Palo Alto, Stanford get $ 10 million for projects

Trail and bridge planned to help bikers, pedestrians

Palo Alto and Stanford University received $ 10 million Tuesday to expand recreational offerings for their respective residents.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to award that sum to the two agencies, which submitted a joint proposal. The money will come from a one- time $ 10.4 million payment Stanford made to the county to offset the loss of recreational facilities caused by on- campus development.

The two projects will receive the lion’s share of the funding. The supervisors allocated $ 4.5 million for a perimeter trail around Stanford and $ 4 million for a bicycle and pedestrian bridge where Adobe Creek crosses Highway 101 in Palo Alto.

The city also received $ 1.5 million to build a bicycle and pedestrian pathway along Matadero Creek.

“This proposal will greatly expand recreational opportunities for Stanford residents and facility users as well as Palo Altans and Santa Clara County residents as a whole,” Palo Alto Councilman Sid Espinosa said.

“One of my favorite aspects is that we’ll have the long- sought, uninterrupted route from the bay all the way up to the Skyline Ridge.”

The board of supervisors allocated the rest of the money— roughly $ 400,000 — to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for the Dumbarton link of the Bay Trail in East Palo Alto.

Those four projects were among a total of 15 submitted by six agencies for funding consideration.

Although the vote was unanimous, there was initial disagreement among the supervisors about which projects to fund.

Supervisor Liz Kniss wasn’t in favor of funding the entire perimeter trail, particularly a section along Stanford Avenue that would eliminate 20 parking spaces for the popular Dish trail.

“This is in my district. I know how popular this area is, and I believe if we go ahead with this major change on a county road that I’m going to hear a great deal from the public, or the person who sits here in January will hear a great deal from the public as well,” said Kniss, who is wrapping up her final term on the board.

However, Stanford said it would not dedicate a permanent public easement along the new perimeter trail without full funding.

“The dedication of public use, to me, is very, very important,” said Supervisor Mike Wasserman.

Wasserman also said the four projects ultimately supported by the board represented the best bang for the buck.

“If you have limited dollars, it’s kind of nice to spend money on ( projects) that provide a benefi t for the most number of people,” the supervisor said. “That has some merit with me.”

To appease some of Kniss’ concerns, the board agreed to require Stanford to hold at least two public meetings on the perimeter trail.

Supervisor David Cortese also expressed reservations. He wanted more funding for the Bay Trail link.

“This is really a great case study for a political science class — maybe at Stanford, maybe at San Jose State — on why East Palo Alto continues to be East Palo Alto, why Alviso continues to be Alviso. And why we can’t pick up 60 miles of Bay Trail when we have the opportunity,” Cortese said.

“It’s all good, but it’s certainly a classic case of the rich get richer and the poor stay where they’re at.”