Staff Report. BPOC Bridge Type
PREPARED BY: WooJae Kim
Town Engineer
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, Finance Director, and Parks and
Public Works Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 11/15/22 ITEM NO: 12
DATE: November 9, 2022
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Receive an Update on Community Outreach Activities for the Highway 17
Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project (CIP Number 818-0803) and
Approve the Concrete Box Girder as the Preferred Bridge Type for Final Design
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive an update on community outreach activities for the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian
Overcrossing Project (CIP Number 818-0803) and approve the concrete box girder as the
preferred bridge type for final design.
BACKGROUND:
The Town of Los Gatos Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (BPMP), which was originally
adopted in 2017 and updated in 2020, provides the Town with a roadmap for enhancing bicycle
and pedestrian mobility throughout the Town by identifying and prioritizing projects, policies,
and programs that will help make Los Gatos a more comfortable place to bike and walk.
Projects prioritized in the BPMP are also included in the Connect Los Gatos Program which
provides a holistic framework for moving these prioritized projects forward. The Highway 17
Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing (BPOC) Project was identified in the BPMP and Connect Los
Gatos Program as a priority project for the Town.
The current overcrossing of Highway 17 at Blossom Hill Road is heavily travelled by bicyclists
and pedestrians, especially by students commuting to schools. However, the overcrossing is
constrained by sub-standard bike lane and sidewalk widths that do not meet current and future
bicycle and pedestrian demands. More novice and younger bicyclists may feel vulnerable or
discouraged to bike on an overcrossing with narrow bike lanes directly next to travel lanes.
PAGE 2 OF 8 SUBJECT: Receive an Update on Community Outreach Activities for the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project (CIP Number 818-0803) and Approve the Concrete Box Girder as the Preferred Bridge Type for Final Design DATE: November 9, 2022
BACKGROUND (continued):
The Town commissioned a feasibility study of the Highway 17 BPOC in September 2019. On
March 3, 2020, the Town Council approved the following Project Purpose and Need from the
findings of the feasibility study reflecting the Council’s and community’s vision and priorities:
Purpose: The project would improve bicycle and pedestrian mobility across Highway
17 in the vicinity of the Blossom Hill Road overcrossing. The project includes a focus
on improving safety for all modes of travel, creating a safe route to schools while
promoting active transportation. Additionally, the project would result in reduced
traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions by providing comfortable mobility
alternatives.
Need: With two travel lanes in each direction, carrying upwards of 63,000 vehicles per
day, Highway 17 creates both a physical and psychological barrier for both pedestrians
and bicyclists as it divides the Town in two. Blossom Hill Road is one of only a few
roadways that provide east-west connectivity across the highway.
Also at the March 3, 2020 meeting, Council authorized staff to proceed with development of
design alternatives for a separate bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing. Various design
alternatives were considered as part of the feasibly study. On September 1, 2020, Council
approved the feasibility study with a recommendation of the separate bridge structure to be
located immediately south of the existing overcrossing at Blossom Hill Road and authorized
staff to analyze three bridge type options (concrete, steel truss, and steel arch) for the new
structure for the final design with community input. Copies of the past reports and a project
history can be found here: https://www.losgatosca.gov/2556/Hwy-17-Bicycle-Pedestrian-
Overcrossing
On December 1, 2020, the Town Council approved the execution of a 2016 Measure B Funding
Agreement with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) accepting grant funds in
the amount of $2,754,990 for the design phase of the BPOC project. In May 2021, BKF
Engineers was hired to prepare necessary design documents for the BPOC. Since then, BKF and
staff (the project team) have prepared and presented the required Project Initiation Document
to Caltrans, developed preliminary layouts for the three bridge type options, and conducted
extensive community outreach to raise awareness of the project and to gain insight into the
community’s bridge type preference.
Throughout the project, the Complete Streets and Transportation Commission has provided
valuable input and has played an integral role in guiding the project development and
community engagement process.
PAGE 3 OF 8 SUBJECT: Receive an Update on Community Outreach Activities for the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project (CIP Number 818-0803) and Approve the Concrete Box Girder as the Preferred Bridge Type for Final Design DATE: November 9, 2022
DISCUSSION:
A selection of the preferred bridge type is an important next step at this stage to further
develop the bridge design to the next level of detail. To raise project awareness and solicit
public input on preferences between the three bridge types, the project team conducted
outreach to adjacent neighborhoods, hosted two community workshop meetings (December 2,
2021 and June 29, 2022), participated in various pop-up events (Los Gatos Farmer’s Market, Los
Gatos Creek Trail, and Spring into Green), met with Los Gatos Unified School District personnel,
posted notices in school newsletters, installed project information signs on Blossom Hill Road,
and conducted an online survey.
