Citizens for Responsible Trails - Just the Facts Vol.1 Issue 1

STEVENS CREEK TRAIL UPDATE: PUBLIC INPUT MEETING RESULTS AND NEXT STEPS

July 9, 2015 –  Recently, the cities of Cupertino, Los Altos, Mountain View and Sunnyvale held a series of meetings to gather public input regarding the Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study. You can read a summary of these comments compiled by the facilitator of these meetings at the City of Sunnyvale's website.

It is readily apparent from the summary that the message from the public urging local officials to utilize and improve existing infrastructure came across loud and clear. While there were a number of speakers supporting a vision that replicates the nature-like experience in the Mountain View section of the trail, it was clear that most people did not want public officials to force fit that vision onto existing residential streets and neighborhoods.

Final Feasibility Study Draft

The next step in the process is for the “Four Cities” to publish the final version of the Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study Draft. This draft will include any corrections and all the public comments that were submitted. Citizens for Responsible Trails asks those who submitted comments to read the final draft to ensure all comments were included.

Next Meeting: July 20 

The next step in the process is for the Joint Cities Working Team to meet to review the recommendations from theCitizens Working Group. In its most recent meeting, the unelected Citizens Working Group overwhelmingly ignored public input and collectively recommended public works projects that would be both expensive and disruptive.

We urge concerned citizens to attend the Joint Cities Working Team meeting on July 20 at 6:30pm at the Cupertino Community Hall. This body of elected officials will make a joint recommendation that will be considered by the cities involved. The public is invited to attend and provide comments at the meeting. Please join us!

JUST THE FACTS™ is the official newsletter of Citizens for Responsible Trails – A local group that advocates for using existing infrastructure, ensuring fiscal responsibility and minimizing impact on neighborhoods in the completion of the Stevens Creek Trail. This newsletter attempts to elevate public discourse by employing only fact-based arguments and positions. 

REPORT: Citizens for Responsible Trails (CRT) Response to Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study

RESPONSE REPORT

Citizens for Responsible Trails, a local advocacy group, has created an official response to the Stevens Creek Trail Joint Cities Feasibility Study that was recently made available on the City of Sunnyvale’s website. Citizens for Responsible Trails evaluated the trail routes identified in the study by determining to what extent the route segments are consistent with the group’s core values: 

1) Fiscal Responsibility

2) Utilize Existing Infrastructure 

3) Minimize New Impact

Each trail segment is also rated as to whether budget estimates for new infrastructure are consistent with the group’s emphasis on fiscal responsibility.

Download the full report here: CRT Response to Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study

Questions and comments about the response can be directed to Citizens for Responsible Trails

RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONCERNED CITIZENS

Citizens for Responsible Trails has seen that the cities will listen to the concerns of citizens. Here is how you can get involved:

Attend one (or more) of the three upcoming Public Input Meetings:

Sunnyvale Public Input Meeting

Thursday, May 21, 2015 from 6:30 9:30 p.m.

Sunnyvale Community Center Ballroom 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale

Cupertino Public Input Meeting

Monday, June 1, 2015 from 6:30 9:30 p.m.

Cupertino Community Room, 10350 Torre Avenue, Cupertino

Los Altos/Mountain View Public Input Meeting

Monday, June 8, 2015 from 6:30 9:30 p.m.

Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Avenue, Mountain View

Email your comments on the Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study to: SCTfeasibilitystudy@sunnyvale.ca.gov. Your comments will be included in the final report to the city councils of Cupertino, Los Altos, Mountain View and Los Altos 

Contact your local city elected officials and city staff to voice your concerns and views.

In the News: Four Cities Release Feasibility Study - Stevens Creek Trail

The San Jose Mercury News recently published a story regarding the Stevens Creek Feasibility Study. Three public meetings have been organized to gather input from the public. Here is a link to the article on mercurynews.com:

http://www.mercurynews.com/cupertino/ci_28016797/four-cities-release-feasibility-study-stevens-creek-trail

Re-starting: Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study

Fellow Citizens,

The Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study is gearing up after a nearly year long hiatus. The story below was published in the San Jose Mercury News and describes the current situation:

West Valley: Cities of Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Los Altos, and Mtn. View look to continue trail connection study

The Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study was released on March 27, 2015. We encourage concerned citizens to read the report to find out how it might affect local government spending and impact on your neighborhood. 

