Friday Ride/bys

Guadalupe River Trail
at the Airport SJC

Riding along the Guadalupe River Trail next to the airport this afternoon I encountered spotted a sign asking for just a little more patience. Although most of the painting at this location is done there still is some work being completed near the 880 freeway. Estimated opening date 10-3-2012. I wonder if they will have a grand opening; maybe even a ribbon cutting?

 Update 9-28-2012 2:40 PM - According to Richard Masoner of Cyclelicious, fog seal is being applied today from 101 to Montague Expressway.


Also in the "build it they will use it" category, I spotted Ryan this afternoon delivering freight by bike; that just happened to be bicycles. Ryan works at IMinusD bicycles on the Paseo de San Antonio across from San Jose State University. IMinusD along with Bicycle Express are personal favorites. Talk to Mark or Ryan at IMinusD or Karen or Chuck at Bicycle Express.

Ryan of iMinusD delivering
bicycles by bike

Whether its individuals selling bikes along the 11th St. bicycle corridor or bike shops using the 4th St. bike lanes to transport inventory from the warehouse to the retail shop greater numbers have been seen along the new bikeways.

Save Our Trails to host Trail Cleanup of recently expanded section of the Three Creeks Trail

Save Our Trails Fall Trail Cleanup

Put this date on your calendar; October 20, 2012.

That's the date that the folks from Save Our Trails, will be hosting a trail clean-up in Willow Glen. They'll have trash bags, t-shirts (with donation), tools, water, and the latest news about their mission to expand the trail. Volunteers are asked to meet at the corner of Coe Ave. and Leona Ct., in the Willow Glen Area of San Jose. Leona Ct. is two blocks east of Lincoln Ave.

The Three-Creeks Trail is envisioned as a multi-use trail running over a former Union Pacific railroad line stretching from Lonus Street near Lincoln out to Kelley Park. Originally this trail was named after the railroad line, which was called “The Willow Glen Spur” because a portion of it went through the town of Willow Glen.

In 2008 a community advocate recommended that the name of the future trail should be the Three Creeks Trail because it intersects three creek trails: the Los Gatos Creek trail, the Guadalupe Creek trail, and the Coyote Creek Trail. This trail would be extremely useful for anyone who travels cross town because of the intersections with so many other trails in the city. Trails are important to people who walk, bike, push strollers, walk dogs, or ride wheel chairs. Trails make it easier for people to commute, get exercise, and socialize.


View Three Creeks Trail in a larger map

This line was abandoned for use in 2000, and in the same year the City of San Jose Parks Department strategic plan envisioned the purchase and conversion of this land for trail use. Union Pacific removed the rails in 2004. Since then some of the land has been purchased by other landowners, and is threatened in other ways. It is our goal to assist local government in creating a workable trail on this property.

Over the course of several years, from 2008 through 2011, the City of San Jose was engaged in a process (“Envision 2040″) to involve the community in updating the City’s General Plan. During the update process, city staff proposed to change the location of the eastern portion of the trail from the railroad right-of-way to bike lanes on Alma Street, a high-traffic truck corridor. SAVE OUR TRAILS successfully fought off this proposal, getting the Council, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Envision 2040 Task Force to keep the trail alignment on the railroad right-of-way. In addition, SAVE OUR TRAILS persuaded City Council to rename the trail as “the Three Creeks Trail”, in recognition of the fact that the trail will be providing an essential east-west path, linking three separate north-south trail corridors.



Save Our Trails is also on Facebook.

Guadalupe River Trail Project Update from San Jose's Yves Zsutty

San Jose's Guadalupe
River Trail System

The following is a construction project update on the lower Guadalupe Trail from Yves Zsutty, Trail Manager with the City of San Jose

Please be aware that paving occurs this week between Highway 101 and Montague Expressway.  Large paving equipment, supply trucks and workers will be working on site from Monday to Friday.  Please continue to use the posted detour until the trail is officially reopened. 

You can find additional information on the Trail Program website on the Construction Updates page and Twitter (SanJoseTrails). 

GRT update #6

San Jose Trails - Lower Guadalupe River Trail Construction Update

Recent Progress
 - Construction contract awarded to Wattis Construction of San Jose.

- Submittals for detour and construction signage reviewed and approved for use.

- Pre-Construction site visit conducted on June 15. Contractor, engineers, architects, and inspector walked Phase I to look at all site conditions and respond to questions before work proceeds.

- Project schedule and phasing plan under review.

1. Phase 1: 880 to Trimble

2. Phase 2: Trimble to Montague

3. Phase 3: Montague to Gold Street

Upcoming milestones:

- Construction to commence on Phase 1 during week of June 18. Work anticipated to take 3 months at this site before next phase is closed for construction.

- Contractor to survey the site and install storm water pollution prevention measures during the week of June 18.

