Alex Sabo, Author at Bay Area Ridge Trail

Bailey Avenue Trail Overcrossing

The Project: The Bailey Avenue Trail Overcrossing is a proposed 0.8-mile Class I Trail connection along the existing Bailey Avenue overcrossing of Monterey Road, U.S. 101, the high speed rail corridor, and the Coyote Creek Trail. This design leverages existing, under-utilized road infrastructure by reducing one traffic lane on the north side of the Bailey Avenue and converting it into a separated Class I trail.

The Benefits: After 30 years of planning, study, and partner coordination, the Bailey Avenue Trail Overcrossing has been identified as the optimal connection, the linchpin, for a 40-mile continuous stretch of Ridge Trail and the connection between Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve to Santa Teresa County Park. The creation of a safe trail crossing in this location will not only close a gap for trail users to cross Coyote Valley, but it will also has the potential to aid wildlife crossing between Coyote Creek and Coyote Ridge.

Funding Need: $286,000 is needed to complete the design and engineering of this project.

How Can You Help: You can join our South Bay Trail Advocacy Group by emailing advocacy@ridgetrail.org to support trail development in the South Bay. Additionally, you can donate to the Trail Opportunity Fund to help us fund important projects like this!

Download the Summary Reports Here:
Bailey Avenue Class I Trail Overcrossing: Phase I Design Summary (2020-2022)
Bailey Avenue Trail Crossing-Pathways for Wildlife Comments (2022)
North Coyote Valley Ridge Trail Feasibility Study (2017-2020)

North Coyote Valley Route Study

What: The Ridge Trail is working to connect the eastern and western stretches of the Ridge Trail through a critical gap in Coyote Valley, just south of San José. In March 2021 we kicked off the redesign of the Bailey Avenue overpasses. This project will design a separated trail along the existing Bailey Avenue overpasses and connect Coyote Ridge Open Space to the Coyote Valley Conservation Areas. This project was identified in our North Coyote Valley Ridge Trail Route Feasibility Study, published in November 2020. By using existing infrastructure, we can protect natural resources and minimize the trail impact in this critical wildlife corridor – a win-win for conservation and public access!

North Coyote Feasibility Study Results – Map of Potential Ridge Trail Route

Download the North Coyote Valley Ridge Trail Feasibility Study here.

Why: Coyote Valley is considered one of the most important conservation areas in the country as it is a critical link for wildlife and water between the two biodiversity hot spots of Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range. Partners in the area are conserving large swaths of land, most notably the acquisition and expansion of the Coyote Valley Conservation Area by the City of San José, the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) and the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (OSA).

In the past several years significant progress has been made to connect the Ridge Trail in Santa Clara County. When the Ridge Trail is completed through Coyote Valley, you will be able to travel on uninterrupted trail from Santa Teresa County Park in San José, through Almaden Quicksilver County Park, and all the way up to Mount Umunhum in Sierra Azul Preserve.

Funding need: This is a complex multi-phase project and we are currently seeking additional funding for design, environmental review, permitting and construction of connections along Bailey Avenue across U.S. 101.

Voice Your Support: OSA is beginning the master planning process to determine how this land will be conserved and what kinds of access will be allowed. Now is the time to advocate for the Ridge Trail route to be included in the Coyote Valley Conservation Area Master Plan! This trail will serve as a critical linkage through the valley.

Highway 17 Wildlife and Trail Crossing

Help the Ridge Trail Solve Complex Crossings like Highway 17!
Have you ever driven Highway 17 and thought it was harrowing? Now imagine you are a hiker, biker or mountain lion. Help us provide safe crossings for outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife, which will connect over 30,000 acres of protected public lands on both sides of Highway 17 and create over 50 continuous miles of Ridge Trail. And Highway 17 is not the only complex crossing along the planned trail route. As the Ridge Trail proceeds to completion, some of our biggest obstacles will be complex and expensive crossings such as Highways 92, 35, 4, 680 and the railroads at Niles Canyon Road.

Why:
This is a critical gap for both wildlife and regional trails. The Ridge Trail believes that both wildlife and humans are important trail users and that careful and balanced planning will create the most elegant solution. Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) reached out to the Ridge Trail Council to rally trail advocates and to help fundraise to complete the crossing and the trail connections leading up to the crossing. Make sure to sign up for Midpen project updates here.

Current Status (as of July 2021):
This project is currently in the Environmental Review and Caltrans Project Report Phase, with Midpen preparation of the Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) underway. This project also just received $2 million in funding to complete the Design (Plans, Specifications and Estimates) Phase through the most recent State budget, thanks to a proposal from Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose). Learn more about the project timeline and funding status here.

Funding need:
Funding is still needed for the construction phase of this project, and to support the Ridge Trail’s work attending meetings, reviewing planning documents, and organizing community members and volunteers to advocate for this important regional trail connection. To support our work on this project, you can make a donation here. Thank you for helping us to make this vital connection for wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts a reality!

Connecting Mt. Sutro to Golden Gate Park

Mt Sutro to the Phil Arnold Trail in Golden Gate Park is scheduled to open in April 2020!

What: This spring, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and Ridge Trail will dedicate the next stretch of trail from Mt Sutro along Stanyan Road and through Golden Gate Park, also known as the “Stanyan Edge.” The opening will occur during the park’s 150th anniversary year and will complete another critical connection in the San Francisco Reroute that leaves only the stretch over the iconic Twin Peaks to Mt Sutro section left to be built.

Why: In 2019, the Ridge Trail dedicated a beautiful section the winds its way through the beautiful ancient Oak Woodlands in Golden Gate Park and was named the Phil Arnold Trail after our former Board President. This was the second dedication along the San Francisco Reroute, after Mt Sutro Open Space Preserve, that shifts that Ridge Trail alignment from City streets and sidewalks to the iconic parks and opens spaces.

Funding need: $1M is still needed for the Twin Peaks Promenade redevelopment and connection of Twin Peaks to Mount Sutro for trail construction and hazardous tree removal.

Ridge Trail Sign Survey and Update

COMPLETED – Over 350 miles of new Ridge Trail signs updated! Only 100 more miles to go!

Why: In 2017, the Ridge Trail adopted the new trail sign design and in 2018 they set the goal to install the new signs along 200 miles of trail!

What: With the support of volunteers, partner agencies and our sign intern Fabio, we have signed over 350 miles of trail in 2018 (NOTE: Approximately 70 miles are access and connector trails)! In less than five months, Fabio biked over 500 miles and hiked over 60 miles to replace almost 700 unique sign locations on over 200 miles of Ridge Trail throughout the Bay Area. We still have around 100 more miles of primary Ridge Trail to go to complete all of the dedicated miles! We plan to complete this effort with the help of volunteers and partner agencies.

Funding need: Although we are getting very close to completing the trail “blazes” there is an ongoing funding need to maintain, replace and install new interpretive and map signs that will help orient and educate trail users about the Ridge Trail and other site specific information. We hope you can support this ongoing effort!