Cupertino trail wins award before it opens to public

A yet-to-be-completed trail is already winning accolades for Cupertino even as local cycling groups and others await its opening.

The Regnart Creek Trail Project was recently named Project of the Year by the American Public Works Association's Silicon Valley chapter. The award recognizes outstanding public works projects and professionals. Cupertino's trail project won in the transportation category for projects between $2 million and $5 million.

Public opening of the 0.8mile trail is pending completion of reconstruction of neighborhood fences adjacent to the trail. The trail has been a point of contention for more than four years, with some creek neighbors expressing concerns about privacy and safety. The fencing is the last hurdle in the trail's completion, which is expected this fall.

“This project has been a priority for the city and our community for many years,” city manager Jim Throop said in a statement. “We are pleased to accept this award that recognizes the outstanding work our Public Works Department staff has put into providing a safe, accessible, and connected trail for our residents to enjoy.”

The Cupertino City Council gave the go-ahead Sept. 17, 2019 for the design of the Regnart Creek

Trail, allocating $2.1 million for the trail's design, plus $150,000 for landscaping and/or fencing for residents living along the trail.

The trail will connect the surrounding neighborhood to local destinations in the vicinity of the creek, including the Cupertino Library and Civic Center, Wilson Park and Creekside Park. The trail also serves as one segment of a longer bicycle connection between Monta Vista and Cupertino high schools.

The Regnart Creek Trail is one of the trail segments that make up “The Loop,” a concept in Cupertino's Bicycle Transportation Plan consisting of several offstreet trail segments that, when combined with onstreet connections, form a bicycle loop around the city. The bicycle and pedestrian trail runs parallel to the existing creek and connects Torre Avenue and Pacifica Drive to the existing Creekside Trail at East Estates Drive.

For more information, visit cupertino.org/regnartcreektrail.

JACQUELINE RAMSEYER — BANG ARCHIVES The extension of Cupertino's Creekside Trail, starting from the gates seen across the street in this file photo, isn't due to open to the public until the fall, but the Regnart Creek Trail has already been recognized by the American Public Works Association's Silicon Valley chapter as an outstanding public works project. The 0.8-mile trail has been a point of contention for more than four years, with some creek neighbors expressing concerns about privacy and safety.