- Contractor to install detour signage for Phase 1 (week of June 18). Signage will direct trail users to avoid the Phase 1 area with signs posted at Hedding and Trimble, directing bicyclists to use North First Street.

The Lower Guadalupe River Trail extends from Highway 880 to Gold Street in Alviso.

The 6.4 mile project will pave the existing gravel trail and include 5 interpretive stations along the route.

- The current gravel trail is jointly used by the City for recreation and the Santa Clara Valley Water District for maintenence. 

- The project is funded through the 2005 Federal Transportation Bill (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users or SAFETEA-LU) and local City funding.

About the project:

San Jose Trails update from City Trail Manager Yves Zuetty

View San Jose Trails - Updates from Yves Zuetty in a larger map

San Jose Trails Update - May 2012

Highway 237 Bikeway Construction

Construction of the bikeway project between Zanker Road and Coyote Creek (north side) continues. Asphalt paving, striping and fencing are in place. Opening of the trail is delayed until early June as final work items are completed – installation of bollards, new wheelchair ramps and restoration of a vehicle detection loop at the nearby freeway off-ramp traffic signal. Follow “SanJoseTrails” on Twitter for notification of the trail’s reopening and get more detailed updates and photos by following the Construction Updates.

Lower Guadalupe River Trail Construction

A construction contract has been awarded and the pre-construction meeting occurred on May 23. The City will provide a project schedule and details about phasing during the week of June 4. Weekly project updates are posted on the Construction Updates link found on the Trail Program homepage: www.sjparks.org/trails.

Lower Guadalupe River Trail – Tasman Under-Crossing

A grant has been secured to elevate the under-crossing at Tasman Drive so that it is flooded less frequently from seasonal rains and tidal flows from the Bay. The project is within the limits of the larger Lower Guadalupe River Trail project, however, the City has postponed construction until after the larger trail project is completed. In this way, the 6.4 mile trail project is not subject to a possible seasonal closure that would only occur due to flooding at the under-crossing. The California Transportation Commission approved a grant extension on May 23, 2012. Work on the under-crossing is to get underway immediately after completion of the Lower Guadalupe River Trail project.

Thompson Creek Trail (Tully-Quimby)

Preparation of construction documents is on-going. PG&E has issued a permit and the City has positively identified all utilities along the trail alignment. Funding is in place to construct the 0.65 mile trail (improving the existing interim gravel surface). A schedule for construction will be provided once construction documents are completed.

Doerr Parkway

Two community meetings have occurred for Doerr Parkway project. The west San Jose project will develop a landscaped trail along a short 500' parcel currently used as a utility corridor. Design work is now underway – you’ll find conceptual drawings of the future trail posted at: http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/TrailsMeetings.asp

Los Gatos Creek Trail Under-Crossing (San Carlos Street)

The City has secured $1.6M in grant funding to prepare environmental and construction documents for the under-crossing that will span beneath the West San Carlos Street bridge, active Caltrain/Amtrak railway bridge and future High Speed Rail alignment. A Request for Qualifications was issued on May 24 to hire a design consultant for the project. A schedule will provided at a later date when the project team is hired. A conceptual image of the under-crossing is available.

San Jose Trail Program Status Update

Trail Program Update 4/1/2012

The San Jose Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee received an update on trail status at their last meeting from Yves Zuetty, Trails Manager. Here are some visuals to convey the progress that the trails department is making.


Here is a link to the Green Vision 100 mile status goal in pdf format.

Project Update: Lower Guadalupe Trail Construction

photo: Richard Masoner

The Lower Guadalupe River Trail extends from Highway 880 to Gold Street in Alviso. The current gravel trail is jointly used by the City for recreation and the Santa Clara Valley Water District for maintenance of the waterway.

Goal number 10 of the City of San Jose's Green Vision is interconnected trails. More specifically "Create 100 miles of trails connection with 400 miles of on-street bikeways by 2022". More information can be found on the city's Green Vision website.

The project scope includes the installation of 12’ wide asphalt paving with gravel shoulders to improve pedestrian and bicycle access. Entry to the trail will be via all intersection streets. Under-crossings exist at all roadways so the trail system is entirely off-street. Decorative pavement in the form of a multi-color compass will appear at trail entry points and reinforce the direction of travel. Five interpretive stations will educate and inform trail users about the history of Alviso, the river’s ecology, the Hetch-Hetchy Water System, the discovery of “Lupe” the mammoth, and the history of San Jose’s airport. During construction, a signed detour will guide trail users to North First Street for pedestrian and bicycle travel.

The project is funded through the 2005 Federal Transportation Bill (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users or SAFETEA-LU) and local City funding.

This project is tentatively set to be on the City Council Agenda for bidder selection on April 24, 2012. Construction is scheduled to start in June. Construction is expected to take 10 months - contract documents limit work to a 300-day period.