There are several meetings planned for the next several weeks and months and we encourage interested citizens to participate in the process to make your voices heard. The feasibility study, the upcoming meeting schedule and more information can be found at:

Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study Homepage

As a reminder, Citizens for Responsible Trails represents local citizens and advocates for the following:

1) Fiscal Responsibility
2) Utilize Existing Infrastructure
3) Minimize Impact on Neighborhoods

If you would like to get involved, please contact Citizens for Responsible Trails using the Contact Us tab.

In the News - Citizens for Responsible Trails

Following the press release issued by Citizens for Responsible Trails, the San Jose Mercury News wrote about the long-delayed Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study (see link below): 


Cupertino, Sunnyvale residents remain vocal on Stevens Creek Trail study

As stated in the article, a public meeting will be conducted by the Friends of Stevens Creek Trail regarding the trail issue. That meeting will take place on Friday March 28 from 7-9pm at West Valley Elementary in Sunnyvale. We urge all concerned citizens to attend this meeting to express their positions on the trail issue. 

As a reminder, Citizens for Responsible Trails has a three part platform: 

1) Fiscal Responsibility 

2) Utilize Existing Infrastructure
3) Minimize Impact on Neighborhoods 

Citizens for Responsible Trails Organized to Address Stevens Creek Trail Issues

MEDIA CONTACT:                                                             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Steve Elich                                                                  

(650) 472-1599

4citiesresponsibletrails@gmail.com

                       

Citizens for Responsible Trails Organized to Address Stevens Creek Trail Issues  

Neighborhood Advocates Promote Common Sense Approach to Bicycle and Pedestrian Trails in Santa Clara County

Sunnyvale, California – March 12, 2014 – Citizens for Responsible Trails is a neighborhood advocacy group that was formed in response to the process surrounding the Stevens Creek Trail Joint Cities Feasibility Study. The routes being considered for the Stevens Creek Trail could result in significant public works spending that would be largely borne by the citizens of Santa Clara County. Funding for the project would likely come from the Valley Transportation Agency and the cities of  Cupertino, Los Altos, Mountain View and Sunnyvale.  

Citizens for Responsible Trails was formed following several public meetings conducted by the cities involved in the process. Citizens for Responsible Trails represents several neighborhood groups that formed to provide input into the process. 

“We formed our group to give ordinary citizens a voice in the process,” said Kathleen Cordova, president of Citizens for Responsible Trails. “As we learned more about the Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study, it became clear that we would have to speak up for a common sense approach to the issue.” 

Citizens for Responsible Trails has established three key tenets of its platform as a neighborhood advocacy group:  

Fiscal Responsibility - The routes under consideration could potentially result in the construction of a second bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Interstate 280 approximately one half mile from the Don Burnett Bicycle and Footbridge along the Mary Avenue corridor that was completed in 2009 at a cost to taxpayers of approximately $15 million. Citizens for Responsible Trails believes that public employees and elected officials should be exceedingly judicious in the allocation of taxpayer funds to public works projects such as the Stevens Creek Trail.

Utilize Existing Infrastructure - Whenever possible, public employees and elected officials should seek to incorporate existing infrastructure to accomplish the objectives of a public works program. Citizens for Responsible Trails believes that existing, not potentially feasible, routes should be considered the default options for the Stevens Creek Trail, and that routes requiring new investment, approval and construction should be given lesser consideration.    

Minimize New Impact - Any new route through an existing neighborhood, regardless of the merits of the route, will have an impact that will need to be studied and mitigated. Citizens for Responsible Trails takes the position that general public use trails should minimize impact on existing neighborhoods by utilizing existing, funded infrastructure whose impacts are well-understood.

Representatives of the group from the four cities impacted by the Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study will continue to monitor the progress of the working group and actively advocate a common sense approach regarding the Stevens Creek Trail issue to public employees, elected officials and fellow citizens. Members of the public are invited to contact the group for more information.

About Citizens for Responsible Trails

Citizens for Responsible Trails is a neighborhood advocacy group that was formed in response to the process surrounding the Stevens Creek Trail Joint Cities Feasibility Study. Citizens for Responsible Trails represents several neighborhood groups that formed to provide input into the process. Members of the group advocate a common sense approach regarding the Stevens Creek Trail issue to public employees, elected officials and fellow citizens. Find more information about Citizens for Responsible Trails at http://4citiesresponsibletrails.blogspot.com.

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About Us

Citizens for Responsible Trails is a neighborhood advocacy group that was formed in response to the process surrounding the Stevens Creek Trail Joint Cities Feasibility Study. Citizens for Responsible Trails represents several neighborhood groups that formed to provide input into the process. Members of the group advocate a common sense approach regarding the Stevens Creek Trail issue to public employees, elected officials and fellow citizens.