On October 23, SVBC sent a letter to the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors with recommendations for use of the Stanford Mitigation Funds
Honorable Supervisors:
Thank you very much for considering the investments into recreational projects in the region as mitigation for loss of recreational opportunities on the Stanford Campus.
The mission of the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is to promote bicycling for everyday use in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Many strong projects have been submitted for the grant funding. As advocates of cycling, we have reviewed the proposals, and would like to share our recommendations regarding the trail projects that offer the greatest benefits.
The trail projects that have the highest value for cycling are the Ravenswood Bay Trail Connection and the Adobe Creek Bridge over Highway 101. The Bay Trail connector adds value to Santa Clara County’s Bay Trail segments by connecting Santa Clara County riders to San Mateo County and the East Bay, and the Adobe Creek Bridge connects residents of Stanford and Palo Alto to the Baylands. These two projects provide world-class recreational facilities for residents in the area and have complementary benefits for commuting as well.
There are other valuable projects that we would also strongly recommend for funding, including the El Corte De Madera Creek Trail Project, the Matadero Creek Trail, and project to close the gaps in the Stanford Perimeter Trail. Approximately 25% of the Stanford Perimeter Trail provides new facilities to improve a route that is valuable for recreation near Campus, and has complementary benefits for children and adults travelling to school, work, and other destinations.
Finally, there are several projects that we believe have merit for promoting cycling for everyday transportation and recreation. These need further evaluation as to whether they meet the criteria of this grant, whose goals are to provide new recreational facilities (and not to maintain or repair existing facilities). The Arastradero Road Trail and Menlo Park Sand Hill Road Pathway are good projects that involve maintaining and upgrading existing facilities. The Park Blvd Bicycle Boulevard is an excellent on-street transportation project that connects to recreational facilities. The Los Altos Hills Fremont Road Trail is an excellent project for local users but may have less appeal to Stanford residents and facility users.
There are many strong choices among the applicants for this funding. We are glad to see that this funding will soon be appropriated, and look forward to excellent new facilities for recreational cycling in the region.
Sincerely,
Corinne Winter
President & Executive Director
Comments
Martin Delson
October 30, 2012 - 6:00pm
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I do not agree that the
I do not agree that the Ravenswood Bay Trail Extension deserves SVBC's support.
Currently there is a short gap between the north end of the Bay Trail in East Palo Alto and trail parallel to CA-84 leading to the bike path across the Dumbarton Bridge. Closing this gap with an off-street trail would be a very worthwhile project.
But unfortunately, the proposed extension does nothing of the sort. Rather than extending the Bay trail north to the approach to the Dumbarton Bridge, it extends the trail west to University Avenue. It will still be necessary to travel along a bike lane on busy University Avenue to get to the approach to the bridge. Bicycle riders can already easily get to University Avenue by heading west along Bay Street.
I cannot see the point of spending so much money ($2 million, if I recall) for this half-ass project that just extends the off-road section by 1/2 mile or so, but still brings the trail users to a bike lane on a busy street.
Instead, the money should be kept in escrow for the time when permission is received to make a direct off-road connection between the Bay Trail and the Highway 84 trail.
tb6103
November 1, 2012 - 6:25pm
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The proposed extension of the
The proposed extension of the Ravenswood Bay Trail, would link to a planned Class 1 bike path along University Avenue which Facebook has committed to pay for as part of its agreement with the City of Menlo Park. When both sections are completed, cyclists would not need to use the bike lane on University Avenue as suggested in Martin Delson's comment. The very desirable direct off road connection to highway 84 will be achieved. I strongly support the proposal before the supervisors to fund the Ravenswood/East Palo Alto section of the trail as this is likely to be the last section built and East Palo Alto has no capacity to pay for the trail on its own.
Martin Delson
November 5, 2012 - 9:46pm
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Your response answers most of
Your response answers most of my concerns. While I still would much prefer to have a direct bike path, along the shore of the bay, to Highway 84, I find having a detour to a bike path along University Avenue would be an acceptable (if second rate) solution. It will be great to have a continuous on-road path (excepting the small gap at Lafayette St.) from downtown San Jose all the way to Highway 84.
Nevertheless, I hope, once the Dumbarton rail line issue is resolved, and the Hetch Hetchy crossing issue is solved, that we can have the Bay Trail really along the bay, and not immediately adjacent to a busy street.