Portola Valley: Alpine Road trail work to begin soon

They should take that money and use it to build a bike path from Old Page Mill Road under I-280 to the Arastradero Preserve. Wasn't this in the original trail plan?

The Santa Clara County Trails master plan showed a route for the Matadero / Page Mill trail that passes under 280 along Page Mill. A County EIR for the Stanford portion of the trail, studied that route and other alternatives for crossing 280. The County, Los Altos Hills, Caltrans and Stanford never reached agreement on an alidnment that could safely cross 280 at Page mill or points north. The 2006 agreement included the Matadero Trail Route that recently opened as well as an offer to improve an existing Los Altos Hills trail that connects to Arastradero preserve. Neither conditions of the County's 2000 General Use Permit (GUP) to Stanford nor the resulting 2006 Trails Agreement require Stanford to build a trail connecting to the Arastradero Preserve.

The article also mistakenly reports that the trail requirement and other GUP conditions were levied in exchange for the right to develop open space.

It helps to know the facts when expressing an opinion.

As a long-time homeowner and resident of Stanford Weekend Acres, I'm in favor of maintaining the current Alpine Trail, which has deteriorated over the years. However, I think the trail should be kept as a pedestrian walkway. Alpine Road already has bike lanes on both sides, so I see no need to widen the Alpine Road trail for use by bicycles. Like many of my neighbors in Stanford Weekend Acres, I'm disappointed that Stanford is unwilling to develop a trail on the other side of San Francisquito Creek in the relatively undeveloped "dish area". But rather than lose trail funding, I would like to see improvements to the existing trail along Alpine Road. Such a plan would benefit the local community, without inviting extra traffic along the already crowded Alpine Road corridor.

Will Kohler writes:
"However, I think the trail should be kept as a pedestrian walkway. Alpine Road already has bike lanes on both sides, so I see no need to widen the Alpine Road trail for use by bicycles."
I Say:
No more pedestrian only paths in our neighborhood. Pedestrians already have every path available in Portola Valley-Ladera neighborhoods.
This trail along Alpine would allow for FAMILY skill level(kids) bicycle riders access to Stanford shopping center,hospital areas w/o entering the auto scrum on Alpine Rd.
And, Alpine Rd only has bike lanes at Hwy 280, all the rest is simply fog striped roadway, not bike paths.
This makes a huge difference in design features, especially for the occasional rider.
I suggest Mr Kohler take a walk out on Alpine rd, then come back+share what a glorious time he had doing so....Only then would I consider riding bicycles w my family out there...