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Heated debate in Sunnyvale over Hollenbeck bike-lane options as staff rolls out ATP map
Summary
Residents and cyclists clashed over three Hollenbeck Avenue options while the city unveiled a beta Active Transportation Plan map; supporters urged buffered bike lanes (Option 1) for safety, opponents warned of lost parking, school drop-off congestion and impacts on elderly residents.
An extended public debate over Hollenbeck Avenue bike-lane options dominated oral comments at Sunnyvale City Hall on Tuesday, as public works staff used a study session to demo a beta Active Transportation Plan (ATP) map that tracks built bikeways and proposed projects.
Residents opposed to removing on-street parking said the Hollenbeck study didn't adequately capture school drop-off congestion, event parking near Challenger Park, or the narrowness of sections near triplexes and care facilities. "The proposed removal of the street parking on Hollenbeck will negatively affect safety, daily convenience, property value, and quality of life for all the residents," one commenter said.
Supporters of the city's staff-preferred approach urged the council to adopt Option 1'buffered bike lanes that would enable future traffic-calming devices and potential upgrades to protected lanes. "Option 1 is the only option that has a buffer," a Safe-Routes advocate told council, adding the buffer would let the city implement curb extensions and chicanes to lower vehicle speeds.
Public Works presented a new, publicly accessible ATP map that displays bikeways built before 2020, projects completed since adoption, and a statistics tab for miles installed. Jose, the city's new Active Transportation Planner, said the map is a beta "living document" and staff will add pedestrian and Safe Routes to School layers, planning/design/construct status fields, and ADA accessibility updates.
Councilmembers asked for added features: overlays that show existing and proposed facilities together, filters by facility class, Safe Routes to School project pages, and an accessibility-compliant version of the tool. Staff said it will pursue grant funding for wayfinding and coordinate with VTA standards and the city's street-sweeping program to support future class 4 protected lanes.
No formal vote was taken on Hollenbeck design at Tuesday's meeting. Council and staff signaled the project will continue through the ATP process with additional community outreach, pedestrian crossing upgrades, and traffic-calming measures as warranted.
