Hwy 17 BPOC Project Background & History
Project Update 12-20-22
On November 15, 2022 the Town Council approved the Concrete Box Girder as the bridge type to move forward into the final design process for the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing. The updated project scheduled is now as follows:
As this project moves forward, and in order to avoid confusion with established acronyms, the acronym BPOC will no longer be used in reference to the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project. The address for this project page will now be www.losgatosca.gov/Hwy17BikePedOC.
Project Update 9-16-22
The Town is conducting a survey to receive community feedback on the three proposed bridge options for the project and would like to get your opinions. To participate in the survey, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Hwy17BPOC. The deadline to participate in the survey is Friday, October 7, 2022.
Project Update 6-16-22
Over the past months, the project team has conducted several pop-up events to raise awareness of the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing (BPOC) Project and to solicit feedback from the community. Events held at Spring Into the Green, the Los Gatos Farmer's Market, and along the Los Gatos Creek Trail have resulted in the collection of valuable community input and feedback for the project. Continuing in this effort, a second on-line community has been scheduled for the evening of June 29th from 6-7:30 pm to present updated project information and estimates and to continue the process of determining community preference for a bridge type. We hope you will be able to join us for this important meeting:
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Jun 29, 2022 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Topic: TLG Hwy. 17 BPOC Workshop #2
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://losgatosca-gov.zoom.us/j/85789956612
Additionally, as part of the continuing community engagement process, two project site signs are anticipated to be installed on the south side of Blossom Hill Road near the Highway 17 overcrossing in the coming weeks. The project site signs provide general information about the proposed project and are anticipated to remain at the project site until the start of construction.
Project Update 05-01-22
On Wednesday, April 20, Town and BKF Engineers staff hosted a pop-up booth on the Los Gatos Creek Trail near Roberts Road West. Another booth was hosted at the Spring into Green event April 24. The booths displayed two informational boards presenting key information on the project and renderings of three potential bridge types. Members of the public were invited to express their level of support for each bridge type using stickers.
Over 60 people stopped by the booth on the trail and over 70 visited at Spring into Green, with different levels of project awareness. The project team received a lot of positive feedback and general support for the project and the bridge options. There was a wide variety of comments with themes of cost and funding sources, timelines, construction impacts, sustainability, and architectural features, specifically with regard to the color and aesthetic considerations of the steel bridge options. These pop-up booth events were promoted on the project webpage, through the Notify Me! System, the Town’s What’s New newsletter, and on social media including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Project Update 03-24-22
Please visit the project booth at the Los Gatos Farmer's Market in Park Plaza this Sunday, March 27th between 9am - 1pm. Look for the colorful displays of the potential bridge types and share your views with us.
Project team members will be there to collect your views, answer your questions, and provide information regarding the project development process. We hope to see you there!
Project Update 12-06-21
Thank you to those who attended the Community meeting/workshop on Thursday, December 2. The presentation has been uploaded and can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
Click here to view the Workshop #1 PowerPoint
Project Update 11-03-21 Community Meeting Notice
Highway 17 Bicycle & Pedestrian Overcrossing Community Meeting
Dec 2, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://losgatosca-gov.zoom.us/j/89820426798
- Or Telephone:
- USA 215 446 3657 US Toll
- USA 888 363 4735 US Toll-free
- Conference code: 160548
Project Update 09-30-21
Several new project information documents are being posted to the project page. These include a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), an updated project schedule, and the Town Council approved Community Engagement Plan for the project.
FAQ
The FAQs have been compiled from the various outreach activities conducted to date and provide background information on the project.
BPOC Community Engagement Plan
Click here to view the Community Engagement Plan
Schedule
Click here to view the updated schedule
The updated schedule shows the four project phases anticipated for this project as follows:
- Phase 1 – Caltrans Project Initiation Document
- Phase 2 – Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Review
- Phase 3 – Final Design (PS&E)
- Phase 4 – Construction – pending funding approval
The Town is currently in Phase 1 of the project development process and is beginning coordination efforts with Caltrans. Preliminary design features (bridge and pathway location, look, and limits) will begin to be developed during Phase 2 of the process. Environmental review of the proposed improvements will also be evaluated during Phase 2. Final design details will be developed toward the end of the project development process in Phase 3, once preliminary designs have been environmentally approved. The Town intends to solicit the community’s input throughout the entire process.
Preliminary information regarding project design concepts such as bridge width, height, location, bicycle and pedestrian connectivity/circulation, etc. can be found in the 2020 Feasibility Study. Project design details beyond those currently documented in the Feasibility Study are unavailable in this early phase of the project and will be developed with community and stakeholder input in forthcoming phases of the project.
