REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Confirm the Preferred Alignment of the Stevens Creek Trail from Remington Drive to Fremont Avenue Segment Consisting of an Off-street Trail Along the Creek with two Connections at Fremont Avenue on Both Sides of State Route 85 (SR85) with the Adjustments Due to Changes in Creek Conditions
Report
SUMMARY OF COMMISSION ACTION
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission considered this item on February 16, 2023.
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission voted to recommend to City Council to confirm the preferred alignment of the Stevens Creek Trail for the Remington Drive to Fremont Avenue segment consisting of an off-street trail along the creek with two connections at Fremont Avenue on both sides of State Route 85 (SR85) with the adjustments due to changes in creek conditions. The Commission added that Segment 3 needs to have clear and safe access from the southbound side of Fremont Avenue as well as the northbound side to the proposed trail segments. A friendly amendment was added to the motion to include the recommendation that Segment 3 must end at the southeast corner of Fremont Avenue at Bernardo Avenue in order to provide safe and accessible access for bicyclists and pedestrians. The vote was 5-0, with Vice Chair Beagle absent.
Public Comment letters are provided in Attachment 3 to the report.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library, Senior Center, Community Center and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and report are available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, Office of the City Clerk, and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Confirm Preferred Alignment of the Stevens Creek Trail for the Remington Drive to Fremont Avenue Segment Consisting of an Off-street Trail Along and the Creek with Two Connections at Fremont Avenue on Both Sides of SR 85 with the Adjustments Due to Changes in Creek Conditions.
2. Do Not Confirm the Preferred Alignment of the Stevens Creek Trail, Remington Drive to Fremont Avenue.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1. Confirm the Preferred Alignment of the Stevens Creek Trail for the Remington Drive to Fremont Avenue Segment Consisting of an Off-street Trail Along the Creek with Two Connections at Fremont Avenue on Both Sides of SR85 with the Adjustments Due to Changes in Creek Conditions.
JUSTIFICATION FOR RECOMMENDATION
The currently proposed alignment is in concurrence with the original City Council direction from the February 9, 2016 meeting (RTC No. 16-0034). The adjustments made as part of this project design are based upon the initial alignment evaluation which identified changes in the existing conditions of the creek and adjacent topography and are not substantiative to the intentions of the original City Council direction. The confirmation of the Preferred Alignment is necessary for the environmental clearance and design phases to move forward. The scope of this report is limited to the alignment of the Stevens Creek Trail and, as of the date of this report, it is too early in the process to have any concepts of potential bicycle or pedestrian crossings of Fremont Avenue. Staff was already planning to include adjacent intersections at Fremont Avenue at Bernardo Avenue and Bellville Avenue as part of the project for crossings of Fremont Avenue. Staff is envisioning these intersections to be at-grade type improvements, which potentially include protected intersections, two-stage bicycle turn boxes, leading pedestrian interval pedestrian crossings, and other types of improvements.
Staff
Prepared by: Angela Obeso, Principal Transportation Engineer
Reviewed by: Dennis Ng, Transportation and Traffic Manager
Reviewed by: Chip Taylor, Director, Department of Public Works
Reviewed by: Teri Silva, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Report to Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission 23-0028, February 16, 2023, (without attachments)
Additional Attachments for Report to Council
2. Excerpt of Draft Minutes of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting of February 16, 2023
3. Public Comment Letters Received as of March 7, 2023