About San Jose Trails
San Jose has one of the nation’s largest urban trail networks with nearly 54 miles already open to the public. The City’s Green Vision advances development of a 100- mile interconnected network by 2022. The Guadalupe River Trail is a core system in the network and serves both recreational and commute users.

-For more information:

Twitter – SanJoseTrails for construction and general trail updates Construction updates for this and other trail projects. Closures & Traffic for closures along all San Jose trail systems

San Jose Trails Manager Yves Zsutty speaks to Save Our Trails Group

Monday evening, Yves Zsutty spoke to a packed room in Willow Glen about the status of the Three Creeks Trail as well as other trails within the city's growing network of multi-use trails. Yves was brought into the position when the city's trail system was just getting started and admittedly his own growth and expertise has grown right along with the the city's trail system.

He started out by updating the audience with several announcements;

• The recent awards given to the "Reach 6" extension of the Guadalupe Trail just south of the Children's Discovery Museum.
• A new iPhone app titled Transit and Trails.
• A new trail signage and mileage marker system to help emergency personnel locate those needing assistance.
• The planned improvements to the current bicycle under crossing under the San Carlos overpass near Bird Ave. and
• The latest survey showing that Bicycle communing has increased dramatically along the Guadalupe Trail system.

The trail extension noted as Reach six of the Guadalupe River was recently completed after many years of hard work between the City of San Jose, Caltrans, and the Santa Clara Valley Water District.  Not only is the trail much more scenic, but the new trail eliminates an unsafe steep portion that was right next to the creek.

Transit and Trails a new iPhone app by Bay Area Open Space Council was also highlighted which details campgrounds, trails, and trail heads based on your current location. (I plan to review it within the next week or two).

Also Yves highlighted new mile markers which will allow for quick deployment in the expansive Guadalupe Trail system. Trail markers are located at quarter-mile increments, labeled with a unique icon and color defining the trail system. The combination of icons, colors and mileage figures makes the system more accessible to children and non-English speakers as they seek to communicate their location to 911 operators. With over 35 different trail systems within the city this will help to inform users who may be confused about their whereabouts.

The existing San Carlos (roadway) Overpass will undergo improvements and widening in the future. The city has plans to connect the bicycle path under the roadway to Diridon Station, but given the planned improvements on San Carlos, possible high speed rail construction, and a possible ballpark these complications could delay planning and construction.

Each spring the city conducts a trail usage survey along the Guadalupe Trail and the last survey noted that 52% of the cyclists using the trails were commuters. With the planned paving of 6.4 miles of the trail north of 880 to Gold Street in Alviso it is expected that this number will climb even more. Mr. Zsutty compared the trail to a spine linking with other trails in the form of ribs to connect with this important north/south connector; given that San Jose's industrial geography puts housing in the southern part of the city and industrial land in the north portion of the city.

After listing off recent accomplishments Yves, quickly switched to updating attendees on the status of the Three Creeks Trail which was recently purchased from Union Pacific Railroad. The section also referred to as the Western Alignment spans from Lonus St. in the north to Minnesota Ave. on the southern portion. The city recently finished a large soil remediation project along the western alignment, ans the city will seek to provide an interim solution for the trail while putting together a master plan for the whole trail.

Could the Three Creeks Trail be as popular as
New York City's High Line Park someday?

The interim plan is to lay down some temporary solutions for the trail until funding for complete trail construction will take place. This will include a fence at grade crossings (intersection with the streets) to deter vehicles from driving onto the trail. Yves took a hand counted vote to see what type of fence would be appropriate in both aesthetics and cost.

During this interim period the trestle over the creek just south of Lonus St. will be fenced off to prevent access while an engineering study is performed by CH2M Hill, a global transportation engineering company.

Save Our Trails was instrumental in obtaining funding for the acquisition of the western alignment of the Three Creeks Trail and continues to work on the future acquisition of of the eastern alignment as well.

To find out more about what is happening on the San Jose City Trail system you can follow status updates on the department's Twitter account.

Two major Trail Construction updates were announced this week by the City of San Jose's Parks and Recreation Dept. Trail Cordinator Yvess Zuetty will release more information on the expected one year closure of the Guadalupe Park Trail within the next week or two.

Highway 237 Bikeway closure
The Highway 237 Bikeway (from Zanker Road to Coyote Creek) will be closed on January 23 for construction. Expect reopening by April 13, 2012. The project will replace the deteriorated maintenance road with a paved asphalt trail (12’ wide, with 2’ gravel shoulders).

Lower Guadalupe River Trail Closure
In a few months, San José will need to close the popular Lower Guadalupe River Trail. The existing gravel trail is 6.4 miles and extends from Highway 880 to Gold Street.



View Silicon Valley Trail System - Status in a larger map