Sunnyvale will remove lanes in each direction along a stretch of Tasman Drive to make way for a multi-use pedestrian and bicycle path.
At its most recent meeting on July 29, the Sunnyvale City Council considered the results of a study that prescribes solutions to improve pedestrian and bike access between Fair Oaks Avenue and Lawrence Expressway along the major thoroughfare.
The stretch of road lacks access for bikes and pedestrians. The street has two eastbound and two westbound car lanes with the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light-rail in the median. The design converts the removed car lane into a raised bicycle and pedestrian path.
A second alternative would have used the motorist lane to create a buffered bicycle lane.
Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) had “strong concerns” about the chosen design, said Angela Obeso, interim transportation and traffic division manager. Because the raised curb would not allow easy emergency vehicle access to a trio of mobile home parks in the area, DPS officials said the option would have a “detrimental impact” to service.
However, no data as to how detrimental such an option would be was presented to the council.
City Manager Tim Kirby told the council that the corridor is a “unique section” of street. With three nearby mobile home parks, a light-rail station and no pedestrian or bike access, it presents “challenges” absent elsewhere in the city.
“What the recommendation from staff does is it strives to strike a balance,” he said. “We need to improve the safety for pedestrians and cyclists on this roadway, but we also need to maintain our response times and ensure that we can adequately serve the community, especially for fire and EMS services.”
Further, Kirby said, the city has yet to carve out a funding source for the project. While the city will pursue grant options, such money is likely to be fiercely competitive, he added.
The option the council chose will cost between $14 million and $17 million, according to a presentation by city employees.
Many public commenters discouraged the council from removing traffic lanes.
Victor Garza lives at Casa de Amigos mobile park. He said Tasman Drive is not a “residential” street; it is a “major arterial” road. People should have no need to bike or walk, he said, adding that people should just take the light-rail.
“Tasman Drive is the primary access for entering and exiting these communities,” he said. “Additionally, it will create major traffic backups for the thousands of residents and workers in this area, making daily commutes significantly worse.”
But others said pedestrian and bike access along the corridor is essential. Many pointed to access to the nearby Grocery Outlet, schools and businesses.
Pat Carpio-Aguilar, a Fremont Union High School Board trustee spoke for herself. She said the city needs to think about how the city will look when today’s young people are adults.
“We are thinking about building for today and thinking about the concerns of people today without considering the students that will be the adults of tomorrow,” she said. “What we do today impacts tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, others encouraged the council to consider safety. Some pointed to the city’s Vision Zero plan, adding that motorists cannot be trusted to take into account pedestrian and cyclist safety.
Elana Finesmith, with Sunnyvale Safe Streets, also lives at Casa de Amigos. She said alternative routes for cyclists and pedestrians are infeasible.
“We are really, really concerned that without change, someone will die,” she said
Many council members were hesitant but ultimately decided that the adopted option balanced competing goods well.
“What we are dealing with here is a question of worst-case scenarios versus everyday safety,” said Council Member Richard Mehlinger.
The council passed the motion in a 6-1 vote, with Council Member Murali Srinivasan dissenting. He said the council’s decision is “overturning” DPS, something he said he couldn’t support.
On a similar note, the council also unanimously voted to overturn a previous decision that protects street parking on Fair Oaks Avenue between Old San Francisco Road and Evelyn Avenue.
Mehlinger said the prior decision has hamstrung several parking studies since its inception in 2017. He called the policy an “artificial limitation” that is out of step with the city’s general plan and transportation element.
“Removing that policy will not have any immediate impact whatsoever on Fair Oaks,” he said. “It does not remove the street parking. It does not put anything in place that says the street parking must be removed.”
Consent Calendar Spending
The council approved the following spending in one motion via the consent calendar:
- A $53,238 modification to a purchase order with US Fleet Source for Hyundai IONIQ electric service vehicles.
- A $2.41 million contract with Interstate Grading & Paving, Inc. for pavement rehabilitation at Maude Avenue and Lakehaven Drive.
- A $282,554 contract with W. Bradley Electric for intelligent transportation system communication and infrastructure.
- A $143,714 amendment to a contract with BSI America Professional Services, Inc. for safety and loss control related services. Total contract amount is now $528,714.
- A $772,750 contract with Brightview Landscape Services, Inc. for street tree maintenance.
The council also approved 14 weeks of maternity leave for Council Member Eileen Le via the consent calendar.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave. in Sunnyvale.
To submit public comments ahead of the meeting, visit http://Sunnyvale.ca.gov/PublicComments; Meeting online link: https://sunnyvale-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/96111580540; meeting call-in telephone number: 833-548-0276, meeting ID: 961 1158 0540
Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com
Previous City Council Meetings:
Sunnyvale Changes Zoning To Accommodate Housing Amid State Red Tape
Sunnyvale Hikes Utility Rates
Sunnyvale Protects HUD Programs Amid Potential Federal Cuts
I think Mobile home Park is a more appropriate term for these communities. Trailer Park conjures up images of rundown trailers. In general these are actually very nice homes and communities . Even better would be Manufactured Home Community but I don’t think that’s a thing yet!