Attachment AATTACHMENT A
ATTACHMENT A
Project Background and Scope of Work
Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge
Feasibility Analysis and Conceptual Engineering
Purpose and Needs
Crossing Highway 17 in Los Gatos presents a barrier for bicyclists and pedestrians. The Town of
Los Gatos has included proposed improvements for a Highway 17 crossing in several policy
documents. The Town’s data show high bicyclist and pedestrian volumes on Blossom Hill Road
(BHR) and the bridge, especially during school hours. Blossom Hill Road is a suggested walk
and bike route for students who live to the west of Highway 17 to get to Fisher Middle School and
Los Gatos High School. The Los Gatos Creek Trail is a Class I multiuse path for bicyclists and
pedestrians located along the western edge of Highway 17.
Over the years, the Town has implemented several bike and pedestrian improvements on Blossom
Hill Road and Los Gatos Boulevard. The most recent project includes a Class I multi-use path on
the southside of Blossom Hill Road west of Roberts and the addition of Class IV bike lanes on
Blossom Hill Road between Roberts and Los Gatos Boulevard. This project is scheduled for
construction in the summer of 2019. The Town’s infrastructure improvements and the Safe Route
to School (SR2S) efforts are motivating more and more students to use active transportation
modes on their school trips. The increased demand will further benefit from the development of
safe and context sensitive facilities that are designed for the current and forecasted bike and
pedestrian volumes.
Within the project vicinity, several options have been identified for further study. The Bicycle
and Pedestrian Master Plan identified the Nino Avenue Bridge over Highway 17 as one of the
new bicyle/pedestrian bridge connections. A bridge to Nino Avenue would provide a connection
to the south side of Fisher Middle School. The Town’s General Plan identified widening the
Blossom Hill Road Bridge over Highway 17 for bicyclists and pedestrians. The current BHR
bridge doesn’t have sufficient width to accommodate a separated bike lane or Class I path, which
is needed to accommodate the existing and future demand. The project is also included in the
Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee program and the Town’s submittals to the VTA’s Valley
Transportation Plan 2040.
In summary, three options have been identified in planning documents. An illustration of
alignment alternatives is included.
1. A separate bicycle and pedestrian bridge along BHR
2. Widening the existing BHR bridge for bicyclists and pedestrians
3. Bicycle and pedestrian bridge connecting to Nino Avenue
Scope of Work
As the first step in carrying out this long-term improvement, the Town is pursuing a Feasibility
Analysis and Conceptual Engineering phase to evaluate the alignment options and recommend a
preferred alternative. This phase is included and budgeted for in the Town’s adopted Capital
Improvement Program. The Town is interested in advancing one of the alignment alternatives.
The preliminary evaluation criteria include the following:
• Benefits to existing and future users
• Environmental and engineering challenges
• Right-of-way constraints
• Public input and stakeholder input
• Total project cost
This phase will initiate the project development process and prepare the project to be “shovel
ready.” In future years, additional funds will be needed for Environmental Clearance, Right-of-
Way, Final Design, and Construction.
Tasks and Deliverables
The Town is soliciting qualified engineering and environmental consultants to complete the scope
of work described above and deliver the following tasks:
1. Prepare a preliminary evaluation of the three alignment options;
2. Refine and finalize evaluation criteria based on input from Town staff and stakeholders;
3. Estimate order-of-magnitude costs, broken down by design and construction;
4. Determine a draft scope for environmental analysis to be sufficient for the federal project
process and Caltrans’ requirements
5. Support for Town staff in coordination with Caltrans;
6. Provide support for outreach activities led by Town staff, including the preparation of
materials (presentation, project factsheet, etc.), attendance at public meetings/workshops,
responding to questions as directed by Town staff;
7. Recommend a preferred project alternative based on the final evaluation criteria;
8. Prepare a conceptual engineering design for the preferred project alternative