3-mile San Antonio Creek trail proposed
Concept designed to increase safety
As a safer way to reach schools and parks, a trail for pedestrians and bicyclists built into both sides of the San Antonio Creek flood-control channel was envisioned for Montclair at a City Council workshop earlier this week.
But the ambitious alternative transportation project faces huge hurdles, including how to fund the $69.2 million, 3-mile long trail project that would follow the creek from the north at the east-west Pacific Electric Trail, through residential neighborhoods, and into an industrial area at Mission Boulevard near Pomona.
Expenses include buying up rights of way and getting around major barriers such as freeways and railroad tracks using grade separations and not interfering with water capture ponds.
The complete project would include building overpasses or underpasses at several places: the future L Line station and the Metrolink train tracks at the Montclair TransCenter; the 10 Freeway at Palo Verde Street, Holt Boulevard; and at the Union Pacific rail tracks at the southern tip of the city.
Less expensive, shortterm options involve swerving the trail around these areas at-grade, marking shoulders of existing city streets as bikeways and walkways.
The City Council on May 2 heard a final design and watched a presentation on the extensive project. Many had questions, as did Mayor John Dutrey, who asked the council get more time to digest the material. A second workshop has not yet been scheduled, said Alyssa Colunga, senior management analyst for the city's Human Services Department in an email.
“This is a very ambitious project. This is a multiphased project that will take at least 10 years,” said Dutrey on May 3.
Dutrey said the project, broken into five segments, most likely will be done in phases as the city raises the money. The city wants to start with a trail, which intersects with Sunset Park. Montclair was awarded a grant for park improvements that could be used for the trail through the park, he said.
If the overall trail concept is approved, the city would apply for state and federal dollars, Dutrey said.
“There are grants out there. On the state-side, there is money to get people out of their cars,” he added.
Council Member Ben Lopez asked the consultant with Alta Planning and Design about protecting the residents and people playing in parks from homeless individuals who may congregate under the 10 Freeway or along the trail.
Council Member Corysa Martinez stressed that safety should be a priority. “I care more about safety and that means being away from traffic,” she said.
North Montclair resident Bruce Culp agreed, advocating for the trail to go under busy Arrow Highway, Monte Vista Avenue and Richton Street, where cars and buses go in and out of the TransCenter. This is where Upland cyclist and former Council Member Tom Thomas was killed in February while riding his bicycle after being struck by a motorcycle.
“Developers should work on providing funding for an underpass,” Culp said. “Those streets are heavy traffic areas.”
One purpose is to take cars off the streets and allow for walking or biking to schools, parks and nearby shopping centers.
Between 2015-2019 there were a total of 1,276 collisions in Montclair, 163 of which involved a pedestrian or cyclist. Of the 163 pedestrian or cyclist-related collisions, 73% resulted in a severe or fatal injury, according to the city report.
The city was reminded of several other bikeways and trails along floodcontrol channels. To the north, the city of Upland has built a trail along the San Antonio Creek between Foothill Boulevard and 11th Street. Another example is a trail along the Santa Ana River in Orange County.
In a survey, 81% of respondents from Montclair said they would use the trail for exercise. Of those, 79% said they would walk it, 70% would ride a bike, 51% would walk their dog, 20% would connect to transit and 15% would use it to commute to work or get to school.