are held. 

    2021 

    • Spring: City released the staff-recommended Draft Development Agreement. The whole Planning Commission agrees that that the City Council approve the Downtown West project and Amended Diridon Station Area Plan (DSAP). The City held a Community Meeting with the Diridon Station Area Advisory Group (SAAG) to discuss the Draft Development Agreement. Council approved allocation of the first $3 million community benefit payment from Google. Public outreach and community engagement was completed. 

    • Summer:  The Downtown West Design Standards and Guidelines (DWDSG) were released. City Council approved the Downtown West Mixed-Use plan.  

    2022 

    • Spring: San José City Council established a commission to guide the Community Stabilization and Opportunity Pathways Fund. This fund is a community benefit of Google’s Downtown West Project that supports San José communities historically affected by structural racism and at highest risks of displacement. The City held a virtual community meeting to provide an update on the process for setting up the new commission, give an overview of the Community Stabilization and Opportunity Pathways Fund, and gather feedback and ideas. The Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition led a bike ride of the Diridon area with Google and City of San José staff to share information about the planned bike improvements as part of the Downtown West Project. 

    • Summer: The City held another virtual community meeting. Staff considered the input from the meetings to draft a proposed ordinance to establish the new commission. Later, the staff presented the Annual Compliance Review of Development Agreements at an Administrative Hearing of the Planning Commission. This included a brief update on the Downtown West Development Agreement. The staff also reported on Google’s compliance the terms and obligations.  City Council adopted the ordinance to add the “Community Stabilization and Opportunity Pathways Fund Commission” to the Municipal Code. 

  • The Station Area Advisory Group (SAAG) was created so the public could provide input to the City of San José Administration. Topics included land use, development, transportation, and construction plans affecting the Diridon Station Area. The 38-member group included representatives from local private companies, business associations, neighborhood associations, homeowner associations, housing communities, transit companies, non-profit organizations, schools, leadership groups, and government agencies.  

    2018: The SAAG met and gave input on proposed changes for the station. This process created a formal collaboration with the five Partner Agencies. During the year, community engagement focused on the SAAG. Engagement included stakeholder meetings, walking tours, surveys, tabling, and the launch of the sjdiridon.org website. Methods and input were reported in the  Diridon Station Area Civic Engagement Report. 

    2019: Regular and small group meetings were held. 

    2020: Regular meetings were held. 

    2021: The last regular meeting was held. SAAG members were surveyed, as part of an effort to evaluate the 2019-2021 Diridon Station Area community engagement process. 

  • The Diridon Integrated Station Concept Plan (DISC) envisioned Diridon Station as a world-class transit hub. The plan aimed to create easy connections between transit options and incorporate the station with nearby neighborhoods. Five Partner Agencies - California High-Speed Rail Authority, Caltrain, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the City of San José - developed the DISC Plan. The Plan also included a leadership structure to guide long-term construction and operations.  

    2019: Partner agencies drafted the DISC.  

    2020: The Partner Agencies created an initial “Concept Layout” for the station and shared it in a final report. The Partner Agencies worked with private property owners and developers in the Diridon Station Area to refine track layouts and outline the station footprint.  

    2021: The Partner Agencies continued to work with private property owners and developers to refine the track layouts and outline the station footprint.  

  • The Diridon Station Business Case focused on developing station design alternatives. The goal was to improve performance and decrease impacts and cost. It was started to outline a program for the redevelopment of Diridon Station that can be advanced to the environmental phase of study. This effort also included identifying alternatives for the public input to give input.  

    2023: Partner Agencies initiated another phase of planning to reimagine Diridon Station. This is known as the Diridon Station Business Case. This phase builds upon previous community engagement and design efforts that began in 2020. It led to the decision to move forward with the at-grade alternative as the preference.  

    2024 

    • Spring: Community engagement continued. Three (3) draft station design alternatives were presented to the public and the Joint Policy Advisory Board (JPAB). 

    • Summer: Two (2) draft station design alternatives were presented to the JPAB. 

    • Fall: Community engagement was conducted to gather feedback to inform improved station design. 

    2025: Community engagement was completed and the at-grade station alternative was advanced. The Diridon Station Steering Committee was formed, replacing the former JPAB. This is made up comprised of voting members from the five Partner Agencies and a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) representative. Together, they lead the implementation of the Diridon Station Area redevelopment. Together, they lead the implementation of the Diridon Station Area redevelopment. 

    Check out the 2025 Diridon Station Online Open House, where community members shared feedback about the two station design alternatives.