San Jose transit hub advances as Steering Committee names new program director
San Mateo, California – The long-planned upgrade to San Jose’s Diridon Station has taken a big step ahead. William “Bill” Sirois has been chosen by the Diridon Station Steering Committee to be the program director. This puts him in charge of one of the Bay Area’s most complex transit projects.
Sirois will be in charge of putting the Diridon Station Program into action. This is a big project that will upgrade the station and get it ready for more expansion in the future. The vision goes beyond just one train stop. Leaders think of Diridon as the center of California’s statewide rail network and a key part of transit-oriented development in downtown San Jose.
The endeavor involves five partner agencies: the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, the City of San Jose, and Caltrain.
Sirois was given a three-year mandate to lead the program through an environmental study, put together the program team, and set up a long-term governance framework. That group will be in charge of making sure the project gets done and getting money for the next phases. He will report directly to the Steering Committee. It has voting members from the five agencies, as well as Rod Diridon Sr. and a delegate from Bay Area Rapid Transit.
Sirois has worked with Denver’s Regional Transportation District for more than 20 years. While he was there, he was a crucial player in the rebuilding of Denver Union Station. This project is now finished and is widely seen as a national model for modern transit hubs.
Local leaders expressed confidence in the appointment. Margaret Abe-Koga, a member of the Caltrain Board and a supervisor in Santa Clara County, stressed that the investment in Diridon goes far beyond transportation. She called it a “catalyst” for connecting people and businesses across San Jose, Santa Clara County, and the Bay Area.
Steering Committee Chair and San Jose Councilmember Michael Mulcahy pointed to the transformation around Denver Union Station as a clear example of what could be achieved.
“I’ve had a lot of personal experience in that area [Denver Union Station] and just seeing the renaissance of that particular area, pulling in the sport franchises, private sector, retail, is commensurate of what we want for Diridon,” said Diridon Steering Committee Chair and San Jose Councilmember Michael Mulcahy. “I’m excited to have unanimous approval for someone that has had experience directly applicable to our project.”
