Phase I: West Remington Drive to West Fremont Avenue

In June 2022, the City Council approved a contract to begin the environmental review and design work for this phase of the trail.

In early 2023, we invited the community to help choose the trail layout. Following those meetings, City Council confirmed the preferred trail alignment. They also asked the project team to look into the feasibility of adding a bike and pedestrian bridge over Fremont Avenue, see Documents.

During coordination with Caltrans, it was determined that a more comprehensive project approval document would be required, beyond the original scope. Because this extra work was not funded, the project had to pause for nearly two years.

As of fall 2025, we have identified the funding needed to move ahead again. A budget modification and contract amendment will be presented to City Council for approval. Once approved, design work will restart, and we'll share a new project schedule under Next Steps.

Click image to enlarge

Location Map of all Phases

Next Steps

Phase I project steps include:

• Current phase - Environmental studies and preliminary design
• Final design
• Construction bidding and award
• Construction

Phase I: West Remington Drive to West Fremont Avenue

VTA awarded Measure B funding to the City for the Phase I segment. The award is funding the environmental studies and design phases. The segment consists of an off-street trail along the Stevens Creek and Highway 85. The project will include creating connections to local streets. On April 20, 2021, the City Council approved the funding agreement for environmental and design. On June 7, 2022, the City Council awarded the contract to the consultant team Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. On March 21, 2023, City Council confirmed the trail layout, see Documents. For more information about the funding agreement, see Documents.

Phase II: Dale Avenue-Heatherstone Way to West Remington Drive

VTA awarded the cities of Sunnyvale-Mountain View partnership with Measure B funding for Phase II. The award will fund the environmental studies and design phases. The City of Mountain View is leading the Phase II project. It will begin in 2024.

Phase III: West Fremont Avenue to Homestead Road

The segment from West Fremont Avenue to Homestead Road will be a future project. It is currently unfunded.

Report to Council 23-0029, March 21, 2023 - Confirm the Preferred Alignment of the Stevens Creek Trail from the Remington Drive to Fremont Avenue Segment Consisting of an Off-street Trail Along the Creek with two Connections at Fremont Avenue on Both Sides of State Route (SR85) with the Adjustments Due to Changes in Creek Conditions

Presentation to Council - March 21, 2023 - The project team presented the project update and requested action from the Commission

Report to Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission 23-0028, Feb. 16, 2023 - Recommend to City Council to Confirm the Preferred Alignment of the Stevens Creek Trail from Remington Drive to Fremont Avenue Segment Consisting of an Off-street Trail Along the Creek with Two Connections at Fremont Avenue on Both Sides of SR85 with the Adjustments Due to Changes in Creek Conditions 

Presentation to Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission - Feb. 16, 2023,- The project team presented the project update and requested action from the Commission

Stevens Creek Trail Community Meeting - Jan. 18, 2023, (YouTube 01:24:07)

Stevens Creek Trail Extension Project Presentation - March 21, 2023 - The project team presented the project update and alignment evaluation

Report to Council 22-0377, June 7, 2022- Award of contract to Mark & Thomas Company, Inc. for Stevens Creek Trail Extension Environmental and Design Phases

Report to Council 21-0320, April 20, 2021- Approve Budget Modification No. 20 to Appropriate $3.5 Million in Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) 2016 Measure B Funding and $389,000 from the Transportation Impact Fee Funds for the Environmental, Permitting, and Design Costs for the Stevens Creek Trail Segment from W. Remington Drive to W. Fremont Avenue and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Grant-Related Documents

Report to Council 19-1132, Nov. 12, 2019 - Authorize a Local Match of $600,000 for the VTA Measure B Bicycle and Pedestrian Competitive Grant Program for the Stevens Creek Trail extension project; and Approve Budget Modification No 12 to Appropriate $600,000 from the Transportation Impact Fees Reserve in the Capital Projects Fund

Report to Council 16-0034, Feb. 9, 2016– Support the Preferred Alignment of the Stevens Creek Trail as Recommended by the Joint Cities Working Team (JCWT) and Find that Action is Exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15262 and 15306 (Feasibility and Planning Studies and Information Collection)

Joint Cities Working Team and Citizens Working Group Reports

• Final Joint Cities Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study Report
• Final Joint Cities Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study Appendices (includes Public Comments, Appendix C)
• Joint Cities Working Team Recommendations to City Councils
• Citizens Working Group Recommendation to the Joint Cities Working Team

The vision for a bicycle-pedestrian trail along Stevens Creek originated in 1961. The idea began with the Santa Clara County Planning Department. They created the "Stevens Creek Park Chain Plan." The Plan would preserve land and create parks and trails along Stevens Creek.

Today, Stevens Creek Trail is about five miles long. It goes from the Bay Trail at Shoreline Park to Dale Avenue-Heatherstone Way in Mountain View. Another trail segment is from Stevens Creek Boulevard to McClellan Road. It goes through Blackberry Farm Park and McClellan Ranch Preserve in Cupertino.

In 2009, a trail planning effort created the Joint Cities Working Team (JCWT). This team had one elected official and one staff member from each of the following agencies:

• Cupertino
• Los Altos
• Mountain View
• Sunnyvale

In the fall of 2012, the Citizens Working Group was created. It helped with public outreach and acted in an advisory role to the JCWT. The Group selected a consultant team to prepare a feasibility study. The study's purpose was to provide an analysis of routes to bridge the gaps in trail segments. At that time, gaps existed in Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Cupertino. In September 2015, the Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study was complete. For details about the feasibility study see Documents.

The JCWT found and reviewed options to fill the gaps in the trail. They created necessary City planning documents.

In 2015 and 2016, the JCWT made recommendations and presented them to the four City Councils. The items included:

• Trail alignment preferences
• Policy recommendations on:
  • Protecting and improving wildlife habitat
  • Preserving public land
  • Continuing the collaboration with regional partners

The cities supported the proposals. Each City Council also had city-specific direction for other improvements or policies. Sunnyvale's City Council selected the preferred alignment in 2016. For details on the preferred alignment, see Documents, RTC 16-0034.