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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