DATE:
May 26, 2026
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
Public Works
TITLE: Stevens Creek Trail Extension from Dale
Avenue/Heatherstone Way to West
Remington Drive, Project 20-50–
Professional Services Agreement
RECOMMENDATION
1. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a funding agreement with the City of Sunnyvale, and accept $600,000 from the City of Sunnyvale and appropriate to Stevens Creek Trail Extension from Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way to West Remington Drive, Project 20 -
50. (Five votes required)
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a professional services agreement with BKF Engineers of San Jose, a California corporation (Entity No. 599256), to provide professional design support services for Stevens Creek Trail Extension from Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way to West Remington Drive, Project 20 -50, in a not -to-exceed amount of $846,500.
BACKGROUND
Stevens Creek Trail currently consists of three discontiguous segments in three separate jurisdictions: a five -mile stretch in Mountain View from Shoreline Park adjacent to the San Francisco Bay to the Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way intersection; a one -mile stretch in Cupertino from Stevens Creek Boulevard to McClellan Road; and a 10 -mile hiking and mountain biking segment in the County of Santa Clara connecting Stevens Creek Reservoir to the Bay Area Ridge Trail in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The Joint Cities Coordinated Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study (Study), completed in September 2015, studied the feasibility of a comprehensive trail extension separated into four study segments:
• Segment 1: Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way to Fremont Avenue (Mountain View and Sunnyvale),
• Segment 2: Fremont Avenue to Homestead Road (Sunnyvale and Los Altos),
Stevens Creek Trail Extension from Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way to West Remington Drive, Project 20-50–Professional Services Agreement
May 26, 2026
• Segment 3: Homestead Road to Stevens Creek Boulevard (Sunnyvale and Cupertino), and
• Segment 4: Trail connections to Rancho San Antonio County Park via Stevens Creek Boulevard (Cupertino and County of Santa Clara).
Segment 1 (also known as the Creek Corridor Path) will be constructed through two separate projects. The northern section, which is the scope of this project, is the 0.8-mile stretch from the Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way intersection in Mountain View to West Remington Drive in Sunnyvale. This is the current City project, and also one of the Fiscal Years 2025-27 Council Work Plan projects. The remainder of Segment 1 will be constructed by the City of Sunnyvale and will extend Stevens Creek Trail from West Remington Drive to West Fremont Avenue (see Figure 1).
The 2015 Study investigated several conceptual alignments , including those along the Creek Corridor Path within Mountain View, that require further analysis before the project’s final design can proceed.
Figure 1: Segment 1 Limits for Mountain View
Stevens Creek Trail Extension from Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way to West Remington Drive, Project 20-50–Professional Services Agreement
May 26, 2026
Measure B Grant Funding Agreement
In 2024 , the City successfully secured a $4.8 million Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Measure B pedestrian/bicycle grant to help with the environmental and design phases of this Project. Under the funding agreement, Mountain View is responsible for a 20% local match ($1.2 million) of the total Project cost of $6 million, to which Sunnyvale has agreed to contribute $600,000. Mountain View is responsible for the design of the current City project, including creek crossing structures, creek bank restoration, project mitigations, as well as bicycle and pedestrian elements funded by the grant .The City of Mountain View will also handle the necessary grant reporting and submit invoices for reimbursement.
Sunnyvale’s Stevens Creek Trail Extension Project
Sunnyvale began its environmental review and design for a Stevens Creek Trail extension between West Remington Drive and West Fremont Avenue in the summer of 2022, and after several community meetings, a preferred trail alignment was confirmed by the Sunnyvale City Council in early 2023. However , Caltrans indicated that a more comprehensive approval document was required, which was beyond the project’s original scope and available funding.
After a nearly two -year pause, additional funding has been identifi ed and will be presented to the Sunnyvale City Council for approval. Sunnyvale’s project next steps include: environmental studies and preliminary design; final design; and construction.
ANALYSIS
Funding Agreement
The City is the project lead for the portion of the trail extension within Mountain View and will be coordinating with the City of Sunnyvale . This project scope is to study the feasibility of alignments, identify a preferred concept layout, and prepare environmental documentation. In preparation for the 2016 Measure B Bicycle/Pedestrian Program call for projects in fall 2019 , Mountain View requested that Sunnyvale contribute $600,000 to augment beyond Mountain View’s 10% local match requirement to improve the project application’s competitiveness for grant funding and consistency with Sunnyvale’s portion of the trail extension. Sunnyvale’s City Stevens Creek Trail Extension from Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way to West Remington Drive, Project 20-50–Professional Services Agreement
May 26, 2026
Council approved Mountain View’s request in November 2019, and a funding agreement is necessary between the two agencies to establish roles and responsibilities.
