Sunnyvale staff outlines Bernardo Avenue study, eyes Class II buffered bike lane and returns with concepts in fall

A City of Sunnyvale transportation staff member presented initial findings from a traffic study of Bernardo Avenue and Brookfield Avenue on Thursday, outlining options to add a Class II buffered bike lane and noting several safety and visibility concerns at nearby side-street intersections.

The presentation said Bernardo Avenue is posted at 30 mph and that speed counts found typical travel speeds of about 35 mph along the corridor. Staff also reported the highest pedestrian and bicycle activity occurred during weekday evening peak hours at the Brookfield intersection.

The study team told attendees the city’s active transportation plan calls for Class II buffered bike lanes along Bernardo Avenue and that the consultant team will look for opportunities to implement those buffered lanes alongside other corridor improvements to improve connectivity to El Camino Real, Heatherton Way and nearby neighborhoods.

Staff described several field conditions the team observed. Left turns from Blair Avenue are constrained by limited sight lines at the corner, and the geometric curve at Brookfield Avenue similarly reduces visibility for drivers trying to look for oncoming traffic. The presentation also noted locations where the street gutter bisects the bike lane, creating an uneven surface that could challenge cyclists.

"That survey will be closing today at midnight," the staff member said, urging anyone who had not yet given feedback to use the online survey. The staff member gave contact information for further input: an email address (awong@sunnyvale.ca.gov) and a phone number, (408) 730-7579.

Staff said the project web page on Sunnyvale.ca.gov hosts the survey and project documents and that interested residents can subscribe to email alerts for updates. After the comment period closes, the team will develop design concepts and share them with the community in a future meeting, likely in the fall, either via Zoom or a hybrid format.

No formal actions or votes were taken during the presentation portion of the meeting. The presentation was framed as an information and feedback session; staff said they will return with concept designs after digesting survey responses and other input.

For more information or to sign up for notifications, staff directed people to Sunnyvale.ca.gov and the city’s transportation projects page, and encouraged residents to search for "Bernardo Brookfield traffic study."