The Sunnyvale Sun

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City council approves Hendy fence access

By JASON GOLDMAN-HALL

Over the years, Sunnyvale City Council members have quoted world leaders, past presidents and writers, but May 9 may have been the first time anyone drew from space, the final frontier.

The variety of opinions about the fence that prevents Heritage District neighborhood residents from easily accessing the Sunnyvale Caltrain station had a number of residents and council members quoting Star Trek's Spock: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

The many at the May 9 meeting wanted the fence--just south of the intersection of Hendy and Frances avenues--reopened so neighbors have a direct line to the train platform. More than 50 residents showed support for a new access point by waving and flapping green signs whenever a speaker said something they agreed with.

Resident Dave Whittum said in addition to providing a convenient access point for the neighborhood, quick access to the train station could mean more people will choose to use public transportation instead of driving to work and using expensive, polluting gas.

The few had concerns about parking, trash and crime that can come with such an easy access to their neighborhood.

"Since the hole access has been closed, our street has been quiet, clean and calm," said Frances Avenue resident Melinda Cook.

Threat of suit closes hole for good

The hole was closed for the final time recently in response to an Americans with Disabilities Act claim filed against Caltrain. Chuck Harvey, chief operations officer, has said repeatedly the very act residents took to try get the fence re-opened is what prevents it from being re-opened. Since legal action has been threatened, Harvey said he is forced by law to keep it closed until a formal improvement project is done.

The council voted to authorize staff to "make it so," and begin planning a paved, graded access ramp for the neighborhood. Transportation and traffic manager Jack Witthaus said it could take as much as six months to complete the project because funding for everything but design still needs to be found.

To deal with the trash and traffic problems, the council also authorized the installation of traffic-calming measures and trash cans that will be picked up along with the rest of the neighborhood's waste.

Councilman Tony Spitaleri also asked for a traffic study to be done when the access is built to determine whether further stop signs, speed bumps or other traffic-calming methods are needed.

Back when

There used to be three ways to get to the train station--parallel to Evelyn Avenue--from the northern neighborhood. Residents could walk over the four sets of tracks at Sunnyvale Avenue, walk over the Mathilda overcrossing or go through the sometimes-closed hole in the fence.

Because the overcrossing has a narrow sidewalk and no guardrails, it can be treacherous to walkers or people in wheelchairs or with strollers. Those same wheelchairs and strollers can also get stuck in the train tracks at the Sunnyvale Avenue crossing.

For many, the fence access‚ which is usually a hole in the fence large enough for several people or a small car to pass through, was the safest, quickest way to get to the station or the downtown area.

"If I had a dollar for every time someone came to me and said 'We need access of the north side,' or 'We need access on the northwest side,' we could all go out for pizza," said Sunnyvale Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee member Thom Mayer.

For more on the neighborhood's efforts regarding the fence, visit www.hendyaccess.info.