Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition

To celebrate the opening of new bicycle and pedestrian under and over crossings, as well as other recently-completed ones, the VTA Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition are sponsoring a self-guided "Over and Under Tour" on May 17 from 10 AM - 3 PM (the Sunday after Bike to Work Day). The participating over and under crossings are:

• Cupertino: Mary Avenue Bridge over 280
• Mountain View: El Camino undercrossing of the Stevens Creek Trail
• Sunnyvale: Borregas Bridges over 101 and 237
• San Jose: Guadalupe Trail under 101 and Airport
• VTA: River Oaks Bridge along Guadalupe Trail

The new section of this trail will not be open in time for the event but the older section is open:

• Santa Clara: San Tomas Aquino Trail's new undercrossings between Scott and Monroe (will not be open by May 17th)

A map of the participating Self Guided Tour locations is attached to this posting.

Please plan to come out and join this fun and educational tour of these facilities!

Background

Several pedestrian and bicycle under and over crossings (also known as Across Barrier Connections or ABC's) are scheduled to open this year in Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara and Mountain View. Most of the funding for these projects comes from the Bicycle Expenditure Program administered by VTA. This program aggregates funds from various federal and state sources into a single county-wide pool. The amount of money available is only a few million dollars a year, a pitifully small percentage of overall transportation funding, so funding of major projects requires saving up over several years. The last major barrier crossing funded by this program is the Palo Alto undercrossing of the Caltrain tracks at Homer. The Sunnvyvale and Cupertino projects have been in the works for over a decade. It is basically a coincidence that all of these projects are finishing in the same year, and we will not see projects like this finishing together again for some time.

Freeways, highways, and creeks are major barriers for pedestrians and bicyclists, often forcing long detours to cross. Overpasses with freeway on-ramps and off-ramps can be demanding for even the most experienced bicyclists to negotiate, and are out of the question for families with children. A detour of a mile or two each way may not be much for a fit and healthy bicyclist, but for pedestrians or bicyclists who are slower and have less energy those extra miles can put a trip out of reach. The difference between a 4-mile trip and a 6-mile trip may be the difference between biking and driving, or not going at all. For a pedestrian, detouring two miles (to an overcrossing and back) can add an hour to a walking trip.

Pedestrian and bicycle facilities cost much less per mile than comparable motor vehicle facilities. These big projects with the grand openings may seem expensive when considered by themselves, but should be compared in cost to a freeway overpass or interchange. Furthermore, pedestrian and bicycle facilities require little in the way of maintenance because they do not receive the pavement-destroying pounding from motor vehicles. Normal ground motion and occasional use by service vehicles can damage the pavement of paths and trails and require re-paving every few years, but concrete bridge decks should have a very long service life with little or no maintenance. All in all, these facilities are good investments that produce positive benefits in terms of public health, reduced air and water pollution and less reliance on imported or domestic fossil fuels. If you look at the big picture these projects save us money, as opposed to freeway projects which cost us large sums of money in both direct and indirect costs.

Sunnyvale's Borregas Bridges

On April 22nd Sunnyvale officially opened two bridges crossing Hwy 101 and Hwy 237 at Borregas Avenue. Project planning for these bridges was intiated in 1997. These crossings will serve the Moffett Industrial Park, John W. Christian Trail, Orchard Park neighborhood and Columbia Middle School. They will provide a safe and convenient alternative to Mathilda for bicyclists arriving on Caltrain and traveling to the Moffett Research Park, as well as providing access to the Sunnyvale Baylands for recreational purposes. The nearest existing crossings at Mathilda and Fair Oaks both have high-speed freeway interchanges and heavy motor vehicle volumes. Sunnyvale city staff estimates 2,000 users per day for the two bridges. These bridges are simple and functional designs, with a total cost of approx $8.7 million for both. That includes relocation of high voltage lines and a high pressure gas main.

The Borregas Bridges project is made up of two bridges along Borregas Avenue in North Sunnyvale. They cross the 237 and 101 freeways, allowing a central to slightly East access into Moffett Park that did not exist before. Alternate routes into the business park were along very heavily traveled roads such as Mathilda Avenue, Fair Oaks Avenue and Lawrence Expressway. This new route into Moffett Park allows for a much safer access into a regional employee destination. A Sunnyvale staff report said (1): "The purpose of the project is to improve north-south bicycle and pedestrian travel by eliminating significant barriers. While the predominant travel flow in the City is north-south, significant barriers exist on main north-south roads for bicycle and pedestrian travel – freeways, dangerous intersections, narrow roadways, and Caltrain. The City has had policy for years to try to address these barriers to north-south travel, but the bikeway network is still mostly discontinuous on either side of the 101 and 237 freeways. The Borregas Project spans freeway barriers by connecting discontinuous segments of Borregas Avenue. It provides the benefits of low volume, wide roadway with bike lanes, neighborhood connections to schools, recreational trails and parkway facilities, other bikeways, and access for the disabled."

