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5.J Sokale_Preso PRC.BPC 121515Joint Cities Coordinated Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study Cupertino Parks and Recreation Commission and Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Special Meeting: December 15, 2015 Presentation Overview Trail Planning Background Public Review Process Joint Cities Working Team Recommendation 2 Stevens Creek Trail Planning History Stevens Creek Park Chain – 1961 Brochure The Stevens Creek Trail will link the Bay Trail to the Ridge Trail and connect to the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail that extends to the Pacific Ocean in Big Basin State Park. 3 Stevens Creek Trail Plans •1961 Stevens Creek Park Chain – Santa Clara County •1980 A Plan of Opportunities – SCVWD, MROSD and Mountain View •1991 Stevens Creek Trail and Wildlife Corridor – Mountain View •2002 SCT, Reach 4, Segment 2 – Mountain View •2006 Stevens Creek Corridor Park Master Plan and Restoration Plan – Cupertino •2008 Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study – Los Altos •2015 Joint Cities Coordinated Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study 4 5 Existing Trail Segments Mountain View ~ 5 Miles 6 Existing Trail Segments Cupertino ~ 1 Mile Blackberry Farm Park McClellan Ranch Preserve 7 •Joint Cities Working Team formed in 2009 •Funding agreement between cities 2011 •Consultant retained for Feasibility Study •Citizens Working Group formed 2012 •2012 – 2014 Meetings on possible trail alignments •Draft Feasibility Study published March 2015 •Public outreach meetings in May and June •CWG and JCWT Recommendations on trail alignments •City Councils review and action Feasibility Study Development Make the Connection How would you connect the Stevens Creek Trail from Dale/Heatherstone Pedestrian Overpass to Blackberry Farm Park 8 Dale/Heatherstone Overpass Stevens Creek Boulevard Ma r y A v e n u e Gr a n t R o a d St e v e n s C r e e k C o r r i d o r Study Parameters Investigate Public Lands and Rights-of-Way Protect Environmentally Sensitive Habitats Seek Routes that Accommodate Bicycling Skill Levels of SCT Users Beginner Bicyclists Trail Separated from Traffic to Maximum Extent Multi-use Route for Pedestrians and Bicyclists Develop “Direct” Routes that Close the Trail Gap Connect the Trail to Parks, Schools, Shopping and the On-Street Ped./Bike System Opening of the Dale/Heatherstone Overpass spanning Highway 85 - June 2012 9 Explore a Wide Range of Alignments, Construction Techniques and Habitat Restoration and Neighborhood Enhancement Options 10 Feasibility Report Findings Categories of Findings Technically Feasible Alignments Infeasible Alignments with Reasons for Rejection Trail Alignment Recommendations None 11 Study Area Segments •Segment 1 – Dale/Heatherstone to Fremont Avenue •Segment 2 – Fremont Avenue to Homestead Road •Segment 3 – Homestead Road to Stevens Creek Boulevard •Segment 4 – Connections to Rancho San Antonio County Park 12 Dale/Heatherstone Overpass Stevens Creek Blvd. Ma r y A v e n u e Gr a n t R o a d St e v e n s C r e e k C o r r i d o r Homestead Road Fremont Ave. Rancho San Antonio County Park 1 2 3 4 13 Segment 1 – Dale/Heatherstone to Fremont Ave. JCWT Recommendation Segment 1 – Dale/Heatherstone to Fremont 14 Recommended Alignment Dale/Heatherstone Overcrossing Br y a n t A v e . We s t R e m i n g t o n W. F r e m o n t A v e . Segment 1 – Opportunities and Challenges 15 Narrow Creek Banks Segment 1 – Opportunities and Challenges 16 Creek Bank Stability Segment 1 – Opportunities and Challenges 17 New Bridges Required Segment 1 – Opportunities and Challenges 18 Access to approx. 22 Acres of Open Space Options for Connecting to Fremont Avenue 19 Segment 1 – Opportunities and Challenges 20 New Structural Elements Required 21 Segment 2 – Fremont Ave. to Homestead Rd. 22 JCWT Recommendation Segment 2 – Fremont to Homestead S. Bernardo Ave. Cupertino Middle School Ho m e s t e a d R d . Fr e m o n t A v e . 