Here's the latest in our series of San José trails updates provided by Yves Zsutty, Acting Division Manager of the Department of Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services
Three Creeks Trail Acquisition
The City Council took action to acquire the Three Creeks Trail parcels from Lonus Street to Minnesota Avenue at its September 27 meeting. The action formalizes the intent to acquire lands from UPRR, opens escrow, and provides San Jose the opportunity to view documents pertaining to the parcels. Staff is currently revivewing the State’s clean up report, conducting field tests and reviewing all documentation provided by the property owner.
Trail Count 2011
Trail Count was completed on September 28 with a 5% increase in usage monitored along the Guadalupe River Trail. City staff and 35 volunteers counted and surveyed trail users on Wednesdays, September 14 and 28, 2011. The fifth annual count had stations set up along the Guadalupe River, Los Gatos Creek and Los Alamitos Creek trails to record the volume of trail users and seek their input on design and operational issues. The Guadalupe River / Coleman Avenue has shown increasing numbers each year of the count, even with nearby construction requiring a detour for bicyclists and pedestrians. A full report on each count station and the 25-question survey will be posted on the Trail Program web site. San José’s Trail Count occurs annually with the support of the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, Guadalupe Park Conservancy and many volunteers. Data gathered supports competitive grant writing, better design and advocacy efforts to showcase trails as an important element of the City’s overall transportation system. Data on past counts can be found at: http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/TrailCount.asp.
Highway 237 Bikeway (Zanker to Coyote Creek)
Construction documents have been completed for the paving of an old access road along Highway 237. the project is currently out to bid, and the City expects contractor bids by November 10. Construction should be underway in early 2012 and be completed by April 2012. The project will result in a paved asphalt trail, reflective striping, and signage. The project is also a showcase for some “green” approaches to trail construction; including the use of the existing roadway as a base structure, recycling of asphalt on-site and installation using a “warm-mix” technique that uses less energy and produces fewer pollutants.
Transit to Trails Application
The Bay Area Open Space Council has created a great Smart Phone application to help trail users find the best means to reach a trail; transit, car or by foot. San Jose staff is now updating the application database to identify our trail systems and their ‘trailheads” so that the application can locate nearby transit stops and distances travelled. As we complete the database entry work, we’ll actively promote this new tool on the website and remind SVBC members about its availability.
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