The key terms of the agreement with Sunnyvale include the following:
• Mountain View will be the project sponsor and the lead implementing agency responsible for design, right-of-way, permitting, environmental review, and agency coordination;
• Mountain View will retain a consultant to conduct the feasibility analysis and manage all aspects of the consultant’s work;
• Mountain View will maintain any and all documents and records related to reimbursements made for a minimum of five years;
• Sunnyvale will participate in project review;
• Sunnyvale will provide reimbursement in the amount of $600,000 for work involved in the feasibility analysis and environmental documentation; and
• Sunnyvale will provide Mountain View’s consultant with any Sunnyvale permits required for the project at no cost.
Sunnyvale and Mountain View staff have extensively negotiated a funding agreement that is comparable to similar, previously approved agreements between the two cities, and staff recommends its approval. Sunnyvale City Council will be considering the agreement for approval on June 2, 2026.
Professional Services Agreement
In September 2025, the City issued a Request for Proposals to seven firms qualified to provide design services for transportation projects in sensitive habitat areas. One proposal was submitted by BKF Engineers (BKF). Following staff review, BKF was deemed qualified based on the merits of their written proposal, experience in completing similar projects, and understanding of project goals.
The main elements of the scope of services include:
• Conduct preliminary investigation and data collection on the project site;
Stevens Creek Trail Extension from Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way to West Remington Drive, Project 20-50–Professional Services Agreement
May 26, 2026
• Develop a Feasibility Report on the preferred trail alignment based on criteria factors including, but not limited to, right -of-way acquisition cost, constructability, agency coordination, tree removal impacts, and trail usability;
• Develop a recommended trail extension alignment with distinct conceptual designs illustrating a trail extension from the Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way pedestrian/bicycle bridge over State Route 85 in Mountain View, to West Remington Drive in Sunnyvale, and a new east -west pedestrian/bicycle overcrossing crossing State Route 85 and connecting Mountain View High School and West Remington Drive;
• Prepare materials for presenting at community meetings and City committees and support staff’s outreach efforts;
• Upon approval of a preferred conceptual design option, develop 35% design (schematic design) documents;
• Prepare environmental clearance documents.
The recommended fee of $ 846,500 for services and contingency is consistent for such services, and staff considers the fee to be fair and reasonable for the scope of work required.
Next Steps
If the recommended action is approved by Council, BKF will begin design in summer 2026 , and will be followed by community meetings, as well as presentations to the Parks and Recreation Commission, Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committe e, Council Transportation Committe e, and City Council. This phase of the project is anticipated to be completed at the beginning of 2029.
FISCAL IMPACT
Stevens Creek Trail Extension from Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way to West Remington Drive, Project 20-50, is funded as follows:
Table 1: Project Funding
Funding Source Amount
2016 Measure B Funding $4,800,000
Park Land Dedication Fund $600,000
Sunnyvale Local Match Funding $600,000
Total $6,000,000
Stevens Creek Trail Extension from Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way to West Remington Drive, Project 20-50–Professional Services Agreement
May 26, 2026
The professional services fee is $ 769,240 for basic services and reimbursable expenses, plus a contingency of $ 77,260 for additional services, for a total not -to-exceed amount of $ 846,500.
The project has sufficient funds for the recommended action; no additional appropriation is requested at this time.
LEVINE ACT
California Government Code Section 84308 (also known as the Levine Act) prohibits city officials from participating in any proceeding involving a “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” if the official has received a campaign contribution exceeding $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant within the last 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to- play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
Please see below for information about whether the recommended action for this agenda item is subject to or exempt from the Levine Act.
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
☒ Contract or franchise agreement
CONCLUSION
The Stevens Creek Trail Extension Project advances one of the Fiscal Years 2025-27 Council Work Plan projects and will provide significant benefits to the Cities of Mountain View and Sunnyvale by providing a low-stress pedestrian/bicycle trail that is separated from motor vehicle traffic. The project will provide safer and direct access to Mountain View and Alta Vista High Schools and allow a large, currently inaccessible open space area to be ut ilized and enjoyed by the community. Staff recommends executing a funding agreement with the City of Sunnyvale and awarding the professional services agreement to BKF to provide preliminary design and environmental review services. This phase of the projec t is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2029.
Stevens Creek Trail Extension from Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way to West Remington Drive, Project 20-50–Professional Services Agreement
May 26, 2026
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not authorize the City Manager or designee to enter into a funding agreement with the City of Sunnyvale and direct staff to negotiate different terms.
2. Do not authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a professional services agreement with BKF and direct staff to reissue the RFP.
3. Provide other direction.
PUBLIC NOTICING
Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Joseph Cervantes
Senior Civil Engineer
Reviewed by:
Robert Gonzales
Principal Civil Engineer
Approved by:
Edward Arango
Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer
Audrey D. Seymour
Assistant City Manager
cc: APWD—Arango, PCE—Gonzales, SCE—Cervantes, SMA—Doan, SMA—Nunez, F (20-50)