Sunnyvale City staff estimate roughly 2,000 users a day will pass over the bridges, which is a bit over 700,000 trips a year. The project was considered a regional priority, allowing VTA funding of the project as a TIER 1 capital project (2). Total cost was $8,700,000, while $6,700,000 was funded through the VTA. The city matching funds came from the Moffett developer mitigation fees collected in allowing the redevelopment within the business park.

Some of Moffet Park development is of higher density than would be allowable by past zoning except with the inclusion of transportation mitigations such as the Borregas Bridges. Other mitigations to traffic congestion include the building of the VTA light rail that crosses the park and other projects such as the city's unique Transportation Demand Managment Program (TDM) which requires a reduction in the single occupancy vehicle trips as a percentage of total trips into and out of the park. The TDM is unusual because it sets up the ability for the City to fine businesses which do not meet their TDM percentage goals. Finishing the set of bridges through the Borregas alignment greatly help with commute alternatives that will aid companies meet their TDM reduction goals.

There were a number of utility relocations including high voltage lines and a high pressure gas main to create this set of bridges. An unrelated problem during construction was that a water main failed virtually in the construction zone during the construction of the project which was disruptive.

For more detail refer to:

1. April 11, 2006 SUBJECT: STUDY ISSUE: Update on the Design and Environmental Review of the Borregas Avenue Bicycle Corridor Capital Project - Information Only http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/City+Council/Council+Meetings/2006/2006April/Rep...
2. April 8, 2006 VTA Staff Report to the BPAC, Attachment A 2009 BEP Project List for VTP 2035, reference ID# B26

Cupertino's Mary Avenue Bridge

On April 30 Cupertino will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Mary Ave. bridge. This project was approved by Cupertino's City Council in December of 1998 with the publication of Cupertino's Bicycle Transportation Plan. The bridge will serve as a gap closure over I-280 and provide a pedestrian and bicycle corridor north to Homestead High School and beyond into the heart of Silicon Valley and south to De Anza College and beyond. The nearest existing crossing in one direction is Stelling, which has a heavy volume of high-speed traffic and narrows as it crosses Homestead Road and becomes Hollenbeck. The next user friendly crossing in that direction is Blaney, 2.5 miles away from the bridge. In the other direction the nearest crossing is on Foothill Expressway which has high-speed traffic and hills.

Estimated usage of the bridge, based on a 2001 feasibility study, is 60,000 bicyclists and 30,000 pedestrians per year, and an estimated 35,000 cars left in the garage each year. The crossing of I-280 is very wide and the original design for a concrete structure proved too costly and difficult to construct. The eleventh-hour alternative was a cable-stayed supension bridge that saved some $3 million to keep the total project cost at $14.8 million. Cupertino wanted a design that would be unique and attractive and make a statement about the city's commitment to alternative transportation, and the result is spectacular. The opening ceremony will be held at 3 PM on April 30 at the intersection of Mary Ave and Meteor Drive.

For more information go to www.cupertino.org.

Santa Clara's San Tomas Aquino Trail

In Santa Clara, Reach 3 of the San Tomas Aquino/Saratoga Creek Trail will be opening sometime in May. Planning for this trail was started in 1993 and design started in 1995. The Trail starts at Guadalupe Slough at Hwy 237 and Reaches 1 and 2 now go to Scott Blvd, crossing under all streets and Hwy 101. The end near Hwy 237 serves many employers and the path is used by bike commuters as well as lunchtime exercisers.

With the opening of Reach 3 the trail will cross under Central Expressway, Walsh, and the Caltrain tracks. Reach 3 will complete a three mile long Class I path from the Baylands Trail to Monroe Street with ten undercrossings and one grade-level crossing at Agnew Road. There are fourteen access points, serving many destinations along and near the trail. This will provide access to schools and residential areas and greatly increase the use of this already popular trail. The southern terminus, at Monroe St., is the first section of the trail in a fully residential neighborhood. There is no officially-announced opening date yet.

