$2 million for Bay Trail proposed

Santa Clara County considers Bay Trail Gap funding – Key decision next Tuesday!


Let me through!

Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss will hold a press conference tomorrow morning to announce a plan to invest $2 million to complete the Bay Trail Gap in Menlo Park and East Palo Alto and $5 million in the Adobe Creek Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge over Highway 101 in Palo Alto. These funds will cover more than half the costs needed to construct each project.


Bay Trail gap between Menlo Park and East Palo Alto

Supervisor Kniss’ event will be held on May 16 at 11:00 am at the Palo Alto East Bayshore Municipal Service Center at 3201 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto.

The proposal needs to be approved at the next Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, May 22 at 9:00 am, which will be held at 70 West Hedding St, 10th Floor, East Wing, San Jose.

The funds to be invested came from Stanford University as a mitigation measure for the loss of publicly-accessible recreational facilities when it expanded its campus after 2000.

There is currently a gap on the Bay Trail between Menlo Park and East Palo Alto (EPA). The map above shows possible alignments (in bright green) to close this gap. Facebook’s development agreement with the city of Menlo Park for their headquarters includes a pledge to contribute to closing this gap to EPA, which could ease bicycle access for Facebook employees traveling from the South Bay.

A proposed bicycle bridge for Adobe Creek in Palo Alto would replace the underpass currently used to provide year-round biking and walking access between
residential neighborhoods southwest of Highway 101 and the trails available on the Bay side of 101. The current underpass is prone to seasonal flooding and is gated shut for half of the year.


Adobe Creek underpass Palo Alto

Those who would like to speak up about this effort.

  • Attend Liz Kniss’s press conference in Palo Alto on May 16 at 11:00 am at 3201 East Bayshore Road.
  • Attend the Tuesday, May 22, 9:00 am meeting of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in San Jose (very valuable if you can make this!!!), 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose – 10th Floor, East Wing.
  • Send a letter of support to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors (BoardOperations at cob.sccgov.org)

Speaking points in favor of funding these projects:

  • Thank Liz Kniss for her leadership on a proposal that provides value to people who enjoy nature, recreation, and bicycling and walking for transportation.
  • Completing a critical gap in the Bay Trail that will connect over 100 miles of continuous bicycle and pedestrian paths between Santa
    Clara County, San Mateo County, and the East Bay. The Bay Trail is a premier recreational resource and a major bicycle commuting route.

  • Constructing the bicycle/pedestrian bridge at Adobe Creek in Palo Alto will connect residents to the natural beauty of the baylands and provide a valuable bicycle commute route to the Bay Trail that is open and available for public use all year round.
  • The money invested by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors should benefit as many residents in the County and region as possible – not primarily Stanford University students and staff.

6 Comments

  1. Thanks, Richard, for posting this. For the commute to my previous job I used the Adobe Creek underpass regularly. That is, the months of the year when it was open.  I’ll put the May 22 meeting on the calendar and I am willing to speak.  It’s also on my way to work, so it’s very convenient for me.

  2. The Adobe Creek underpass is closed for all of this year due to Hwy 101 widening. Caltrans has their priorities.

  3.  Well, that’s salt in a wound.  A rare way for bikes and walkers to cross a loud, polluting, car-only barrier is blocked due to what?  Construction that brings more loud, polluting cars into town.  So glad I’m not riding by everyday anymore–it would put me in a baaaad mood.

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