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Description
City officials and members of the public celebrate the grand opening of Cupertino's Mary Avenue Bicycle-Footbridge, recorded April 30, 2009. Speakers include Cupertino Mayor Orrin Mahoney, Cupertino Councilmember Dolly Sandoval, Sunnyvale Mayor Anthony Spitaleri, VTA Bicycle Pedestrian Commissioner Joseph Walton, Caltrans Director Will Kempton, HNTB CEO Robert Stromsted, and Cupertino Public Works Director Ralph Qualls.
Video highlights include a ribbon cutting, an unveiling of public artwork (Quail Family and Red-Tailed Hawk sculptures), and a lengthy procession of pedestrians and bicyclists, as the new bridge opens for the very first time.
This video is one in a series of programs presented as part of the Cupertino City Channel's digital video archive project.
A
First
of
all,
my
name
is
Lauren
Mahoney
I'm,
the
mayor
of
Cupertino
for
this
year,
and
it's
my
honor
and
privilege
to
welcome
you
all
here
on
a
beautiful
spring
day
and
maybe
the
last
beautiful
spring
day
for
a
couple
of
days.
So
when
somebody
asked
me
earlier,
you
know
why
is
this:
why
are
we
doing
this?
In
the
you
know,
April
30th
and
Sorrell
said
it
was
gonna,
be
done
in
April.
That's
why.
B
A
God
we
did
it,
so
you
know
I
feel
like
I'm
kind
of
the
opposite
of
President
Obama.
Right
now
you
know
he
gets
elected
and
walks
into
probably
the
greatest
economic
crisis
that
we've
had
in
the
last
40
years
and
all
kinds
of
geopolitical
crises,
and
maybe
a
big
medical
price
crises
we'll
see
and
I'm
the
opposite
of
that
I
happen
to
be
the
mayor
this
year,
when
we
have
two
great
projects,
this
Mary
Avenue
bridge
and
then
the
Stevens
Creek
Carter
renewal.
A
That's
going
to
be
open,
July
4th-
and
these
are
two
major
major
projects
that
got
started
way
before
I
was
on
the
council
and
and
are
here
through
the
dedication,
hard
work
and
you'll
hear
about
some
of
that
later
of
the
people
that
preceded
me,
so
I'm
lucky
I
get
to
I,
get
to
kick
it
off
and
let
me
introduce
some
of
my
fellow
dignitaries,
so
they
can.
We
can
acknowledge
them
so
from
the
do
it.
A
This
way
from
my
fellow
council
members,
personal
vice
mayor,
Chris,
Wang,
City,
Council
members,
Dali
sand
of
all
Gilbert
Wang
mark
Santoro
Sunnyvale.
We
got
basic
I,
think
almost
the
whole
Sunnyvale
City
Council
here.
First
of
all,
mayor
Tony,
spittle
area,
you'll
hear
more
from
him
in
a
while
Vice
Mayor
Chris
Mullin
Dean
Chu
John.
How
good
representing
our
County
Board
of
Supervisors,
Scott,
Strickland,
filling
in
for
Liz,
miss
Scott.
Are
you
down
there?
Okay
and
from
the
Mission
West
Valley
Community
College
District
we've
got
president
Jack
Lucas
here,
Jack.
C
A
And
Bijan
SAR
Tippie,
another
director
and
again
you're
gonna,
hear
how
what
a
partnership
this
all
is
I
mean
this
is
not
Cupertino
zhh
bridge
at
all.
This
is
everyone's
bridge,
and
everyone
had
a
key
part
of
this
and
from
the
Bay
Area
Quality
Management
District
Avril
Goldman,
also
a
key
player
in
getting
funding
for
this
from
the
San
Jose
City
Council,
but
also
a
VTA
board
member
ash.
Cara.
A
A
Okay,
good
all
right
now
that
everybody's
been
introduced,
we're
going
to
go
through
a
series
of
speakers
that
are
going
to
some
are
going
to
give
you
a
little
background
and
the
importance
of
it
and
then
we're
gonna,
get
on
to
the
fun
stuff
of
unveiling,
sculpture,
cutting
a
ribbon
and
then
all
going
across
the
bridge,
and
it's
going
to
be
fun.
