The City has formally released their
plans
on how it will demolish the Willow Glen Trestle
the “Initial Study and
draft Mitigated Negative Declaration” (IS/MND)
officially explains how the
Trestle it to be demolished,
and what will replace it.
This
report is subject to public review and comment prior to official approval
to assure that the planned project is
done in an environmentally responsible manner.
The public is
given 30 days (through
Dec. 19) to give comment.
The City of San José will
need to publicly explain why replacing the trestle with a new bridge is better
for the environment.
They will have to justify
the need to demolish a historic structure,
discuss the impacts to the
streamside habitat and how they will make amends, and
explain how they will remove
the existing structure without severely impacting water quality for the fish
and wildlife.
Please read and then express
your thoughts and concerns.
Here is the official notice:
Draft Negative Declarations
and Initial Studies
File No. PP13-085, Three Creeks Trail Pedestrian Bridge Project.
The
proposed project involves the demolition of an existing wood railroad trestle
and the construction of a new pedestrian bridge over Los Gatos Creek. The
proposed project includes a pre-fabricated, 210-foot-long, single-span steel
truss bridge with a poured concrete deck. The new bridge would be on the same
alignment as the existing bridge, and small retaining walls would be installed
adjacent to the new bridge abutments to allow for the future Los Gatos Creek
trail connection to the northeast and for a viewing area on the south side of
the new bridge.
Project Location: Adjacent to Los Gatos Creek between Lonus Street and Coe
Avenue in Willow Glen, a neighborhood of San Jose. The pedestrian bridge will
be located across Los Gatos Creek (latitude 37°18’53.16”N, longitude
121°54’13.00”W).APN: 264-11-100. Council District: 6.
Circulation Period: 11/19/2013 to 12/19/2013.
~~~
please follow us on our Facebook page for latest
updates: “Friends of WG Trestle”
~~~
Here’s the latest chart-set
(9/9/13) showing the City’s plans for a replacement bridge.
~~~
the Willow
Glen Trestle: a play in three acts
Prologue: for years, the community
and the City had worked together to obtain funding for restoration of the
trestle as the Los Gatos Creek Trail connection
Act I: the City abruptly decides
instead to demolish the trestle, and we work with the City staff to change
their mind by addressing their Engineering Report, but the City Council votes
to demolish trestle
Act II: we work with the City
Council to get a reconsideration by showing how grant money can be repurposed
while trestle is left for later. The Act
culminates in an hour-and-a-half "Approval
of the Minutes".
we are now at intermission, soon to be
followed by:
Act III: We work with various
agencies and entities (and maybe the City as well) to try to save and restore
the trestle.
Hopefully the trestle will still be standing at the end of the play – you can help write the
ending!
Please sign
our on-line petition to save the trestle!
~~~
Yes, the Council has already voted to destroy the trestle,
without consulting the Parks and
Recreation Commission,
without consulting the Historic
Landmarks Commission, and
without even waiting for the
completion of the public trail-design process this July,
but we are
still moving forward, and we have major support:
the entire Santa Clara
County Board of Supervisors voted to support the trestle,
the SCVWD (Water District)
is watching the process,
and we have a strong
outpouring of support from you in the community!
Here’s an illustration of
how the trestle could be restored
and made into an iconic gateway to Willow Glen:
(Thnx, Jim Ammon!)
And a heartfelt thanks to all of you
who wrote to support the trestle!
Over 120 emails were sent to
the Council and others!
Many included poetic and
profound comments
on the sense of history, the
sense of place, and the joy of living in Willow Glen
(click >here<
for collection of comments, >here<
for an essay by Richard Nieset,
>here<
for letter of support from Rod Diridon Sr. et al at CTRC – train advocates).
You have inspired us to continue the
effort to save the trestle!
>>
Next steps <<
If you’d like to help
financially, the San José Parks Foundation
has set up a fund
to help with trestle preservation and restoration.
click >here< for photo album of
trestle thru the years
Here is a map and aerial view
showing its location,
“hidden in plain sight” just blocks from the heart of Willow Glen!
