A newly completed section of Morgan Hill’s network of paved
bicycle and pedestrian paths will formally open with a community
celebration and refreshments this weekend.
Morgan Hill
A newly completed section of Morgan Hill’s network of paved bicycle and pedestrian paths will formally open with a community celebration and refreshments this weekend.
Part of the 2.5-mile West Little Llagas Creek Trail, the new segment spans parallel to the creek and La Jolla Drive, from Watsonville Road to La Crosse Drive. It connects with the existing segment of the pathway that goes from La Crosse Drive to Edes Court.
Jointly funded by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and the city of Morgan Hill, with assistance from state and federal grants, the trail is part of the city’s Bikeways Master Plan. The plan has a goal of building a series of trails that connect different areas of Morgan Hill.
Mayor Steve Tate said the city council has had a longtime goal of providing a bike and foot path along Little Llagas Creek as a way to promote recreation and to preserve flood control improvements made to the creek in recent years.
“It’s a natural coupling of passive recreation with a public facility that needs to be there,” Tate said.
Tate said he hopes the new segment will eventually connect with a path extending further south along the creek.
The new path is about 3/4 mile long, and includes a pedestrian bridge to facilitate creek crossing; a decomposed, “environmentally-friendly” rest area; and trees and shrubs watered by a drip irrigation system with solar powered controls, according to city Public Works Analyst Jay Jaso.
The trail cost about $890,000, with the city pitching in about $300,000. Remaining funding was provided by state and federal grants, Jaso said.
The next planned phase of the trail will go from Edes Court to Spring Avenue, and the city anticipates receiving grant funds up to $430,000 for that project by next year.
VTA spokeswoman Jennie Loft said the total cost of all four phases is about $1.5 million, with the VTA providing about $1.2 million, which includes money spent on previous trail segments. She said the funding comes from the Bicycle Expenditure Program adopted by the VTA board of directors in 2000.
“While VTA is best known as the county’s public transportation provider, it also serves as the area’s congestion management agency. As such, it funds community focused transportation options, including bike and pedestrian improvements,” Loft said.
The trail is located on property owned by the Santa Clara Valley Water District, which is in charge of maintaining the creek for flood control purposes. The district and the city participate in a “joint use agreement” that allows the city to use the property for community benefit, district spokeswoman Susan Siravo said. Plus, the water district has its own plan to assist in the construction of trails and paved paths on properties it owns throughout Santa Clara County.
Jaso noted the water district provided about $100,000 for previous path segments in Morgan Hill.
Also partnering in the project are the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Caltrans.
The grand opening and ribbon cutting will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, at the intersection of La Jolla Drive and Via Navona. Provided will be juice, coffee, and light refreshments. Officials from the city and other agencies involved will be present to speak and answer questions, and information on how to save water and be more eco-friendly will be distributed.
