Highway 35 near Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserves' North Ridge parking area.

Bay Area Ridge Trail Connection and Parking Area Feasibility Study

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The vision of a public trail encircling Bay Area ridgetops is being realized piece by piece. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is planning a new Bay Area Ridge Trail segment on their watershed lands that would terminate near Midpen’s Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve.

In 2021, with support from a SFPUC grant, Midpen began a 2-year study on the feasibility of connecting the SFPUC’s proposed new trail segment to the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve’s trail system, including crossing Highway 35 and expanding the preserve’s North Ridge parking area.

    Public Access, Education, and Outreach
    Public Access
    Grant Funded
    Grant Funded
    Sun streaming through tall redwood trees
    Purisima Creek Redwoods (Karl Gohl)

    Onsite Public Meeting July 25

    Date and Time: July 25th, 2023 at 1:00pm

    Meeting Location: Purisima North Ridge Parking Area (13130 Skyline Blvd, Woodside, CA 94062)

    *Please note that this meeting cannot be attended virtually and will not be recorded.

    This meeting will be held in person at the Purisima North Ridge parking area where the Planning and Natural Resources Committee will review the project's conceptual design options for onsite expansion and reconfiguration of the Purisima North Ridge parking area.

    The Planning and Natural Resources committee will consider a preferred parking design alternative to forward to the Board of Directors as the project description to initiate environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act.

    GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    The goals of the study are to identify:

    • Possible ways to improve and reconfigure the North Ridge parking area
    • Permitting approach
    • Highway 35 crossing location to enhance regional connectivity

    Following the study results, Midpen staff would seek funding opportunities to support implementation. 

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    Timeline

    2021-2022Biological, cultural, topographic and traffic studies.
    Fall 2022-Spring 2023Focused public outreach and stakeholder engagement.
    Spring 2023Geotechnical analysis and cost estimates.
    Spring 2023Public meeting was held on April 4, 2023 with Midpen's Planning and Natural Resources Committee reviewing results, hearing public comment and providing recommendations.
    Spring 2023Public meeting to share preliminary parking concepts for the expansion and reconfiguration of the Purisima North Ridge parking area and receive public feedback on June 7, 2023.
    Summer 2023Public meeting with Midpen's Planning and Natural Resources Committee to hear public comment, and review and consider recommending to full board for approval. Tentatively scheduled for July 25, more information to come.
    Fall/Winter 2023Public meeting with Midpen's full board of directors to hear public comment and consider approving the study and recommendations.

     

     

    Funded by Measure AA logo

    Funding

    This project is supported by Measure AA, a 30-year, $300 million bond passed by local voters in 2014 to support Midpen’s community-created Vision Plan top 25 priority projects.

    Additional Funding

    The Feasibility Study is expected to cost $189,000. Funding for this study is provided by a $114,000 grant from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, $50,000 from the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) and a $14,000 contribution from Bay Area Ridge Trail. 
     

    Documents and Reports

    En Español-Proyectos de Acceso Público en la Reserva de Espacio Abierto de Purísima Creek Redwoods

    Public Access Projects in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Reserve

    Oct 28, 2020 - San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Partner Agreement Board Report

    April 4, 2023 - Planning and Natural Resources Committee Meeting Report

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