Extension of Stevens Creek Trail Begins

With sustainability and healthy lifestyles as goals, many residents arrived by bike, bus or foot to partake in Saturday's groundbreaking ceremony of the .

The trail used by many cyclists, runners and pedestrians will now extend more than four miles from its start at . According to the city, the extension, which will run from the Sleeper Avenue neighborhood access point over Highway 85 to a landing area at the intersection of Dale Avenue and Heatherstone Way, will increase access to the primary segment of Stevens Creek Trail.

“This is just a wonderfully used piece of land we have, and now we’re opening it up to others,” Mayor Jac Siegel said, adding that people already use the trail to get to work, to bike, to walk or just for recreation with their family.

More that $1.7 million in state and regional grants will finance a large share of the construction cost, including an $800,000 River Parkways grant from the California Natural Resources Agency, according to the press release.

“This is a beautiful recreation place,” said Brian Schmidt, Santa Clara Valley Water District board member. “This is an important pedestrian connection between east and west Mountain View, which has been divided by the highway since the 1960s.”

Barry Burr, a local cyclist, said that as the trail keeps getting extended, “we’re just knocking on more doors. Now we’re knocking on Sunnyvale’s doors. This will even open the doors to transit money."

People will use the route because it is safe and fast, said Burr, who is very interested in the trails and bicycle safety.

City council members, , , City Manager , and other key figures in the development of the project attended the ceremony.

Duggan said construction will likely be complete a year from now, in March 2012.