Highway 9 Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Improvement Project
(Updated April 2016)
The Highway 9 Safety Improvement Project is a multi-jurisdiction effort to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety along this busy route. The project area consists of approximately 4.4-mile long stretch of Highway 9 from Big Basin Way in Saratoga, through Monte Sereno to Los Gatos Boulevard in Los Gatos. Numerous accidents in recent years stressed the need for safety improvements.
It was in the public interest that Saratoga, Los Gatos, and Monte Sereno work together towards project completion. Staff from the three municipalities collaborated to develop a safety Master Plan. An ad hoc committee comprised of two Council Members from each jurisdiction was also formed to review the Master Plan and receive input from the public during numerous public meetings.
In parallel, the three jurisdictions are working on securing funding sources to construct this multi-million dollar project. Due to the overall project size and cost, phased approach is necessary.
Current Phase IV - pedestrian improvements. This phase includes additional pedestrian pathway along Highway 9 from Fruitvale Avenue to El Camino Grande in Saratoga and from Daves Avenue to Greenwood Road in Monte Sereno. Improvements also include curbs, short retaining walls, driveway modifications, drainage modifications, pedestrian crosswalk, signage and striping. The design is complete. Construction is anticipated to start in summer of 2016 completed by the end of this year.
Phase III (bicycle improvements) - completed.
Construction of Phase III started in June 2012 and was completed in October 2012. Ribbon-cutting ceremony was held October 19th at Austin Way. Improvements include:
- Austin Way intersection re-alignment - squaring Austin Way approaches on both sides, installation of raised medians on Austin Way and on Highway 9
- Coordination with Fire District and installation of Advance Fire Station warning lights
- Installation of a street light at the south approach of Austin Way
- Landscaping areas created by the new Austin Way intersection geometrics, trimming vegetation as needed
- Bicycle detection facilities at Fruitvale Avenue, Quito Road, North Santa Cruz Avenue and Los Gatos Boulevard
- Constructing a new through bike lane to separate through/right turn conflict at Los Gatos Boulevard which includes a low retaining wall.
Phase II (pedestrian improvements) - completed.
Construction of Phase II started in January 2013 and was completed in December 2013. Improvements include new or improved pedestrian walkways from Aloha Avenue to Three Oaks Way in Saratoga and from Grandview Avenue in Monte Sereno to Monte Sereno/Los Gatos City boundary. In addition, Phase II includes Flashing crosswalk at Mendelsohn Lane/ Three Oaks Way in Saratoga and minor improvements including driveways modification, drainage improvements, minor retaining walls, striping, and signage.
Phase I (bicycle improvements) - completed. More details below.
Project overview and history - project phases, funding, public meetings, presentations and fact sheets:
The Highway 9 Safety Improvements Project is a multi-jurisdiction effort to improve bicycle/pedestrian safety along this route. The project area consists of an approximately 4.4-mile long stretch of Highway 9 from Saratoga Avenue in Sarattoga, through Monte Serenoto Los Gatos Boulevard in Los Gatos.
It is in the public interest for all three agencies to work together as a reliable, timely, and cost effective means of completing this project. An ad hoc committee comprised of two Council Members from each jurisdiction was formed to receive input from the public during three public meetings. Based on the public and ad hoc committee input during these meetings staff from the three municipalities and engineering consultants from BKF Engineers collaborated to develop a safety Master Plan. The Master Plan includes bicycle facilities on both sides of Highway 9 and a continuous pedestrian access through the corridor with safe pedestrian crossings where needed. The Masterplan was approved by the Saratoga City Council on April 4, 2007.
The cost to install all the improvements as shown on the Master Plan is about 5 million dollars. Therefore outside funding sources as well as project phasing are necessary.
The three jurisdictions have applied for, and received approval, several state and federal grants. As the grants were received, project phases were developed. Below is a description and status of each project phase as of May of 2011, starting from the latest - Phase IV.
