Shannon Road Improvement Project Comes Before Los Gatos Council

LOS GATOS, CA — The Los Gatos Town Council is scheduled to discuss the Shannon Road Pedestrian and Bikeway Improvements Project at a meeting Tuesday.

The council is also expected to accept a $174,000 grant from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority towards the project, which is projected to cost $2.45 million. Los Gatos received a previous $940,000 grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and VTA.

Shannon Road is a major pedestrian corridor for students attending three schools near Los Gatos Boulevard — Blossom Hill Elementary, Louise Van Meter Elementary, and Raymond J. Fisher Middle Schools — and the project would provide pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements along the stretch of road between Los Gatos Boulevard and Cherry Blossom Lane.

The town has held three community meetings about the project. According to a survey, residents requested “minimizing the safety improvements to keep the rural neighborhood feel of Shannon Road,” according to a staff report. Residents also expressed those concerns at the third community member, requesting narrower roadway improvements and the widths of design elements kept to a minimum.

“Staff reminded the attendees that the design being developed has been approved by Council and that this is a roadway safety project for pedestrians and bicyclists, especially for children commuting to schools,” read the staff report.

The earliest construction could start would be this fall, and is projected to take between 6-8 months.

Click here for more information on the project and here to view the meeting agenda. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday.