The Guadalupe River Trail (GRT) provides vital connectivity for people on bikes to reach neighborhoods and job centers within and outside of San José. However, seasonal flooding at low points on the trail can make sections of the trail inaccessible. Trail closures resulting from floods force people to take longer and potentially riskier routes on the streets.

This plan is not meant to replace any long-term projects designed to prevent trail flooding. Instead, it will focus on proposing short-term solutions through street improvements. These improvements can help keep trail users connected all year, even when there is flooding.

The plan looks to address trail closures by:

• Finding parallel street routes to use when the trail floods
• Suggesting changes to these parallel routes to make them safer and more convenient for people biking
• Creating safe, clear, and well-marked routes that are easy to follow

Timeline

The Guadalupe River Trail Bike Connections Plan is a 20-month planning process. This project will run from September 2024 to April 2026. Community engagement will take place throughout this period. The planning process will have three phases:

• Phase one: Existing conditions, September 2024 to January 2025
  • Understand the current conditions for people riding bikes on the Guadalupe River Trail
  • Document locations along the trail where seasonal flood-related issues are impacting bike access
  • Document where people are using city streets to navigate around flooded trail segments
  • Consider other planned improvements to the trail and the area near the trail to better leverage existing projects
• Phase two: Technical analysis, January 2025 to August 2025
  • Identify and evaluate locations for potential improvements to the on-street network to help people on bikes safely navigate around flood-related trail closures.
• Phase three: Draft and final plan, August 2025 to April 2026
  • Draft public-facing document containing executive summary and outlining recommendations for the on-street network near the Guadalupe River Trail
  • Circulate draft plan for public comment
  • Recommend that City Council adopt the final plan

Community Engagement

Opportunities for Input

Community engagement activities for this project will take place during each project phase:

• Phase 1: Talk with trail users and gather input on trail experience
• Phase 2: Host a design-focused workshop centered around generating concepts in real time and gathering feedback from workshop participants
• Phase 3: Introduce the draft plan and request feedback to refine

Stay Connected

If you have any questions about the Guadalupe River Trail Bike Connections Plan, please email Scott Karoly at scott.karoly@sanjoseca.gov.

For updates and more information, follow DOT on Nextdoor, Facebook, and Twitter/X. Or subscribe to the city newsletter. Thank you for your involvement in enhancing the Guadalupe River Trail experience for everyone!

Funding

This project is funded by the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant and local matching funds.