23 Astoria to The Dalles The Dalles to Helena S. Bernardo Avenue Off-street Path Concept Drawings 24 Segment 2 – Opportunities and Challenges •One-way conversion would change neighborhood traffic patterns (Not studied) •Loss of parking would impact Bernardo homeowners 25 JCWT Recommendation Segment 2 – Fremont to Homestead •Complete a comprehensive traffic and parking study •Look for ways to minimize impacts from loss of parking •City of Sunnyvale determines feasibility of an off-street facility on Bernardo Ave. Plan B if infeasible – No specific routes are designated as the Stevens Creek Trail in Segment 2. Each City should consider modest bike and pedestrian safety improvements to other possible routes that connect to the trail. 26 Segment 3 – Opportunities and Challenges •Existing off-street trail along Homestead Road in Los Altos could be extended to Bernardo via an new pedestrian/bike bridge Homestead at SR 85 Existing Path on North Side of Homestead 27 Segment 3 – Homestead Rd. to Stevens Creek Blvd. 28 JCWT Recommendation Segment 3 – Homestead to Stevens Creek Blvd. Homestead Rd. Stevens Creek Blvd. •No continuous off-street routes were found to be feasible •Feasible on-street routes required use of bike lanes on high volume roadways like Foothill or Stevens Creek Blvd., or a new I-280 crossing & route on neighborhood streets •No specific alignment was recommended by the JCWT 29 Locations of the Potentially Feasible I-280 Pedestrian Overcrossings 30 JCWT Recommendation Segment 3 – Homestead to Stevens Creek Blvd. Homestead Rd. Stevens Creek Blvd. Long-term Vision •Look for opportunities with SR85 & I-280 improvement •Rails to Trails project •Consider safety and bike-pedestrian improvements to Foothill Blvd. 31 Foothill Expressway Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Plan 32 Foothill Expressway Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Cross-section 33 Segment 4 – Connection to Rancho San Antonio Park 34 JCWT Recommendation Segment 4 Connections to Rancho San Antonio County Park New path links to exist. sidewalks 35 Trail Connection Concept Plan to Rancho San Antonio County Park JCWT Recommendations 36 •Extension of the Trail is an important regional goal that can benefit each jurisdiction. The 4 cities should support each other with future efforts to continue with master planning & implementation of trail segments •Continue collaboration with regional partners, & support each other to pursue funding for closing the gap for the Stevens Creek Trail between Mountain View and Cupertino •Reach out to Caltrans, VTA, County to express that bike-pedestrian access through the interchange is a priority, & discourage modifications that may limit future improvements •If circumstances change in the Study Segment 3 area, undertake further studies to identify a feasible route •[railroad right-of-way becomes available or land availability changes or the I-280 interchange area were to be rebuilt, e.g.] JCWT Recommendations continued 37 •Support improvements on Foothill Boulevard/Expressway. Consider bike- pedestrian improvements if there are improvements to the I-280/Foothill interchanges or as part of any other city or county projects in the vicinity •Collaborate with Los Altos and Sunnyvale on the master planning, environmental review, & construction of improvements at Homestead Rd. identified in Study Segment 3 (i.e. Homestead Rd. bridge widening or Homestead Road bike/pedestrian bridge) & on pursuing grant funding •Support pursuing a spur trail on Stevens Creek Blvd. to Rancho San Antonio County Park •Projects should try to improve habitat values in & around the creek channel •Existing public lands near Stevens Creek should be maintained as public land to preserve habitat & future trail opportunities Joint Cities Coordinated Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study Feasibility Study Questions?