REPORT TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Calabazas Boulevard Bicycle Lane Design (Garcia)
Report
BACKGROUND
Bicycle lanes were installed on Calabazas Boulevard in segments from 2013 to 2017 and were added by removing a travel lane in each direction and converting it to a buffered bicycle lane. Heading north to south, the bicycle lane is on the right side of the roadway from Monroe Street to Machado Avenue. From Machado Avenue continuing south to Pomeroy Avenue, the bicycle lane is on the left side of the roadway adjacent to Calabazas Creek. The reason the bicycle lane is on the left side of the roadway between Machado Avenue and Pomeroy Avenue is to reduce the number of conflict points between bicyclists and vehicles parking on-street and turning right to cross streets and the multiple residential and commercial driveways along Calabazas Boulevard. Additionally, the future Calabazas Creek Trail project has identified the roadway space adjacent to Calabazas Creek as a potential location for a future bicycle or trail facility.
Occasionally, some members of the public have reported to staff issues with the bicycle lane being on the left side of the roadway. The issues reported include the bicycle lane design is confusing, debris falling from trees next to Calabazas Creek collect in the bicycle lane, and difficulty making turns at intersections.
DISCUSSION
As part of routine roadway maintenance, the City has projects to repair roadways throughout the City. In summer of 2027, the City is planning to perform pavement treatments on Calabazas Boulevard from Cabrillo Avenue to Pomeroy Avenue. Once pavement treatments are completed, the City will reinstall pavement striping and bicycle lanes on the roadway. The roadway maintenance project provides an opportunity to modify striping on the roadway with minimal additional effort needed.
To determine the community preference for the bicycle lane design and location on Calabazas Boulevard, staff launched an online survey on September 15, 2026. Notification about the survey was sent via mail to 800 addresses on or near Calabazas Boulevard. In addition, a City News release about the Calabazas Boulevard Bike Lane survey was sent to 53,920 City notification subscribers. A project poster with survey information was displayed at the 2026 Santa Clara Art and Wine Festival and a notice about the survey was sent by the Santa Clara Unified School District to adjacent school communities. The survey closed on October 15, 2026 with 396 survey respondents.
The survey included questions on how Calabazas Boulevard is utilized as a bike facility, any existing issues with the current bicycle lane, preferred bicycle lane design and location, and any other roadway comments. The existing and alternative design choices included in the survey are shown in Attachment 1. The results of the survey showed that 222 out of 396 (56%) survey respondents preferred to keep the bicycle lane design as the existing condition with the bicycle lane on the left side of the roadway, 138 out of 396 (35%) survey respondents preferred the alternate bicycle lane design with the bicycle lane on the right side of the roadway between the travel lane and parking lane, and 36 out of 396 (9%) survey respondents marked “other” with responses such as they prefer no bike lanes and add back the travel lane or instead have protected bike lanes. The results of the survey are shown in Attachment 2.
BPAC is encouraged to discuss the Calabazas Boulevard bicycle lanes and survey results and make a recommendation on a preferred bicycle lane design and location.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Recommend City staff keep the existing design of the Calabazas Boulevard bicycle lanes on the left side of the roadway adjacent to Calabazas Creek from Machado Avenue to Pomeroy Avenue to be done in coordination with future roadway maintenance projects.
2. Recommend City staff change the design of the Calabazas Boulevard bicycle lanes to be located on the right side of the roadway between the travel lane and parking lane from Machado Avenue to Pomeroy Avenue to be done in coordination with future roadway maintenance projects.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Recommend to City staff a preferred Calabazas Boulevard bicycle lane design and location to be installed in coordination with future roadway maintenance projects.
Staff
Written by: Ralph Garcia, Principal Transportation Planner, Public Works
Reviewed by: Carol Shariat, Transportation Manager, Public Works
Approved by: Michael Liw, Assistant Director/City Engineer, Public Works
ATTACHMENTS
1. Calabazas Boulevard Existing and Alternate Bicycle Lane Designs
2. Calabazas Boulevard Bicycle Lane Design Survey Results