After nearly a decade of stalled progress, improvements to the I-280/Wolfe Road Interchange will move forward after Cupertino secured funding last week from Apple for the project.
The City Council on Tuesday approved an amendment to its existing grant agreement with the company, designating the interchange as eligible to receive grant funds.
The project will receive up to $4 million from Apple, including up to $2.6 million in grant funding and $1.4 million in unused funds redirected from previously designated projects. It will not come at an additional cost to the city.
Upgrades for the interchange, which leads in and out of the area near Apple’s campus, aim to lessen traffic congestion, improve safety, and create a more welcoming experience for bicyclists and pedestrians. With a total cost of $124 million, the project is also funded by sales tax revenue from the county’s Measure B and state and local contributions.
“This partnership with Apple shows the power of local collaboration in delivering real improvements to our infrastructure,” Cupertino Mayor Liang Chao said in a press release. “I thank Apple for their continued support and generous contribution, and our city staff for securing this additional funding. We look forward to future opportunities to work with Apple on projects that benefit our community.”
A grant agreement with Apple was created in 2019. The company made a promise to donate $9.7 million toward city transportation projects after the city agreed to hold off on a business tax that would have cost the company more than $9 million. The tax was projected to generate around $10 million in additional annual revenue for the city – mostly from Apple.
“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,” said Apple’s Vice President of Global Real Estate and Facilities Kristina Raspe in a press release. “The City of Cupertino and the Valley Transportation Authority have designed a plan that will benefit pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in Cupertino, and we’re happy to be able to help move the project forward.”
Bidding for construction will open this fall and construction is expected to begin in 2026, according to city spokesperson Samantha LoCurto.