PHOTOS: Council to Weigh Bike Bridge Plan

A bridge over at Adobe Creek has been selected by city staff as the best option for expanding Palo Alto’s pedestrian and bicycle access across Highway 101.

The recommendation, laid out in a feasibility study by the Public Works department, will set in motion the design and environmental review phase of the project if accepted by City Council tonight.

The study considered a variety of under and over-crossings in south Palo Alto, where bike and foot traffic is expected to be highest in the coming years.

The Adobe Creek bridge was chosen because it would provide “year-round access to recreational, residential and employment areas and is anticipated to have the highest recreational and commuter use compared to the undercrossing alternatives,” according to the report.

More than 55,000 people are projected to cross the overpass annually, according to the report, and would cost between $5.4 and $9.4 million, depending on the design.

The crossing is intended to connect residential and commercial areas in south Palo Alto to the Baylands Preserve, East Bayshore and San Antonio businesses, as well as the regional Bay Trail bike trail network.

The study was conducted by Alta Planning & Design and is the result of numerous plans indentifying the need for such a route, including the Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan, the 2003 Palo Alto Bicycle Transportation Master Plan and .

The Adobe Creek overpass option was chosen over an underpass because it offers the highest lighting levels and visibility, meets Caltrain’s safety requirements, and would be least adversely impacting by rising sea levels, among other considerations.

During a public meeting in September, an underpass option was more popular among members of the public. The report notes that there will be a higher potential for an aesthetic impact with the overpass option, but that it could also provide opportunities for viewing areas (see photos).

Council will meet tonight at at 7 p.m.