Existing sidewalks throughout the SR 82 corridor are generally too narrow to support the “boulevard” street environment required to promote investment in transit-oriented mixed-use and infill residential development (see Figure 5-14). The predominant sidewalk width throughout the corridor is 8 feet. By comparison, sidewalks in heavily transit- and pedestrian-oriented areas, such as Market Street in San Francisco or First Street in San Jose, are 30 feet or more in width; internationally, even wider boulevard sidewalk areas are common.

Wider, more amenity-oriented sidewalks are essential for Grand Boulevard objectives to be achieved. Expanding sidewalks into the roadway is costly and requires substantial excess roadway area (though there are locations where this exists). Instead, new and re-development projects along the corridor frontage should provide a 10-foot or greater setback as needed to create a minimum 18-foot frontage sidewalk; see Sidewalk Zones, section below.

If walks cannot be widened to 18 feet due to adjacent property conditions or other factors, smaller setbacks are recommended as possible to promote GBI objectives. To the extent feasible, sidewalks should be configured to reflect Sidewalk Zones, and alternative design approaches, such as locating street trees in the parking zone (Guideline 5.2.4), should be considered.