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Staff outlines Pierce–Cleveland path connector concept, flags Caltrans right‑of‑way hurdles
Summary
City staff presented conceptual designs for the Pierce–Cleveland path connector, describing it as a gap closure that will improve park and Bay Trail access but requires Caltrans encroachment approvals and several technical studies before funding or construction.
City staff presented a conceptual design and outreach summary for the Pierce–Cleveland (Piercy) path connector, a gap‑closure project that would extend a shared‑use path into and through Pierce Street Park and connect to existing segments constructed under private development.
Allison Carrillo, the city’s capital improvement program manager, said the project is already the subject of earlier planning and a Metropolitan Transportation Commission climate program implementation grant that provides technical assistance and seed funding for conceptual work. "This is the gap closure... we are engaging with Caltrans and looking to go through freeway right of way and get an easement from Caltrans," she said, describing the need for detailed Caltrans reports and encroachment approvals.
Staff explained key civil and jurisdictional challenges: a Caltrans access‑control fence across city property, steep embankments and switchbacks required to meet ADA grades, drainage and utility constraints, and limited width in the northern corridor segment. To maximize programmable park space and improve user comfort next to the freeway, staff presented alternative alignments that either separate a pedestrian circulation path from the primary shared‑use route or combine them where space is constrained.
Commissioners and attendees urged separating pedestrians and bicyclists where feasible, meandering straight downhill sections to limit cyclist speeds, and adding vegetative screening or concrete/fence barriers as required by Caltrans for safety and comfort. Staff said switchback sections currently include an 8‑foot constructed segment; proposed refinements would widen the remaining segments to 10 feet and up to 12 feet where flat alignment allows.
Next steps include advancing conceptual cross sections and renderings under the technical assistance grant, beginning the Caltrans encroachment reporting process, and preparing grant applications for further design and construction phases.
