Santa Clara County Roads and Airports runs limited cool pavement pilots in heat-vulnerable unincorporated communities like East San Jose foothill fringes. Reflective coatings reduce surface temperatures by roughly 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit on summer afternoons aligned with OneSCC heat equity goals.
Santa Clara County Roads and Airports has piloted solar-reflective pavement coatings on selected residential streets in heat-vulnerable unincorporated pockets, including stretches near East San Jose, Alum Rock fringes, and South County agricultural-edge neighborhoods. Coatings raise surface albedo from typical 0.05 for fresh asphalt to 0.30 or higher, lowering peak surface temperatures by roughly 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Pilots align with the OneSCC 2030 Sustainability Master Plan and county climate adaptation work prioritizing low-income and BIPOC neighborhoods identified in vulnerability mapping. Roads monitors durability and air-temperature effects before scaling. Residents face no permit obligation since coatings are applied by county crews under standard street-maintenance budgets.
Cool pavement is a county capital project, not a regulatory mandate, so private property owners face no fines or permits. Driving on freshly coated streets during the cure period without following posted detours can draw a standard traffic citation.
See how San Jose's cool pavement rules stack up against other locations.
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