Sunnyvale launches East Channel Trail study to map nearly 6-mile north–south path; no construction funding yet

Sunnyvale city staff and consultants on Thursday introduced a formal study to plan the East Channel Trail, a nearly 6-mile north–south bicycle and pedestrian route that would run along the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s East Channel maintenance road and connect the San Francisco Bay Trail to Homestead Road.

The study, presented by Kevin Chen, senior traffic engineer with the City of Sunnyvale, and Jeff Knowles, project manager with Alta Planning and Design, will map alternatives, analyze crossings and rights-of-way, and develop a concept plan for City Council review. "Nothing is going to be constructed at the end of the study, but it will help the city better be prepared for future rounds of funding, design, and permitting along with what it needs to do for construction," Knowles said.

Why it matters: the trail is identified in Sunnyvale’s 2020 transportation plan and would link parks, schools and transit centers across the city. Passable alignments and major crossings — including El Camino Real, Central Expressway, Highway 101, the Caltrain corridor and Tasman Drive (with VTA light rail) — present technical, property and safety constraints that will determine whether the trail can be co-located on Valley Water’s maintenance road or must use on-street detours.

Study scope and schedule - The study will evaluate which side of the East Channel is feasible for a shared-use path, how it would cross roads and rail lines, and where on-road alternatives are required. It will also identify infrastructure needs, maintenance responsibilities and funding paths. Chen said the project is a city priority for building a lower-stress north–south bike network. - Schedule presented by Alta: Phase 1…