The City’s own Engineering Study
says
the trestle is sturdy and readily adaptable to trail use.
See for yourself: take a YouTube tour!
Follow us on Facebook
Read the Editorials in the
SJ Mercury News
by L.
Ames & H. Chapman (5/8/13), and
by SJMN Editor Barbara
Marshman (5/10/13)
see this hidden gem on the Three Creeks Trail / Los Gatos Creek Trail! --
we wish the city would restore it and use it as a grand entryway to Willow Glen!
Contact us if you would like additional information
Thank you!
Larry Ames, Dec. 5, 2013.
Supporting material:
* city agenda item 5.1, and staff report to remove the trestle, 3/26/13
* my letter to Council in support of the trestle
* city agenda item 2.17 to fund the trestle removal, 4/9/13
* my 2-minute talk opposing the removal funding (written transcript and video)
* the Engineering Study commissioned by the City. The study describes the trestle repair in detail, but recommends the steel bridge based solely on a (somewhat faulty) trade matrix and without any consideration of public sentiment or historic value
* an evaluation of the Engineering Study and point-by-point rebuttal by L. Ames, a professional aerospace engineer
* and a YouTube video tour of the trestle from all sides by Dan and Helen Chapman
* representative diagram of trestle repairs (“bent 7”)
* diagram showing height of 100-year flood (“waist-deep”)
* diagram of 100-year flood zones in Willow Glen
* cover letter and 2004 IS/MND (Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration) for LG Crk Trail Reach 4 (Auzerais to Coe, including trail atop an undisturbed trestle)
* notes by J. Dresden on creosote timbers in creeks, and hazards involved in removing them (5/4/13)
* city memo on shift of BART alignment due to creosote bridge pilings (11/13/07)
* memo by Councilmember Liccardo on hazards of disturbing creosote pilings (11/30/07)
* memo from Councilmember Oliverio asking for a Council study session (5/9/13)
* Editorial in San José Mercury News by L. Ames & H. Chapman (5/8/13)
* Editorial in San José Mercury News by SJMN Editor Barbara Marshman (5/10/13)
* memo from PRNS reaffirming their conclusions (5/17/13)
* link to video of NBC-11 segment on trestle, featuring Councilmember Oliverio and WGNA’s Zappelli
* notes to the eList, 4/17/13
* notes to the eList, 4/20/13
* notes to the eList, 5/12/13
* notes to the eList, 5/15/13
* memo from City (Parks PRNS and Dept of Public Works) 5/17/13
* comments by L. Ames in response to City memo 5/30/13
* link to City’s presentation on trestle replacement 7/9/13 & 7/17/13
* notes and observations on City’s presentation to Save Our Trails, 7/9/13
* notes and observations on City’s presentation to WGNA, 7/17/13
* letter of support from Rod Diridon Sr., David Ginsborg, and the Calif. Trolley & Rail. Corp, 7/16/13
* editorial in the SJ Merc. News 7/16/13
* Council agenda item 2/22/11 to apply for SCVWD grant for restoration of trestle
* other sites along the Los Gatos Creek that need a bridge (LLA, 7/24/13)
* supporting material: Los Gatos Crk Trail Master Plan 1985 p.24, p.24/25, and p.25 -- see text on p. 25
* supporting material: Guadalupe River Park
Master Plan, Dec 2001, sections 1,
2, 3, 4 and 5.
At Confluence Point (chart2), bridge #29 is built, but
#31 is needed.
* diagram of Confluence Point
* LLA letter to SJ Council 8/8/13
* LLA talk to SJ Council 8/13/13
* letter of support from NWGNA
* possible concept for completing the Los Gatos Creek Trail from Meridian to Lincoln.
* Sept. 9th presentation on replacement bridge
* letter from Campbell Historic Preservation Boardmember S. Blake 6/9/13
* letter from the Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Cmsn, 9/19/13
* Presentation to the San José Historic Landmarks Cmsn 11/6/13