Access to Rancho San Antonio Park from Stevens Creek Boulevard
Don Burnett
History: In the Mid 1990's the City of Cupertino accepted an offer from
the Catholic Diocese of San Jose to exchange 138 acres of diocese land
for increased development on the remaining land, the Oak Valley
development. At the time, one of the promised benefits to the citizens
of Cupertino was access to the park from Stevens Creek Boulevard. This
was one of my main reasons as a city councilmember for voting to accept
this offer. It was a 3-2 vote in favor so my vote was essential.
Since then, access has not been provided in spite of the construction
of
a paved path that could provide access to the park except for a locked
gate at the UP Railroad tracks. This gate is open to the resident of
the Snyder-Hammond house and the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In addition a
small group of equestrians has been provided with access through a
different locked gate used for PG&E access.
The reason given for this situation is that the railroad has refused to
open the gate on the grounds that they cannot be allowed to create
another grade crossing in California.
Arguments:
This should not be used to block this access. This track is used at
most twice a day by slow moving trains. Perhaps the Public Utilities
Commission could help remedy this.
Another objection that has been made to providing this access is the
presence of traffic on Stevens Creek Boulevard from the cement plan and
quarry. However, this traffic is light and moves at 25 miles per hour.
This is part of a long standing agreement between the plant operators
and the City. This road is much safer than Foothill Boulevard which is
the alternative.
Benefits of access:
Adjacent neighbors in Cupertino could easily walk to the park.
For Stevens Creek Trail purposes this provides the best connection from
the planned terminus at Mountain View High School to the next section
of
trail on the creek between Stevens Creek Boulevard and McClellan Road
in Cupertino. The alternatives involve either arterial streets or
access through Varian Park in Cupertino and a dangerous crossing of
Stevens Creek Boulevard on the steep hill leading down to the Creek..
For bicyclists this access would allow much safer travel from the West
Valley to the peninsula. It would avoid a busy high speed section of
Foothill Boulevard and a difficult interchange with I 280.