Polls at the community meetings and responses from the online survey revealed that the
majority of the participants/respondents live and/or work in Los Gatos and use the existing
Blossom Hill Road Overcrossing daily or weekly. Although the largest percentage of
respondents indicated that they typically drive on the overcrossing segment of Blossom Hill
Road, 53% of the respondents do walk/run, and 43% bike on the overcrossing.
The project team analyzed the feedback and input received from outreach/survey participants
in-depth. For the analysis, community participants were categorized into the following eight
stakeholder groups for each particular outreach event:
• Online Survey Participants – 266 responses
• Spring into the Green Pop-Up Participants – 100 participants
• Adjacent Neighborhood – Ohlone Court, Serra Court, Los Gatos Oaks residents
• Los Gatos Unified School District
• Complete Streets and Transportation Commission
• Community Meeting participants – approximately 38 participants
• Farmer’s Market Pop Up participants – approximately 62 participants
• Los Gatos Creek Trail Pop Up participants – approximately 54 participants
The feedback related to the bridge type preference from the eight stakeholder groups were
evaluated and quantified relative to the number of participants for each stakeholder group. For
example, the bridge type preference input from the Spring into the Green event and online
survey were evaluated with higher weight based on the larger number of participants. The
results from all stakeholder groups were then combined to determine the bridge type option
with the highest level of support. As a result, the concrete box girder was found to be
significantly more supported than the other steel bridge types.
PAGE 4 OF 8 SUBJECT: Receive an Update on Community Outreach Activities for the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project (CIP Number 818-0803) and Approve the Concrete Box Girder as the Preferred Bridge Type for Final Design DATE: November 9, 2022
DISCUSSION (continued):
The project team also evaluated the three bridge type options with seven technical rating
elements determined to be critical factors to the Town. The rating elements are listed below in
the order of relative importance to the Town:
• Construction Costs
• Maintenance/Inspection
• Architectural Distinction
• Construction Schedule
• Impacts to Highway 17
• Visual Impacts
• Stage Construction/Traffic Impacts
Higher priority elements such as construction costs and maintenance/inspection were given
higher weight values for the bridge type preference evaluation. The bridge type evaluation
based on the seven technical categories also resulted with the concrete box girder as the
highest ranked preferred option.
Based on the evaluation of both the community input and technical categories, the concrete
box girder was the clear preference for the BPOC project, and this is the option being
recommended by staff to be moved forward into final design. The full evaluation and summary
of the community input and technical review are included as Attachment 1.
The preferred alternative is the lowest cost option with a current projected construction cost of
$25.2 million. Staff will seek grant funding for the construction with the Town providing
matching funds. The current assumption is that matching funds would be on the order of 25%
of the total cost, or $6,300,000.
Community Comments
From various project outreach efforts, community members who expressed a high level of
support for the concrete box girder option provided the following reasoning/comments:
• Lowest estimated cost
• Design is low-profile, simple, clean, sleek, minimalistic, least obtrusive.
• Matches existing car bridge, blends in, and does not detract from the surrounding
landscape
PAGE 5 OF 8 SUBJECT: Receive an Update on Community Outreach Activities for the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project (CIP Number 818-0803) and Approve the Concrete Box Girder as the Preferred Bridge Type for Final Design DATE: November 9, 2022
DISCUSSION (continued):
Comments from those community members who cited a high level of support for the steel flat
truss option included:
• Design is visually appealing and a compromise between the concrete box girder and
steel arch truss type.
• Design is simple, clean, and does not stand out.
• Not the most expensive option
• No median island column is required.
Comments from those who cited the steel arch truss option as highly supported included:
• Design most appealing
• Highly visible design, strikingly beautiful, gorgeous, elegant, distinguished, and unique
• Time to say yes to aspirational projects for bicycles and pedestrians
Additional comments from the online survey both in support of and objecting to the project
received during this process included:
• Support for the project, excitement for pedestrian and bicyclist safety improvements,
and the Importance of moving this project forward in a timely manner (mentioned in 28
of 95 responses)
• Opposition to the project and concerns that this investment is not responsible
(mentioned in 13 of 95 responses)
Additional questions and comments were emailed to Council members by community members
regarding the project, which are included in Attachment 2. The project team has compiled
answers to these and other frequently asked questions (FAQ’s), which will be added to the
existing FAQ document currently posted on the project webpage. The updated FAQ’s are
included as Attachment 3.
