The Sunnyvale Sun
News
Mary Avenue Bridge project focus of parents' discussion
By Cody Kraatz
After the morning assembly on Oct. 19, Cherry Chase Elementary School principal Erica Tukeman-Gilbert introduced about 30 parents to Jack Witthaus, Sunnyvale transportation and traffic manager, for a coffee talk on the Mary Avenue extension project.
Some parents asked Witthaus to explain alternatives to the project and justify the city's traffic projections.
"My main concern is schools," said Anne Cepeda, a Cherry Chase parent and Sunnyvale West Neighborhood Association member worried about an increase in traffic.
The SWNA formed this year, largely to oppose the proposed extension, and has circulated a 1,000-signature petition against it.
The proposed project calls for a half-mile, four-lane bridge with bike lanes from the northern end of Mary Avenue over Highway 101 and State Route 237 to 11th Avenue. Half the $55 million bill would come from impact fees charged to developers, and the rest from federal and state grants.
Witthaus described the extension as a way to meet the significant challenge of getting workers in and out of Moffett Park, a city priority because job creation brings funds into city coffers.
"That's the city's primary job center," he said. "A lot of people travel through the city...to get to those jobs."
The traffic is primarily north-south, and as office space increases with such developments as the seven-building Moffett Towers, so will transportation demands, said Witthaus, adding that State Route 237 and Highway 101 are obstacles.
Many have expressed concern about the dangers of more traffic on Mary Avenue, which the draft EIR indicates will be substantial with or without the extension. Some are interested in further discussion about traffic safety in the corridor.
"I think one of the concerns is children getting to high school now and in later years. If Mary is a busier street with bike lanes on it, it seems like the chances of accidents will increase," said Shirley Frantz, the PTA president, who invited Witthaus.
"Some children who go to Cherry Chase cross Mary Avenue on the other side of Remington."
The makeup of the city council could be very different after the Nov. 6 elections, in which three of four incumbents are opposed in their re-election bids. Some hope the challengers will make a better decision, but others think the current council can make the right move.
"The majority of the candidates are open to discussion and change. It's not a done deal," said Trish Guerrieri, a Cherry Chase parent and SWNA member, referring to an Oct. 15 SWNA-sponsored candidates forum. She said voters are looking for a more balanced understanding of the proposal, rather than one-sided statements, to know if the bridge project is going in the right direction.
"If they go ahead with the plans for the bridge as it is proposed now, I'm opposed to it," said Guerrieri, who also threw out the idea of blocking through traffic at Central Expressway.
To view the draft EIR or comment, go to MaryAvenue.inSunnyvale.com or write to the Division of Transportation and Traffic at 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086.
