12 Desk Item #12 - Highway 17 BPOC DESK ITEM
PREPARED BY: Ying Smith
Transportation and Mobility Manager
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: 12/01/2020 ITEM NO: 12
DATE: December 1, 2020
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing (Project 818-0803):
a. Authorize the Town Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Measure B
Funding Agreement with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
(Attachment 1) to Accept a Measure B Grant in the Amount of $2,754,990
for the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project Final
Design Phase;
b. Authorize Revenue and Expenditure Budget Increases in the Total
Amount of $3,701,200 ($2,754,990 in Grant Fund and $946,210 in
General Fund Appropriated Reserve) in the Fiscal Year 2020/21 –
2024/25 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget for the Highway 17
Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project to Recognize the Receipt of
Grant Funds in FY 2020/21;
c. Authorize the Release of a Request for Proposals (Attachment 2) for the
Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Design Project;
d. Authorize the Town Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Consultant
Agreement with the Highest Ranked Firm in an Amount Not to
Exceed $3,000,000; and
e. Approve the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Community
Engagement Plan (Attachment 3).
REMARKS:
Attachment 7 reflects public comments received from 11:01 a.m., Monday, November 30, 2020
through 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2020.
In addition, the following question was received from a Councilmember.
Is there a deadline to accept the Measure B funds?
PAGE 2 OF 2 SUBJECT: Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing (Project 818-0803) DATE: December 1, 2020
REMARKS (continued):
Staff Response: There is no immediate deadline to accept the funds, although some dynamics
playing out with Measure B and the need for BART funding makes delaying any project
risky. There is a need for additional funding to keep the project moving - the current phase is
complete and the next step will be an RFP to get the next consultant on board so that the
environmental work and then the next phase of design can begin.
Attachments Previously Received with Staff Report:
1. Draft Measure B Funding Agreement with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.
2. Draft Request for Proposals for Professional Engineering Design Services.
3. Draft Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Community Engagement Plan.
4. Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project Background.
5. Public Comment Received.
Attachment Previously Received with Addendum:
6. Public Comment Received from 11:01 a.m., Wednesday, November 25, 2020 through 11:00
a.m., Monday, November 30, 2020.
Attachment Received with this Desk Item:
7. Public comment received from 11:01 a.m., Monday, November 30, 2020 through 11:00
a.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2020.
From: Dean strausl
Sent: Tuesday, December 1, 2020 8:59 AM
To: Council <Council@losgatosca.gov>
Cc: john@bikesiliconvalley.org
Subject: Blossom Hill Bike & Ped Bridge
Town Council
Of course access is a major factor in considering this crossing. As the community (regrettably)
expands links to the town’s many physical assets can become a means of integrating rather
than simply housing the new. I have lived three years on the east side of 17 after 20 on the west
side. I drove my daughter to Fisher and LGHS and still watch as kids stream across. Let’s make it
easier and safer.
Dean Strausl
From: Paul Brennan
Sent: Tuesday, December 1, 2020 8:16 AM
To: Council <Council@losgatosca.gov>; Town Manager <Manager@losgatosca.gov>
Cc: Patty Charles < Leah Angulo <; Mary Lonhart < Clare Vickers < >
Subject: Highway 17 bicycle & pedestrian bridge
Dear Town Council members,
On behalf of R.J. Fisher Middle School I wanted to express our support for the Highway 17
bicycle and pedestrian bridge project. The Safe Routes to School program has done a fantastic
job encouraging students to walk or roll (bike, scooter or skateboard) to school. During normal
times, both before and after school, one would find hundreds of Fisher students traveling down
Blossom Hill road. We hope that the Town can do whatever it takes to make this passageway as
safe as possible.
Sincerely yours,
From: Scott, Marty
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2020 8:57 PM
To: Council <Council@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Blossom Hill - 17 Pedestrian/Cycling Bridge .. YES
As a longtime Los Gatos resident, avid cyclist, mother of two daughters who ride bikes and
grandmother to several grandchildren who rides bikes (to school when they can, and around
town for fun!) …
PLEASE build this bridge.
Thank you for your consideration!
Marty Scott
ATTACHMENT 7
From: Mr Irvine
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2020 8:41 PM
To: PublicComment <PublicComment@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Public Comment Item #12
As a 10 year Los Gatos resident and lifelong Santa Clara county cyclist I strongly support
infrastructure to improve cycling and pedestrian safety and increase participation in these
activities. While my two boys attended Fisher I strongly encouraged them to ride bicycles to
school, riding through Vasona and up Blossom Hill road to the school. While the Blossom Hill /
Highway 17 overpass appears safe on an early Saturday morning ride it can become quite
congested with pedestrians, scooter riders, cyclists and cars during the busy morning
commute. The proposed bicycle and pedestrian bridge would greatly expand capacity for
traffic in this critical area and would be a great asset to the community.
--
Tim Irvine
From: Yi, Sooky
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2020 8:11 PM
To: Council <Council@losgatosca.gov>
Cc: john@bikesiliconvalley.org
Subject: blossom hill footbridge
yes. and yes.
A bridge would be an asset to the town. Connecting east and west will only create a stronger
sense of community.
As a long time resident who has run, walked, and biked every inch of Los Gatos, I assure you a
bridge would be an amazing improvement. If we create a bridge they will come. People will
walk, run and ride more! Just Do it.
Sooky Yi
Marchmont Dr.