REPORT TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Presentation of Draft Concepts for the Bernardo Avenue Undercrossing Project
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
Nabilah Deen, City of Sunnyvale Transportation Engineer, and the project consultant, WMH Corporation, will provide an update on the Bernardo Avenue Undercrossing Project to facilitate discussion and gather initial feedback.
BACKGROUND
The Bernardo Avenue Undercrossing Project includes a proposed pedestrian and bicycle crossing to connect north and south Bernardo Avenue beneath the Caltrain railroad tracks and Central Expressway, as shown in Attachment 1. There is currently no existing connection between the north and south segments of Bernardo Avenue.
The three agencies that will lead the project are the City of Sunnyvale, the City of Mountain View and Valley Transit Authority (VTA). In 2018, the City entered a cost-sharing agreement with the City of Mountain View. This agreement was for the preliminary design and environmental clearance phase. The project consultant chosen for this phase of the project was WMH Corporation.
The total project cost for design and construction is estimated at $24,000,000. In July 2020, Sunnyvale and Mountain View received a funding award of $18,000,000 from the VTA 2016 Measure B Bicycle & Pedestrian Capital Projects Competitive Grant for both the design and construction phase of the project. This was the largest award received under the program. VTA will be the lead for the design and construction phase of the project.
The City Council is tentatively scheduled to consider this item for the selection of a project alternative in summer 2021. The environmental process will be completed with the chosen project alternative.
DISCUSSION
The project team is actively pursuing input from multiple stakeholders, including members of the public. The intent of this joint BPAC meeting is to gather initial feedback from commissioners on the design concepts and project amenities from the various project alternatives.
After reviewing existing site conditions and coordinating with the County of Santa Clara and Caltrain as well as the adjacent private properties, the project team has developed four project alternatives for consideration.
These alternatives considered technical feasibility concerns and conflicts with proposed projects on the northeast and northwest corners of the N. Bernardo Avenue and Central Expressway intersection.
Concept Alternatives
The following alternatives currently being considered are listed below, with the conceptual designs included in Attachment 2.
Eastern Alternatives
1. Eastern Option 1: Proposed design would study utilizing a portion of Central Expressway for a ramp.
Western Alternatives
1. Western Option 1: Proposed design would study having either no tunnel opening with a bike ramp access to Central Expressway, or a tunnel opening without a bike ramp access.
2. Western Option 2: Proposed design would study having either a stairway access or no stairway access at the northwest corner of N. Bernardo Avenue.
3. Western Option 3: Proposed design would study having either a stairway access or no stairway access on Evelyn Avenue at S. Bernardo Avenue.
Discussion Questions
Staff requests input on the following questions:
1. What are the most important existing safety issues that concern you about this area or these roadways?
• High vehicle speed
• Connectivity
• Crossing railroad and expressway
• Lighting
2. What features should be prioritized in the selected project alternative?
• Width and height of tunnel
• Gradual slope increase/decrease
• Openings for natural lighting
• Stairway and ramp access to undercrossing
• Switchback or direct access ramps
• Clear visibility within tunnel and access points
• Reducing corner turns for visibility
• Minimize undercrossing length
• Access to Central Expressway
3. What additional features would you like to see included in the project alternatives and what features would you recommend for removal?
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board, on the City’s website, and the availability of the agenda and report in the Office of the City Clerk.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff makes no recommendation. This report is being presented to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commissions of Mountain View and Sunnyvale to facilitate discussion and gather initial feedback.
Staff
Prepared by: Nabilah Deen, Transportation Engineer
Reviewed by: Dennis Ng, Transportation Manager, Public Works
Reviewed by: Chip Taylor, Director, Public Works
ATTACHMENTS
1. Bernardo Avenue Project Location Map
2. Bernardo Avenue Undercrossing Conceptual Designs