For more information go to http://santaclaraca.gov/park_recreation/pr_san_tomas_aquino.html

Mountain View's Stevens Creek Trail

This trail has proved to be extremely popular with both recreational users and bicycle commuters.

The Stevens Creek Trail segment from Yuba Drive to El Camino Real took about a year to construct, completing in March 2008 with the official ribbon cutting ceremony held on April 12, 2008. This trail segment is about 1700 linear feet and provides a pedestrian/bicycle tunnel under El Camino that is 139 feet long, 14 feet wide and slightly over 8 feet high. The entry face of both ends of the tunnel is comprised of a Connecticut Bluestone and the interior contains a continuous lighting system. A unique feature is a glass block in the middle of the tunnel ceiling which extends flush with the El Camino Real median island and allows sunlight to naturally illuminate the inside of the tunnel. The landscaping included over 400 plants that are native to the Stevens Creek watershed area. The final construction amount is approximately $3.5 million.

This trail will have new crossing at Moffett Boulevard opening some time around June. The intersection at Moffett is a problem as drivers turning right at the end of the Hwy 85 off-ramp often fail to yield to trail users crossing in the crosswalk at that point. Improving driver behavior is challenging, so an overpass is being constructed that will allow trail users to avoid interacting with car drivers entirely and removing the only at-grade crossing of the Stevens Creek Trail.

For general information and detail see: http://www.mountainview.gov/city_hall/comm_services/shoreline_regional_w...

VTA's River Oaks Bridge

This project constructed a bridge over the Guadalupe River to connect San Jose and Santa Clara neighborhoods. The purpose of this bridge is to provide a safe and more direct route across the Guadalupe River for the Rivermark neighborhood in Santa Clara to the Light Rail line and employment centers on North First Street in San Jose for both recreational and commuting use. It includes ramps that conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, rest areas, and paved levee paths. The bridge facilitates bicycle and pedestrian access across the river and provides convenient access to the River Oaks Light Rail Station. This project maintains the Guadalupe River ecosystem.

This project began in early 2005 and completed in May 2006 costing $3 million funded by the City of San Jose, City of Santa Clara, 1996 Measure B Bicycle Program, Transportation Funds for Clear Air, and Metropolitan Transportation Commission. This project includes a prefabricated steel bridge across the Guadalupe River at the end of the River Oaks cul-de-sac, a ramp that complies with ADA requirements and stairs to allow users to access the trail at the River Oaks section of the project, rest areas to allow the trail users to rest and observe the natural environment in the Guadalupe River, a 12 foot wide paved levee path on the Santa Clara side of the bridge. The City of Santa Clara elements include a bicycle and pedestrian path connecting Lick Mill Boulevard, and a ramp that complies with ADA requirements to allow users to access the trail at the Lick Mill section of the project.

A future phase, currently unfunded, will provide a bicycle and pedestrian path along River Oaks Parkway and an entry plaza at the southwest corner of the River Oaks Parkway and North First Street intersection.

For more information see http://www.vta.org/projects/river_oaks_bridge.html

San Jose's Guadalupe Trail

The newest section of the Guadalupe River Trail, from I-880 to Hwy 101, opened in January 2008 costing $0.95 million and funded by SCVWD. It is only 1.7 miles long, but it is very critical in that it joins two isolated trail segments into one long trail, from downtown San Jose to San Francisco Bay. It begins at the north end of the Guadalupe River Park, see grpg.org, and joins up with the already-existing trail north of Hwy 101. The trail surface itself has been in existence for some time, as levee service roads along the river bank. To make these usable as a safe trail system required building undercrossings for the trail at the roads crossing the river. These roads service the airport, so they are very busy. Busiest of all is Hwy 101.

Pictures and more details can be found at: http://www.geocities.com/rhorii/GRPG/GRT-880-101.html, http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/GRiver/index.asp, and http://grpg.org/ .

Future Over and Under Crossings

Upcoming projects include an undercrossing of Old Middlefield Way and an overcrossing of Hwy 101 along Permanente Creek in Mountain View. That project (VTP project B24) is just going into the design phase now and will not be completed for several years.

In Palo Alto the Adobe Creek undercrossing of Hwy 101 is only open from April to October and VTP 2035 project B29 would construct a year-round crossing there. That project has yet to enter the planning phase so there is no estimated completion date.