Project Schedule
The schedule has four phases. The project design phases are proceeding in compliance with
the Caltrans Project Development Procedures Manual. The first phase is the preparation and
approval of a Project Initiation Document (PID) with Caltrans. This phase is near completion.
The second phase is the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Assessment (PA/ED) based
on the selected bridge type. The third and last design phase is the development of final design
and construction documents. All three design phases are fully funded.
PAGE 6 OF 8 SUBJECT: Receive an Update on Community Outreach Activities for the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project (CIP Number 818-0803) and Approve the Concrete Box Girder as the Preferred Bridge Type for Final Design DATE: November 9, 2022
DISCUSSION (continued):
Continued public engagement throughout the design process will occur to inform the
community about the details of the engineering and aesthetic elements based on the selected
bridge type and any major changes. The final phase is construction and funding for this phase
has not been secured.
The current project schedule reflects these four phases as shown below:
CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS:
Staff is requesting the Town Council to approve the selection of the concrete box girder as the
selected bridge type for the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project that will be
implemented for all of the remaining design phases.
Next steps include continued efforts to secure construction funding as described in the Fiscal
Impact section of this report. Council action will be needed to accept such funding and to
identify a match. Once funding is secured, the Council will also be asked to authorize the Town
Manager to put the project out to bid.
PAGE 7 OF 8 SUBJECT: Receive an Update on Community Outreach Activities for the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project (CIP Number 818-0803) and Approve the Concrete Box Girder as the Preferred Bridge Type for Final Design DATE: November 9, 2022
COORDINATION:
This report has been coordinated with the Town Attorney and Town Manager’s Offices, and the
Finance Department. The project design is coordinated with the Complete Streets and Traffic
Commission, VTA, and CalTrans.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact with the recommended action at this time since the design phase is
fully funded. Below is a summary of current project budget and anticipated costs:
Construction funding for the project has not yet been identified Town staff will continue to
monitor available grant programs and look for funding opportunities for the BPOC construction.
Most transportation grant programs require local match funding, which can range from ten to
thirty percent of the project cost depending on the grant program. If allowed by the grant
program, there are opportunities to fund or supplement local matching portions with other
regional or state grants.
In July 2022, Town staff received council authorization to submit a grant application for the One
Bay Area Grant program, Cycle 3 (OBAG 3) for the construction phase of the BPOC.
Budget Costs
TDA Article 3 (Feasibility Study)$87,451
Traffic Impact Mitigation Fund (Feasibility Study)$147,249
GFAR (Design Phase)$946,210
2016 Measure B (Design Phase)$2,754,534
GFAR/Development In-Lieu Fee $522,314
Total Budget $4,457,758
BKF Engineers - Feasibility Study $234,700
BKF Engineers - Final Design $3,000,000
Design Contingency $300,000
Independent Structural Review $50,000
Caltrans Cooperative Agreement $135,000
Part-Time Staff Cost (Design Phase)$220,000
Total Expenditures $3,939,700
Remaining Budget for Construction Phase $518,058
Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project
CIP No. 818-0803
PAGE 8 OF 8 SUBJECT: Receive an Update on Community Outreach Activities for the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project (CIP Number 818-0803) and Approve the Concrete Box Girder as the Preferred Bridge Type for Final Design DATE: November 9, 2022
FISCAL IMPACT (continued):
Unfortunately, staff has been informed that the BPOC project application did not rank high on
the grant project list.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
In accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the project is
categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA based on Section 15301 - Existing Facilities as
the project involves improving the existing overcrossing; Section 15303 - New Construction or
Conversion of Small Structures as the project proposes to construct a new small structure; and
Section 15304 - Minor Alterations to Land as the project proposes minor alterations to land and
vegetation and does not involve removal of healthy mature scenic trees.
Also, per Section 21080.25 of the California Public Resources Code, the project is statutorily
exempt from the provisions of CEQA because the project is considered a new pedestrian and
bicycle facility as defined under Public Resources Code 21080.25(b)(1).
Attachments:
1. Highway 17 BPOC Bridge Type Selection Evaluation
2. Public Comments (including Council Referral TC 22-84)
3. Updated FAQ’s