Politics & Government

$5 Million Plan Could be Big Boost for Bike Bridge

County Supervisor Liz Kniss announces plan to fund bridge over Highway 101 and link to Bay Trail.

A proposed bicycle and pedestrian bridge that would connect Palo Alto to the Baylands could get a $5 million shot in the arm if a proposal introduced Wednesday by Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss is approved by the Board of Supervisors.

Flanked by Palo Alto Vice Mayor Greg Scharff, former mayor Yoriko Kishimoto, and other elected officials, environmental leaders and bike advocates, Kniss beamed as she delivered the news.

“I think we’re going to make one of the most exciting announcements I’ve ever been able to make in my public life,” said Kniss.

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PHOTOS: Artist Renderings of Proposed Bike Bridge

The Adobe Creek Bridge over Highway 101, which is already being studied by the City of Palo Alto , would cost between $5.4 and $9.4 million, and carry 40,000 riders per year between the east and west sides of the city.

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Under Kniss’ proposal, the county would dedicate $5 million from a $10 million fund established by Stanford to the project. That fund was set up to pay for recreational facilities in the Stanford area and mitigate the 2,000,000 sq. ft. of development on the University’s core campus.

"The Adobe Creek Bridge means so much to Palo Alto and to the region," said Scharff. "Today we are fortunate that past leaders had the foresight to preserve the almost 2,000 acres of the Palo Alto Baylands to the public. Today we are so much closer to a safe year-round connection to those baylands for walkers, runners and cyclists."

A chunk of the remaining county fund—about $3 million—would be dedicated to connecting San Mateo and Santa Clara counties at the Baylands, effectively creating a 27-mile continuous trail. That too, would be a boon for bike advocates and environmentalists.

That trail would also connect the Peninsula and South Bay segments of the Bay Trail to East Bay segments.

 “It’s not often that we can announce a breakthrough on—not just one—but two major projects,” said Kniss.

Kniss was also joined by Committee for Green Foothills Legislative Advocate Lennie Roberts, Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese, San Mateo County Supervisor Carole Groom, Palo Alto Deputy City Manager Steve Emslie, City Chief Transportation Official Jamie Rodriguez, and bicycle advocate and .

“There is a great deal of pride in the Bay Trail,” said Cortese. “Whether you’re from San Jose or Sausalito, or San Mateo or Palo Alto, it’s a crown jewel of the Bay Area, so this kind of a contribution is enormous.”

Lennie Roberts also praised the dedication of Stanford’s funds to the project, which has been a long time in the making.

“It’s been over eleven years since Stanford received its General Use Permit to develop nearly five million square feet of buildings on its campus,” said Roberts. “Stanford has been building new facilities during these eleven years, but the full mitigation for loss of recreational opportunities due to campus expansion has not yet been provided.”

Transportation Official Rodriguez said the project is probably two years away from being shovel-ready, and then would take about two years to construct.

San Mateo County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson, who Kniss said was instrumental in drafting the proposal, could not be present Wednesday because she is away on medical leave.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors will vote on the proposal Tuesday, May 22.


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