San José Trails update
Thanks to Yves Zsutty, San José Trail Manager, for this update!Los Gatos Creek Trail Under-Crossing (San Carlos Street)Design and coordination work continue with Caltrain. Caltrain is developing plans for a replacement bridge structure (at current location), and the City is working closely with the agency to ensure that the master planned Los Gatos Creek Trail can travel beneath the structure as envisioned in the plan. City is funded for design of the trail from Auzerais to Bird Avenue. As an added challenge, the trail improvements are being designed to accommodate future replacement of the San Carlos Street Bridge and consider space needs for future High-Speed Rail planned within this constrained and ecologically-sensitive site. The posted Master Plan for Reach 5 of the trail system offers more information on the future alignment: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?nid=2872Los Gatos Creek Trail at Auzerais Avenue – Del Monte ParkLos Gatos Creek Trail gets even better with the upcoming opening of Del Monte Park between Auzerais Avenue and Home Street. The park will offer a dog park, playground, open play field, and restroom. These facilities should help to further activate the downtown portion of Los Gatos Creek Trail. Celebrate the park's grand opening on December 6. Short video of park: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYczdDL7HgY Three Creeks Trail (Lonus Street to Guadalupe River)The Master Plan and related environmental document was approved by the City Council this month. Staff is working with the State of California to access a $1,000,000 Urban Greening grant. Supplemented by $2,200,000 in City funds, the project is funded for design and construction. Watch for progress updates as design gets underway in 2015. The Trail System web page includes a link to the master plan for paved trail improvements, landscaping and architectural features. http://www.sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?nid=2883Guadalupe River Trail – Tasman Under-CrossingThe under-crossing is now open again and ready for winter storms. The project closed the under-crossing since June 2014 in order to raise the surface elevation by 3'. This higher elevation avoids tidal flows from the bay that occur throughout the year. It will also reduce the number of floods from minor storm events. An improved paved surface now makes it easier for "skinny tire" bikes. (See photo above.)Penitencia Creek Trail – Reach 7A (King Road to Berryessa BART Station)Construction documents have been completed for the paved trail improvements that will lead to the new BART station. The project includes the trail, landscaping, an interpretive plaza, and attractive gateway features. The VTA is bidding the project for construction over the new few months. Watch for upcoming construction updates.Lower Silver Creek Trail – Dobern Bridge to Story Road (along Capitol Park)
Widening of an existing narrow path through Capitol Park supports trail access between the Dobern Avenue Bridge and Story Road. To widen the path, the City installed an additional 2' of pavement. To give the project a quality appearance, a charcoal grey concrete was used for the expansion, and a stamped “fish” graphic occurs along the alignment to reinforce the riparian nature of this trail system as it travels overland. Significant pavement removal and replacement occurred between Van Winkle Lane and Story Road as part of this project.Coyote Creek Trail – Story to Selma Olinder ParkConstruction documents have been prepared to the 95% stage, with final plan development now underway. Staff is seeking an access agreement with Caltrans for trail access beneath Highway 280. The project will include the use of brick as a design element at the Story Road Trail Gateway. Use of brick recalls the Remillard Brick Company, which produced building materials nearby for the region, including bricks used for reconstruction of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. The Remillard Mansion is nearby to the east along Story Road. Construction should get underway in Summer 2015.Los Alamitos Creek - Harry Road / McKean Road The Trail Program's smallest project was just completed this month. About 200' of asphalt pavement were added to the popular Los Alamitos Creek Trail system to extend the trail to a new sidewalk/gateway at Harry Road. No records exist, but staff believes that the trail was never finished because a former alignment was lost as subdivisions were built in the area. The trail is now fully paved from Harry Road to Lake Almaden.More informationFollow “SanJoseTrails” on Twitter for frequent trail related news items.Register for Trail Closure and Special Event Updates about trail meetings on the Trail Program’s homepage (see calendar on right hand margin).
