Apple Saves Cupertino Transit Project with $4 Million Contribution

Apple has contributed $4 million to a $124 million project to overhaul the Interstate 280 and Wolfe Road interchange in Cupertino, saving the project from potential cancellation and mitigating traffic congestion in the area. The upgrade will include a new structure, on and off ramps, and upgraded bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways. Apple's contribution will help close the funding gap and keep the project on track, with construction set to start in 2026 and wrap up in 2029.

Cupertino, CA — Apple Inc. has stepped in to fund a $4 million gap in the $124 million project to overhaul the Interstate 280 and Wolfe Road interchange, saving the project from potential cancellation and mitigating traffic congestion in the area. The upgrade, which includes a new structure, on and off ramps, and upgraded bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways, is primarily funded by VTA’s Measure B, a 30-year, half-cent sales tax increase passed by voters in 2016.

The project, which began nearly a decade ago, aims to address the interchange's significant delays and congestion, exacerbated by the aging infrastructure and the impending influx of residents from new housing developments like The Rise. Apple's contribution will allow the project to proceed, with construction set to start in 2026 and wrap up in 2029.

Kristina Raspe, Apple's vice president of global real estate and facilities, stated, "We are proud to call Cupertino home, and to support projects that strengthen this community and make it a great place to live and work." The funds originally intended for other projects, such as the McClellan Road protected bikeway improvements, were reallocated to fund the interchange after the city deemed those projects no longer feasible.

The project has garnered support from various stakeholders, including Councilmember Sheila Mohan, who has experienced gridlock at the interchange and sees the improvements as a win-win for Apple and the entire community. Seema Lindskog, board chair of pedestrian and bicycle safety group Walk-Bike Cupertino, is also looking forward to the project, which will address the dangerous intersections and improve safety for high schoolers walking or biking to school.

The project is part of VTA's broader efforts to improve traffic in the West Valley, including work on Highway 17 near Los Gatos. With Apple's contribution, Cupertino can now move forward with the project and mitigate traffic gridlock as hundreds of homes come online.

References:
[1] https://sanjosespotlight.com/apple-rescues-cupertinos-transit-project/