The effort is being spearheaded by Monte Sereno city officials, although leaders in Los Gatos, Saratoga and Santa Clara County are planning to lend their support since the road also runs through their communities.

Monte Sereno officials have applied for a bicycle project grant through the Valley Transportation Authority. The grant funding would assess and possibly implement a bike lane along Highway 9 that would offer adequate separation so users of the lane wouldn't be placed in hazardous situations close to moving vehicles.

City Manager Brian Loventhal said road improvements to the highway are expected to cost almost $1.7 million. The city has applied for a $1.4 million grant from VTA, leaving approximately $330,000 to be paid by the cities, other sources or private donors, he said. It's all still in the beginning stages.

"We would be willing to pitch in whatever our provider share is," he said. "These are very primary figures, just for the purposes of getting our grant submitted."

Highway 9 runs for about 4 miles from Los Gatos Boulevard to Saratoga Avenue and is maintained by the California Department of Transportation. Included in the grant application is an estimated $25,000 request for a feasibility study of the bicycle project, Loventhal said. VTA recently approved $15,000 of that amount. The total grant itself could be approved sometime next year, Loventhal said, and would go into effect in 2006, assuming VTA funds are available.

In a separate matter, this summer Caltrans has approached each of the jurisdictions through which Highway 9 runs to let them know the road will be repaved and restriped. Government officials are asking that during this process, the striping be evaluated to increase bicyclist and pedestrian safety.

"We're going to try to glean any of their engineering studies from this, so we don't have to do survey work ourselves," Loventhal said.

According to Loventhal, VTA officials have indicated Highway 9 has a potential bike lane that could connect Los Gatos to Saratoga, but Caltrans has not been interested in putting dollars toward making the improvements to create that ideal link.

"We've had a recent series of accidents, and that is obviously a concern to us and a concern to our community," Loventhal said.

Highway 9 has been the site of two fatal accidents within the past few months. In February, cyclist James Dein was hit and killed by a drunken driver who veered off the highway at Ridge Crest Avenue in Monte Sereno. Dein's cycling partner, Ted Aberg, was critically wounded in that incident.

Just three weeks ago, a pedestrian was killed in another automobile accident. Gina Loveday was crossing Highway 9 near Fruitvale Avenue when she was struck by a car. The driver of the vehicle reportedly did not see Loveday.

Loventhal said both accidents have motivated the community to take action. At an April 6 Monte Sereno council meeting, Mayor Erin Garner said he was committed to ensuring safety is improved.

"We are all motivated to try to increase the safety along Highway 9," Garner said. "It's scary. We are going to hold Caltrans' feet to the fire on this one, and unfortunately it takes a couple of deaths to bring it home for them."

Loventhal said he believes the grant will be approved for regional equity purposes. Monte Sereno hasn't asked for grant money from VTA in the past, and the agreement will affect more than one jurisdiction and potentially connect them all.

Los Gatos Parks and Public Works Director John Curtis said although town officials support the project, the town council still needs to take an official stance on the project through a vote. The matter has not been scheduled to appear before the council at this date.

Saratoga is also expected to join in the effort. Saratoga Public Works Director John Cherbone said that, while the Saratoga City Council has not discussed the issue either, he believes the city will support the improvements. If the grant is approved, the council will discuss how much money the city could contribute.

"My feeling is that these types of projects are good for the community," Cherbone said. "But funding is always a challenge."

Discussion of the hazards on Highway 9 is by no means new. Curtis said safety questions about the highway predate the two recent accidents.

"People are concerned," he said. "It's a high-speed country road."

Safety improvements may not be that easy to make on the Los Gatos stretch of Highway 9. Curtis said the town is built up on both sides of the road, leaving few undeveloped sides of the highway to expand bicycle and pedestrian lanes. Still, there are improvements that Caltrans could make, he added. The present bike lanes are not always of the right width and markings, something that the town may ask to change in the future.

Loventhal said city officials are also encouraging citizens to write letters to the city of Monte Sereno as well as to politicians with influence in dealing with Caltrans, such as Senator Bruce McPherson, Assemblywoman Rebecca Cohn and Assemblyman Joe Simitian.

"Hearing people's personal experiences and opinions is what is going to help convince policymakers that this is important," Loventhal said.

Reporters Nisha Ramachandran and Grant Shellen contributed to this story.