REPORT TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Creek Trail Network Expansion Master Plan - Stakeholder Coordination (Garcia)
Report
BACKGROUND
The City is currently in the process of developing a Creek Trail Network Expansion Master Plan (Master Plan). The Master Plan includes the following three corridors (Attachment 1):
• Calabazas Creek: Benton Street to the Bay Trail just north of Highway 237
The Calabazas Creek corridor extends through Earl R. Carmichael Park.
• Hetch Hetchy: Calabazas Creek to the Guadalupe River
The Hetch Hetchy corridor extends through Lick Mill Park and the Ulistac Natural Area.
• Saratoga Creek: Forbes Avenue to Monroe Street
The Saratoga Creek corridor extends through Bowers Park, Central Park, Bill Wilson Jr. Park and Homeridge Park.
The Master Plan will be completed based on the findings from the 2013 Creek Trail Network Expansion Feasibility Study (Feasibility Study), engineering analysis, and input from stakeholders, including members of the public. The Master Plan has the following key deliverables:
• Engineering Drawings - including trail segments and crossings
• Architectural Drawings - project location maps including typical trail cross sections with habitat preservation and integration
• Trail Design Standards and Guidelines - including typical trail widths, signage, and cross slopes
• Cost Estimates - including probable costs based on conceptual plans
• Final Report - summarizing project findings, concepts, constraints, design guidance, and recommendations on trail implementation and phasing
DISCUSSION
The Master Plan builds upon the Feasibility Study, which studies and explores the potential for expanding the off-street trail system within the City and serves as background to the Master Plan. The study can be accessed on the City’s website at: SantaClaraCA.gov/CreekTrailPlan. <https://www.santaclaraca.gov/our-city/departments-g-z/public-works/engineering/traffic-engineering/transportation-studies-master-plans/creek-trail-network-expansion-master-plan>
The purpose of the Master Plan is to more fully assess the feasibility and functionality of the trail corridors to support off-street, grade-separated trail routes. For the two creek corridors under evaluation the feasibility of the trail corridors has changed due to new policies adopted by partner/regulatory agencies focused on the potential impacts of climate change. The functionality review of the trail corridors will focus on providing a different type of pedestrian and bicyclist experience located off busier city streets, and the potential utility of the routes to access important venues and seamlessly connect with the on-street bicycle and pedestrian network.
Santa Clara’s ability to deliver new trail projects relies upon partnerships and agreements with landowners and agencies with jurisdiction over the three corridors. These potential trail corridors are located on lands partially owned by City of Santa Clara, Valley Water, City and County of San Francisco (Hetch Hetchy), Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain), Caltrans, County of Santa Clara and various other private landowners. The consultant team has reviewed background materials, conducted fieldwork, undertaken survey work, prepared base maps, identified preliminary trail alignments and developed conceptual engineering solutions for trail underpasses, overcrossings, bridges and at-grade crossings and explored avenues for mitigating trail impacts on the environment. These preliminary designs have been further refined through hydraulic studies and traffic analyses. The preliminary trail alignments and engineering designs have been presented and reviewed by many of the landowners and agencies.
The project team met with the following stakeholders to discuss the initial trail alignments and to gather feedback and comments on the proposed trails:
• City Departments
• Valley Water (formerly Santa Clara Valley Water District)
• San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) for Hetch Hetchy
• Caltrans, District 4
• Caltrain/Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB)
• High-Speed Rail Authority
• Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department
• Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department
• City of Sunnyvale
• Mission College
• Levi’s Stadium Authority
• Ulistac Natural Area Restoration and Education Project
• Private Landowners Proposing Development Projects along the three corridors
Comments received by the project team on initial trail alignments indicated several concerns from the stakeholders related to safety, infrastructure access, emergency access, site and parking impacts, environmental deterioration, noise impacts from trail users, railroad clearances, roadway impacts, and access easement agreements. The project team modified initial trail alignments to address stakeholder feedback received and resolve any issues identified. Consequently, the stakeholder input helped guide the project team to identify roadway and rail crossing options.
Since the completion of the 2013 Creek Trail Network Expansion Feasibility Study, much has changed in regard to trail planning in the region. In December 2021, Valley Water adopted “Public Trails on Valley Water Lands: Policy Criteria and Guidance.” In 2015, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) adopted “SFPUC Interim Water Pipeline Right of Way Use Policy for San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Alameda Counties.” The consultant team has evaluated this new guidance and has determined that these policies have possible implications for trail development along the three potential trail corridors.
The project team continues to work with stakeholders to address any outstanding issues. The first round of public outreach events are scheduled for spring/summer 2025 and the public release of the draft report will be in late 2025. The final report and project completion are anticipated in early 2026 following a public review period for the draft report. The following is a summary of the public input received to date and future opportunities for public participation.
Community Outreach Events
The Master Plan was displayed at the City’s Earth Day/Arbor Day Event at Central Park on April 10, 2025 and at the City sponsored Bike to Work Day Energizer Station at San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail and Agnew Road on May 15, 2025. Common themes heard from the public at these events included general support for the project, the need for trail connections, construction timeline inquiries, pavement suggestions, and requests for routine trail maintenance to clean up debris.
Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting
The Master Plan was presented to the Parks & Recreation Commission meeting on April 14, 2025. Some of the discussion points at the meeting included:
• Support for trails connecting parks and other recreation areas
• Concerns about trail safety
• Sea level rise and potential trail flooding
• Impact on creeks and wildlife
• Cost/funding and project completion timeline estimates
Creek Trail Master Plan Survey
An online survey about the public’s use of existing trails and interest in future off-street trails was launched on May 15, 2025 and closed on June 22, 2025. The results of the survey will help guide the development and design of the Master Plan.
Community Meeting - Project Introduction
A community meeting was held on May 19, 2025 to present the project to the community and collect initial feedback. There were nine attendees at the meeting. A robust discussion followed the presentation and included the following topics:
• Sound walls and neighborhood trail connections
• Trail paving and design dimensions
• Trail lighting pros and cons
• Right-of-way acquisition and land agreements
• Trail flooding and sea level rise
• Possible effect on future stadium detours
• Trail design on Calabazas Boulevard
• Trail crossings at El Camino Real
A recording of the meeting and presentation materials can be found on the project webpage.
Upcoming Community Meetings
Individual meetings for each of the potential trail corridors under study will be held on the following dates:
• Saratoga Creek - Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 6 p.m.
• Hetch Hetchy - Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 6 p.m.
• Calabazas Creek - Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 6 p.m.
More details about each corridor will be discussed at these meetings, including possible trail alignments and roadway crossings.
Staff
Written by: Ralph Garcia, Senior Civil Engineer, Public Works and Jana Sokale, Project Consultant
Reviewed by: Carol Shariat, Principal Transportation Planner, Public Works
Approved by: Michael Liw, Assistant Director/City Engineer, Public Works
ATTACHMENTS
1. Creek Trail Master Plan Corridor Map