So
let
me
start
with
my
fellow
mayor
from
the
city
of
Sunnyvale
Tony
spittle
area.
If
you'd
like
to
come
up,
Tony.
D
Thank
you
and
good
afternoon
and
what
a
great
day
it
is
I,
remember,
last
year,
stealing
out
here
what
standing
out
here
with
the
mayor,
the
salary,
the
sound
of
all,
and
it
was
raining
cold
and
we
were
shaking
and
we
couldn't
wait
to
dig
the
first,
ditch
and
get
out
of
here.
But
today
we're
happy
to
be
here.
I
am
I.
Fellow
council
members
are
happy
to
have
been
able
to
assist
in
funding
this
bridge
that
joins
out
to
cities.
D
This
bridge
provides
another
important
link
in
the
regional
bicycle
system,
providing
a
safe
path
over
Interstate
280
to
other
bridges,
one
crossing
u.s.
101
and
another
crossing
State
Route
237
we're
open
in
Sunnyvale.
Just
a
week
ago,
in
just
ten
days,
three
bridges
of
open
for
bicycle
transportation,
the
tuba
Regas,
the
two
mariga's
Avenue
bridges
provides
easy
bicycle
access
to
Sunnyvale,
mockolate,
Park
business
area,
as
well
as
improving
access
to
VTA
light
rail
and
Caltrans.
D
Has
this
new
Mary
Avenue
bridge
opens
to
the
public
it
along
with
sunnyville?
New
bridges
makes
bicycle
commuting
a
much
more
reasonable
approach
for
more
people.
Once
bridges
were
thought
as
a
simple
means
to
allow
cars
to
travel
over
obstacles,
but
these
new
bridges
reflect
the
importance
in
value
of
our
two
City
Council's
and
our
residents
placed
on
alternative
forms
of
transportation
and
the
benefits
they
will
bring
to
us
all
to
Cupertino,
mayor
Orrin,
Mahoney
vice
mayor
Chris
Wang
and
your
City
Council.
Congratulations
on
the
completion
in
the
opening
of
this
beautiful
bridge.
A
E
Thank
you.
First
of
all,
thank
all
of
you
for
coming
to
our
great
Mary
Avenue
bicycle
pedestrian
bridge
opening
as
the
chair
of
the
VTA
board
of
directors
and
a
Cupertino
council
member.
It
gives
me
great
pleasure
to
welcome
all
of
you
here
today,
but
particularly
since
today
is,
as
mentioned
earlier,
a
much
nicer
day
than
the
rain
we
encountered
when
we
broke
ground
here.
I'd
like
to
do
a
couple
more
introductions.
One
is
the
VTA
general
manager.
Michael
Burns
is
here
in
the
audience
and
Jim
Lawson,
who
also
works
at
VTA
and
government
relations.
E
These
folks
were
in
turn,
aided
in
their
efforts
to
make
this
valley
more
friendly
to
bikers
and
walkers,
and
not
to
spend
every
last
public
transportation
dollar
on
high-speed
roadways,
an
interesting
bit
of
history
on
this,
if
I
may
share
with
you,
is
the
1978
santa
clara
county
trail
and
pathway
master
plan
in
considering
how
to
connect
the
points
north
and
south
of
this
valley.
They
have
a
note
on
the
spot
on
this
map.
That
says,
need
connect
alignment
unknown
at
this
time.
Well,
I'm
glad
we
have
our
answer.
E
This
project
started
to
get
some
traction
in
the
nineties
when
I
served
on
the
Citizens
Advisory
Committee
for
VTA,
because
the
staff
of
VTA
was
convinced
that
this
was
a
viable
project.
After
spending
billions
of
dollars
in
this
county
on
roadway
improvements,
visionary
policy
leaders
started
pushing
to
actually
implement
bicycle
and
pedestrian
transportation
alternatives,
creating
an
organized
network
throughout
our
County.
Some
may
recall
that
it
was
state
senator
byron,
sure
and
his
aide
Mike
Potter,
who
got
us
the
first
half
million
dollars
for
this
project.
E
Vta
contributed
ten
million
dollars
through
its
bicycle
expenditure
program
Mike.
