Junipero Serra Trail project progressing
Cupertino officials said this week that a key element in a planned network of bike lanes and protected pedestrian trails in the city, dubbed “the Loop,” is starting to fall into place.
Following three public meetings this spring it appears the so- called Junipero Serra trail project has attracted generally wide community support and will now undergo a formal feasibility study.
The proposed trail runs for about 3 miles along Interstate 280, Calabazas Creek and an existing drainage channel that together could provide space for both bicyclists and pedestrians. The pathway begins near the Don Burnett Bicycle-Pedestrian Bridge at the intersection of Mary Avenue and Meteor Drive. The trail would end east at Vallco Parkway near Main Street, near the Apple offices.
Engineers will need to determine if there will be at- grade or above- grade crossings at major streets such as Stelling Road, De Anza Boulevard and Wolfe Road, said Jennifer Chu, city associate engineer with the Public Works Department.
Chu said that recommendations from the public include either utilizing the existing narrow maintenance road to provide a pedestrian trail or reconfiguring the existing drainage ditch to a box culvert to provide a Class I- level multiuse trail. Such trails are wholly separated pathways for the exclusive use of bicyclists and pedestrians with any potential crossflow minimized. She added that grade separations where the trail crosses major streets are also being recommended, which include a potential undercrossing at Stelling Road and a tunnel undercrossing or bridge overcrossing at De Anza Boulevard.
Jennifer Shearin, chairwoman of the city’s Bicy- cle and Pedestrian Commission, said she is pleased with the trail’s progress to date.
“It’s a important piece of the puzzle that we are all very excited about,” Shearin said. “The Junipero Serra Trail will help us complete the Loop, which in turn when completed will make the city a much more livable place that’s not so overwhelmed with (vehicular) traffic.”
Based on written public comments, a solid majority of those attending the three community meet- ings, the last on June 6, appear to be in support of the trail project.
“Please, please build it! This trail would remove a lot of local commuting traffic off the roads (Apple employees between campuses, students to De Anza college … ) and provide a great off- street recreational alternative within the city,” said one commenter.
Other commenters, especially those whose residential properties would back up to the trail, had other views.
“I am extremely concerned about safety, privacy, and noise issues. Currently, we have a lot of people hanging out at 2 a.m. during summer nights at the Mary Avenue Bridge trailhead, located directly behind my house,” wrote one, while another expressed different concerns.
“( We are) extremely concerned this trail will add to the noise we experience; Make sure security is enforced after dusk (when officers are not busy with school patrolling); We already clean up broken glass bottles in our yards — we are concerned about any trash, debris items that can be thrown over the fence into our backyards,” said another.
Yet another commenter said they were excited by the trail proposal.
“This (would) give bicycles a protected way to get from Mary to Tantau. Currently, if you’re near 280, you need to go to Homestead or Stevens Creek to go between Blaney and Wolfe. This (trail) would encourage more bicycling, getting even more cars off the roadways.”
The cost of the trail segment has not yet been estimated, Chu said. The project is one of many identified in the city’s 2016 Bicycle Transportation Plan which was approved by the City Council in June of last year.
Next steps
Chu said that based on the comments received at the community meeting and from subsequent discussions with the Santa Clara Valley Water District, a feasibility study will be prepared by Callander Associates. A draft of that report is scheduled to be presented to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission sometime in late summer. A final report is anticipated to be considered for adoption by the council at the end of the year.
For more information and project maps, go to cupertino.org/bikeplan.