We encourage interested parties to subscribe to the “Notify Me” service (for Connect Los Gatos) located on the project page to stay informed about the project, planned workshops and other public events and opportunities to provide feedback/input on the project's proposed design features.
9-15-21 Update:
Survey Work Near Blossom Hill Road
In early September, professional survey crews from BKF Engineers started the very preliminary site survey work necessary to gather data for the BPOC project in the vicinity of Blossom Hill Road between Roberts Road West and Roberts Road East. The crews will return to the area intermittently as the project continues to gather the necessary data. During September, the crews will be conducting the survey work on the Blossom Hill Road sidewalk and adjacent areas but will not be working in the roadway and will not be affecting vehicular traffic lanes. The work hours are 8:30 a.m to 5:00 p.m and the crew has been advised of the times when high pedestrian and bicycle volumes are anticipated along this corridor to avoid impacts to the users.
09-08-21 Update:
On Thursday morning, September 9, 2021 at 7:30 am, the Complete Streets and Transportation Commission (CSTC) will receive a status report on the community engagement implementation plan for the first phase of the Highway 17 BPOC project. The report will be a part of the regularly scheduled CSTC virtual meeting. The full CSTC agenda, including the Highway 17 BPOC status report and instructions for how to participate in the virtual meeting can be viewed at: https://www.losgatosca.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09092021-1944
The first phase of the Highway 17 BPOC project includes the preparation of the Caltrans Project Initiation Document as well as workshops and outreach with the community and project stakeholders to determine preferences regarding the type and general look of the proposed bridge.
7-1-21 Update: Project Factsheet
5-28-21 Update:
After a comprehensive consultant selection process, the firm of BKF Engineers has been selected to complete the design of the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project. The project will require close coordination with Caltrans, the Los Gatos community, Town Council, Complete Streets and Transportation Commission, and other project stakeholders. The project design is anticipated to be completed in approximately 2 ½ years, in early 2024.
A major first step in the design process will be the determination of the type of bridge structure, concrete box girder or streel truss, to move forward into design. The consultant will begin preparation of drawings to show potential concrete and steel truss bridge alternatives for review and consideration this summer/fall. A community meetings and presentation to the Complete Streets and Transportation Commission will be held to obtain feedback on the bridge options prior to Council making a final decision on the bridge type. Notification of the Community Meeting will be posted on this project page as well as on the Town's social media sites.
Should you have questions regarding the project, please feel free to e-mail Michelle Quinney, Special Project Manager, at MQuinney@LosGatosCA.gov.
12-22-20 Update:
An Addendum to the Request for Proposals has been posted to the Town's RFP website. The date for submittals of the RFP has been extended via the Addendum.
12-9-2020 Update:
The Town has recently released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for professional engineering consultants to assist with the development of the project. The RFP can be found on the Towns RFP page at https://www.losgatosca.gov/PPW_RFP_RFQ. The proposal review and consultant selection process will take place in January/February 2021 and it is anticipated a consultant could be on board in March/April 2021.
Project Update
On December 1, 2020, the Town Council approved several actions associated with the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing project. The actions include accepting the Measure B grant of $2.75 million, authorizing the release of a Request for Proposals for engineering design, and approving a Community Engagement Plan. The design work will begin in early 2021 and will be completed in 2023. Throughout the design phase, there will be additional opportunities for the Town Council and the public to provide input. Please stay in touch with this project by visiting this webpage. The Town welcomes your involvement in making Los Gatos a more bike and pedestrian friendly community!
The Town Council has approved the feasibility study for the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project. This motion allows staff to proceed with exploring design options and detailed engineering work, such as a final bridge structure, bridge width, and environmental clearance. It also supports the Town's staff ability to pursue future grant applications for construction dollars.
The Town Council action included the following key design elements:
- A separate bridge structure for bicyclists and pedestrians
- Preferred alignment south of Blossom Hill Road Bridge
- Bridge width between 16 and 20 feet
- Three bridge type options for further evaluation: concrete, steel truss, and steel arch
Feasibility Study for the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project
Please view the Project Video to hear what people say about this project!
- Click here to view the design concept of the Bicycle & Pedestrian Overcrossing
- Community Engagement Activities Report
Project Background
The Town of Los Gatos has prepared a Feasibility Study to evaluate options to improve safety and connections for bicyclists and pedestrians crossing Highway 17 near Blossom Hill Road. This phase of the project evaluates three alignment alternatives and provide conceptual design of these alternatives. The Town is actively pursuing funding for the final design and construction of the preferred alternative.
Project Goals
- Improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and comfort across Highway 17
- Improve safe biking and walking routes to school
- Promote more biking and walking trips