Thank
you
as
an
open
space
authority
member
and
thank
you
for
being
a
staffer
for
the
senator.
At
that
time,
then
the
voters
were
wise
enough
to
pass
measures
a
and
B
that
assured
us,
pedestrian
and
bicyclist
transportation,
oriented
people
that
there'd
be
a
dedicated
funding
stream
for
bike
projects
that
helped
us
complete,
necessary
commute
routes.
E
As
a
council
member
I,
gotta
tell
ya,
I
was
pretty
discouraged
when
we
opened
those
original
concrete
bids
that
stated
that
our
funding
or
the
bid
price
came
in
way
above
the
funding.
We
had,
thank
goodness
that
Ralph
Qualls
and
the
engineers
and
HNTB
quickly
found
a
solution
which
you
see
to
the
sea
to
be
this
beautiful
steel,
cabled
signature
structure
before
you.
E
The
VTA
board
and
the
City
Council
gave
its
approval
and
wha-la
pretty
quick
here,
you'll
be
able
to
walk
across
it
both
today
and
four
years
into
the
future.
Projects
such
as
this
one
and
the
three
other
bicycle
and
pedestrian
bridge
openings
this
year
rely
on
collaborative
and
ingenious.
Efforts
of
different
levels
of
government
rely
on
that
collaboration
with
the
neighbors
and,
if
you're,
a
neighbor
to
this
project,
clap
raise
your
hand
stand
up,
do
something
it
relies
on
vision
and
ongoing
determination
and
activism
of
enthusiasts
organizations
like
the
Silicon,
Valley,
Bicycle,
Coalition
and
darn.
E
A
B
Well
orange
suggested
I
tell
you
how
I
got
started
with
it,
but
I.
Don't
think
you
want
to
hear
that
story.
That's
that's
just
too
tough,
because
the
the
people
that
I
worked
with
here
were
real
visionaries
and
I'm.
Looking
at
Don,
Burnett
and
Annie,
and
and
they
said
we
could
build
a
bridge
and
I
said.
Oh,
you
gotta
be
kidding,
but
I
am
me.
I
am
here
today
representing
the
VTA.
Is
the
chair,
the
bicycle,
pedestrian,
Advisory
Committee,
but
I'm
also
a
Cupertino
light.
B
But
you
know
we
wouldn't
be
here
today.
Had
it
not
been
for
our
merry
Avenue
neighbors
way
back
in
1970,
the
latter
part
of
1970
Caltrans
had
the
idea
that
they
wanted
to
build
a
bridge
to
link
up
Sunnyvale
with
with
Cupertino
and
in
fact
the
the
mounds
that
that
you
see
behind
me.
The
big
hunks
of
dirt
that
were
brought
in
that
project
began
and
the
neighbors
woke
up
and
said,
wait
a
minute.
You
mean
we're
going
to
have
trucks
and
buses
and
cars
coming
through
our
quiet
neighborhood.
B
You
got
to
be
kidding,
so
the
upshot
of
that
was
that
the
City
Council
said,
let's
hold
a
community
meeting,
and
that
meeting
was
scheduled
for
the
Flint
Center
and
on
a
dark
and
rainy
night.
We
filled
up
the
Flint
Center
to
hear
the
count:
trans
I'm,
sorry
when
a
bunch
of
Caltrans,
but
the
Caltrans
people
give
their.
B
Reply
to
why
build
a
bridge
and
at
the
end
of
the
meeting
I,
don't
think
there
was
I,
don't
think
there
was
anyone
in
support
not
that
they've
Caltrans
have
made
a
bad
presentation,
but
just
no
one
wanted
a
bridge.
So
our
City
Council
in
their
wisdom,
said
let's
put
that
project
on
hold
or,
let's
just
never
do
it.
B
So
then,
our
our
poor
old
bridge,
our
poor
old
ramps,
I,
should
say,
sat
growing
weeds
for
the
better
part
of
40
of
40
years,
at
least
a
good
20,
and
then,
as
we
moved
as
the
VTA
moved
into
providing
funding
for
alternative
transportation
and
as
Don
Burnett's
idea
of
making
this
into
a
bicycle,
destron
bridge
began
to
take
hold.
