Staff ReportPREPARED BY : MATT MORLEY
Director of Parks and Public Works
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Finance
MEETING DATE: 10 /18 /16
ITEM NO: 10
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: OCTOBER 6 , 2016
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: RECEIVE A REPORT ON PATH WAY LIGHTING OPTIONS ALO NG THE FORBES
MILL FOOTBRIDGE
RECOMMENDATION :
Receive a report on pathway lighting options along the Forbes Mill footbridge.
BACKGROUND :
The Forbes Mill footbridge is a Caltrans owned pedestrian bridge linking the Forbes Mill/Los Gatos
High School area with Old Town and the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Caltrans has a long standing
maintenanc e agreement with the Town wherein the Town maintains the up per section above the walking
surface and Caltrans maintains the lower section below the walking deck. The upper deck consists of an
asphalt walking surface, solid steel sides, and chain link safety fencing. The sides of the interior
surfaces hosts art m urals created by local school children .
The bridge once had a chain link fencing canopy over the top continuous across the span of the bridge
with lighting attached to the fencing. Due to vandalism, deterioration, and freeway lighting distraction
issues, the canopy and lighting were removed and the electr ical feed abandoned in the mid -1980s . The
electrical feed was suppli ed from an Old Town power source and is no longer functional.
DISCUSSION :
Due to recent night time safety concerns raised by citizens , Town Council requested Parks and Public
Works staff to look into the feasibility of restoring path lighting across the pedestrian bridge. The bridge
walkway is very dark with no nearby lighting to be adjusted or modified to provide additional lighting
and no electrical circuitry to facilitate the addition of additional lighting.
Staff reviewed the potential for r e -establishing service on the Old Town end of the bridge , the point
from which a previous lighting system was fed. Unfortunately , the conduit s that fed this system
previously are no longer viable. This means that this scenario would require a new overhead power
supply from a nearby PG&E transformer and an agreement for a new meter location with either Caltrans
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: RECEIVE A REPORT ON PATH WAY LIGHTING OPTIONS A LONG THE FORBES
MILL FOOTBRIDGE
OCTOB ER 6 , 2016
DISCUSSION (cont’d):
or the Old Town property management group , Federal Realty . This would be a costly and complicated
effort.
An alternative is to bring power from the Forbes Mill building underground across the paved parking lot
to the south entrance of the bridge. This would pr ovide power for a new LED system installed across
the 400 foot span with fixtures on one side of the interior railing, spaced at 20 foot intervals . The light
angle would face down with the lights positioned below the solid railing to avoid any freeway
dis traction. This recommendation is the most cost effective and energy efficient with a budget estimate
to complete this project, including electrical supply and bridge lighting fixtures , at $75,000.
Staff has also explored the option of solar lighting ; h owever , has been unable to identify commercial
quality outdoor solar lighting systems that would meet the need. Should staff ultimately identify solar
lighting that meets the need, it would likely reduce the cost of the project.
CONCLUSION :
Should the Town Council wish to pursue a lighting project across the bridge , staff can include this as a
potential Capital Improvement Project in the Fiscal Year 2017/18 budget proposals.
E NVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT :
This is not a project as defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.