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Friends of GRPG will be working with the City and other agencies to carefully track the progress of each project and to ensure that any inconvenience during construction is kept to a minimum. The good news is that, once these projects are completed, trail detours through the park will be eliminated and people using the park will enjoy a safer, more pleasant experience!

Coleman Avenue Bridge Project

CLOSURE NOTICE

Click here or on the image to the left to view a full size detour map. (.7 MB .pdf file)

The Guadalupe River Trail will have a detour installed during Summer 2008. The detour will be south of Coleman Avenue.

The detour will permit continued use of the trail, but also allow for closure of the east bank under-crossing so seismic retrofit work can be performed on the roadway bridge.

After bridge work is completed, the east bank under-crossing will be reopened and a new under-crossing will accessible along the west bank.

This new under-crossing will permit trail users to travel beneath the roadway and no longer require that they return to street level.

Please visit the Trail Program website for information about this project and other trails in the City’s growing Trail Network.

www.sjparks.org/trails

New Signs
The Friends continue to work with the City of San Jose and the Redevelopment Agency to improve signage along the trails – both permanent signs to indicate how to follow the continuous trail as well as ones with information about temporary trail closures.  New signage to help people get through the tricky area at the Coleman Bridge was just installed.

Trails Center
We currently have a dozen or so people stop by the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens (GRPG) Visitor Center at 438 Coleman Ave. every day seeking information and expect many more when the trail through downtown re-opens in late October (when VTA’s widening of Highway 87 between Park Avenue and Santa Clara St. wraps up). The Friends are currently working with the City of San Jose to establish a Trails Center in the Visitor Center lobby. Trail and park users can stop by to pick up maps and learn the latest on trail development throughout the city and county.

Enhanced Safety for Crosswalks
One of the goals of the Guadalupe River Park master plan was to incorporate a continuous trail system within the park so that bicyclists and pedestrians would not have to cross city streets. This goal was largely met, with Julian Street being one of the only places where the trail comes to grade and a street crossing will be required for some time. To ensure the safety and comfort of park users, the City of San Jose’s Transportation Department will be installing enhanced crosswalks at Julian Street, making them more visible to motorists.

Trail Connections and Updates Outside the Park

The following updates pertain to areas outside of the Guadalupe River that are not within the official park boundaries, but are still of great interest...

Guadalupe River Airport Parkway Under-Crossing (800 feet)

A master plan for the Lower Guadalupe River Trail System was completed in June 2005.  The 6.4 mile system extends from Highway 880 (current end of the Guadalupe River Park) to Gold Street in Alviso.  The plan envisions an interim alignment which will make use of existing Santa Clara Valley Water District maintenance roads.  From Gold Street, the trail will follow the east bank to Airport Parkway, at this point, the trail will transition to the east bank via a divided pedestrian facility on the existing bridge structure.  Following the east bank, the trail will join existing trails in the Guadalupe River Park. 

At this time, the City and Water District are defining the signage and other minor improvements required to formally permit public access on the maintenance road from Gold Street to Trimble Road, and from Skyport Drive to Highway 880.  The reach between Trimble Road and Skyport Drive will open after under-crossings are constructed at Highway 101 and Airport Parkway. Construction documents for both under-crossings are at the 90% design stage and should be completed by the end of 2006.  In recent years, cost of construction has increased dramatically to a spike in material and gasoline prices. The City at time is seeking additional funds to pay for the Airport Parkway project so that the construction contract can be bid late this year.  The Water District is funding the Highway 101 under-crossing and it appears to be on schedule for construction during the summer of 2006. 

In August 2005, President Bush signed the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).  The act provides $6,400,000 in funding for development of the Lower Guadalupe River Trail System. A schedule for the transfer of funds from the federal government to the City has yet to be determined.  The intent of the funding is to construct a paved trail with associated safety enhancements (call boxes, signage, etc) along the river.

Funds OK'd for key gap in Guadalupe River Trail, 12/6/06
By Janice Rombeck
Mercury News

Alignment Map
62 KB .pdf file
This is a low resolution file, printing is not recommended.

2006-2007 Annual Trails Report - City of San Jose
.pdf file, 906 KB
This is a low resolution file, printing is not recommended.

2005-2006 Annual Trails Report - City of San Jose
.pdf file, 474 KB
This is a low resolution file, printing is not recommended.

For more information about the City-wide trail system, please visit the following web site:
http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/trailsindex.asp

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