For more information please contact Iveta Harvancik, Senior Engineer at (408) 868-1274 or iharvancik@saratoga.ca.us
Highway 9 Ad Hoc Committee meeting took place on Monday November 19, 2012 at 7:30 pm in Monte Sereno City Hall located at 18041 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, Monte Sereno. The design consultants provided project overview, current status and anticipated construction schedule.
Public Meeting Agenda 11-19-2012
Public Meeting Presentation 11-19-2012
Previous Highway 9 Ad Hoc Committee meeting was held on Monday October 24, 2011 at 6:00 pm in Monte Sereno City Hall located at 18041 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, Monte Sereno. At this well-attended public meeting, the design consultants provided project overview, current status and anticipated construction schedule.
Public Meeting Agenda 10-24-2011
Highway 9 Fact Sheet 10-24-2011
Meeting Presentation 10-24-2011
Highway 9 Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Improvements - Phase IV
In spring of 2011, the City of Saratoga has received another $900,000 grant under federal Highway Safety Improvements Program (HSIP). This grant will fund construction of pedestrian pathway along Highway 9 that is currently being designed in Phase II (described below) and based on public input during community meetings held in Phase II.
Highway 9 Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Improvements - Phase III
Focus of Phase III is to improve bicycle safety along Highway 9 with a special attention to intersection of Highway 9 and Austin Way as discussed during the two community meetings described in Phase II below.
Additional bicycle improvements include bicycle detection facilities at Fruitvale Avenue, Quito Road, North Santa Cruz Avenue and Los Gatos Boulevard; constructing a new through bike lane to separate through/right turn conflict at Los Gatos Boulevard which includes a small retaining wall.
Phase III is funded by State Proposition 116 with contributing funds from VTA, Santa Clara County and required local matching funds from Saratoga, Los Gatos and Monte Sereno. The final engineering design is in progress, Caltrans review and approval is required as for all other phases.
Highway 9 Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Improvements - Phase II
Phase II improvements consist of pedestrian improvements along Highway 9 extending from approximately Oak Street in Saratoga to the Monte Sereno-Los Gatos City limits including asphalt walkways, curbs, retaining walls, driveway modifications, crosswalks, signing and striping. Design plans were submitted to Caltrans for review in February of 2011, revised per Caltrans comments and re-submitted in May of 2011. Various Caltrans departments' approval is needed before Caltrans final permission to initiate the construction bidding process.
The engineering design and preparation of environmental documents are funded with the Phase I remaining funds (described in Phase I below). Pathway construction will be funded from the federal grant the City of Saratoga has received in the amount of $900,000. This amount will be combined with the Phase IV grant and required local matching contributions.
In addition to three public meetings held during the Master Plan development (described in Phase I below), two community meetings were organized to discuss Phase II needed pedestrian improvements.
The first public meeting was held on March 31, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Saratoga Senior Center located at 19655 Allendale Avenue in Saratoga. The purpose of this meeting was to provide a brief project overview and more detailed presentation as well as receive public input.
The meeting was convened by the Highway 9 Council Committee comprised of two Council Memebers each from Saratoga, Monta Sereno, and Los Gatos. The meeting was well attended; the community provided input via oral comments and written communication.
Public Meeting Agenda 3-31-2010
Project Overview
Presentation (large file)
The second public meeting took place on August 31, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at Joan Pisani Community Center located at 19655 Allendale Avenue in Saratoga. The meeting provided a project overwiew incorporating public input from the first meeting.
Second Public Meeting Agenda 8-31-2010
Second Public Meeting Presentation 8-31-2010 (large file)
Fact Sheet
Highway 9 Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Improvements - Phase I
Phase I was administered by Los Gatos and included development of Master Plan and design and construction of bicycle lanes on both sides of Highway 9, spot widening and two pedestrian-activated lighted crosswalks. The improvements were completed in 2008 and were funded by a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant (CMAQ) with $462,000 remaining in the project budget.
City Council Staff Report
