Sunnyvale presented refined route options and next steps for a proposed East Channel Trail in a Phase 2 virtual open house, while stressing that the study only produces a concept and implementation strategy and that construction funding has not yet been identified.

Project manager Esther Jung, City of Sunnyvale traffic engineer, and consultant Jeffrey Knowles of Alta Planning and Design outlined a corridor that would run from Homestead Road near the Cupertino–Sunnyvale border north to the San Francisco Bay Trail for about 5.5 miles, largely along the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s East Channel maintenance road. "We will get into that in just a moment. Thank you for joining us for our community meeting in phase 2 for the East Channel Trail Study in Sunnyvale," said Ivana Rosas, outreach lead for Winter Consulting, at the start of the presentation.

The study, which the presenters said was identified as a priority in an August 2020 transportation plan and funded in earlier phases through VTA Measure B and a Google donation, aims to select a feasible route, evaluate crossings, estimate costs, and produce a phasing and operations plan for City Council consideration. Knowles said Alta was contracted in June 2024 to lead technical work on the study.

Why it matters: the corridor could provide a continuous north–south walking and bicycling connection where none exists today and would link parks, schools and other destinations. But speakers emphasized significant engineering and jurisdictional challenges: crossings of El Camino Real (State Route 82), Caltrain, Central Expressway, US‑101 and Highway 237; segments where the city lacks right of way; PG&E high‑voltage lines; and localized erosion. The team noted other South Bay projects as precedents — Permanente Creek Trail, Reginald Creek Trail and San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail — for approaches to crossings and corridor design.

Valley Water’s role: the Santa Clara Valley Water District (commonly called Valley Water) is on the technical advisory committee and, according to presenters, has given the project the green light to proceed through study. "They are a central key member of this study," Knowles said in response to a public question; team members added Valley Water will evaluate designs to ensure the channel’s flood‑protection function and continued maintenance‑vehicle access. Esther Jung said Valley Water’s separate flood‑protection work includes paving portions of the channel from the Bay Trail to near US‑101, but that those works do not include crossing improvements.

Public concerns and study responses: organizers summarized phase‑1 outreach — 323 tabling contacts, 52 people at three public meetings, 68 participants in site walkshops and 1,142 survey responses — and reported common themes from respondents: a desire for a direct, ADA‑compliant, connected trail; environmental protections for wildlife habitat; adjacent residents’ privacy and requests for fencing; safety measures (separation from vehicles, signage and lighting); and long‑term maintenance and management. During Q&A, residents raised questions about separation of pedestrians and bicycles and management of fast e‑bikes; the team said segregation where space allows, signage, posted speed guidance and other design features would be evaluated.

Next steps and timing: the study team said it expects to complete Phase 2 (refining alternatives and starting concept design) this winter and to finish a draft plan in Phase 3 for City Council review (the study does not secure construction funding). The project team invited further input: the online survey is open through Nov. 21 and a mobile walkshop is scheduled for Nov. 1 on a Duane–Blythe segment; comments can also be sent to info@eastchanneltrail.org and the project webpage.

What’s not decided: presenters emphasized the study is informational and that "it is not a done deal." Any move to engineering, environmental clearance or construction would require City Council action and separate funding. Esther Jung said council members have attended outreach events and the project is likely to be advanced in segments to make phased funding and delivery more feasible.

For residents: the team encouraged continued participation in open‑house stations on crossings, route barriers and operations/maintenance and said materials and the presentation will be posted to the city project page.