It
became
a
reality,
but
it
also
meant
that
we
needed
to
go
back
to
the
Murray
Avenue
neighbors
to
get
their
support
and
input.
B
There
were
a
lot
of
folks
who
worked
on
that,
but
at
the
end
of
the
second
meeting
everyone
said
it
sounds
like
a
good
deal
to
us.
So
with
that
we
went
forward
and
now
what
eight
years
later,
we've
got
something
that
we're
going
to
walk
over
today
or
pedal
over
on
our
bikes.
So
thank
you
very
much
for
coming
and
I
would
like
you
to
give
a
nice
round
of
applause
to
those
meri.
Avenue
neighbors
thanks
very
much.
A
F
You,
mr.
mayor,
some
of
you
may
know
that
I
have
a
history
here
in
Santa,
Clara
County,
and
this
isn't
the
first
time
that
Caltrans
has
had
to
make
adjustments
based
on
input
from
the
citizens
and
the
community
in
Cupertino.
I.
Remember
something
about
a
freeway
over
here
called
route
85
and
the
original
plan.
F
Everybody
said
absolutely
not
the
water
flows,
the
other
way
you
need
to
go
back
to
the
drawing
board.
We
did.
The
community
was
right
and
that
freeway
now
goes
under
Saratoga
Sunnyvale
Road,
so
keep
it
up
Cupertino
and
keep
it
up
Sunnyvale
and
you
will.
He
will
make
your
voice
heard.
I
really
do
want
to
recognize
a
few
people,
Michaan's
RTP,
who
is
here
Michael
burns
good
to
see
you
Michael
from
VTA
me
Jean.
F
Is
our
district
director
in
the
Bay
Area
and
was
largely
responsible
for
the
partnership,
but
participation
on
the
part
of
Caltrans
to
show
you
how
convinced
we
were
about
this
project
and
how
confident
we
were
that
would
be
built.
This
is
our
local
agency
directory
back
in
September
of
2006,
and
you
can't
see
it
from
where
you're
standing
or
sitting,
but
there
is
a
little
cube
here
that
has
a
picture
of
this
bridge
on
the
front,
an
artist
artist
rendering,
but
it
shows
what
was
going
to
be
built.
F
This
is
a
landmark
structure.
I
will
tell
you
they
in
my
notes.
They
provided
me.
They
said
that
this
is
the
first
pedestrian
bicycle
over
crossing
over
an
interstate
route
in
California.
Well,
I
know,
that's
not
true,
but
I
will
tell
you
it's
the
best
looking.
This
is
an
amazing
structure.
Now,
if
you've
been
up
to
reading,
you
have
heard
of
the
sundial
bridge,
that's
another
bicycle
pedestrian
over
crossing
over
the
Sacramento
River.
That
bridge
gets
so
many
visitors
a
year
because
it's
a
unique
structure.
F
It's
a
cable
bridge
design
as
well,
designed
by
a
Spanish
architect.
This
bridge
is
just
as
impressive
and
you
were
gonna
get
people
driving
for
miles
around
to
come
and
look
at
this
structure
very,
very
beautiful
bridge
I
just
came
today
from
a
ground-breaking
in
Solano
County
at
Interstate
80
Governor
Schwarzenegger.
There
broke
ground
on
the
first
project,
funded
by
the
American
Recovery
and
Reinvestment
Act.
F
The
economic
stimulus
bill
coming
out
of
Washington
I
just
wanted
the
bicycle
advocates
to
know
that
as
part
of
that
funding,
there
is
77
million
dollars
that
is
going
to
go
to
bicycle
projects
around
the
state
of
California
and
for
those
of
you
that
know
how
short
we
are
in
funding
for
bicycle
projects.
That's
great
news:
we
are
committed
to
alternative
transportation.
F
Caltrans,
as
an
organization
doesn't
just
talk
the
talk,
we
walk
the
walk
our
headquarters
office
building
in
Sacramento
last
May
was
the
only
company
agency
organization
in
the
Sacramento
region
that
rode
a
million
miles
during
the
Bike
to
Work
month
of
May
and
we're
gonna
break
that
record
this
year.
With
a
small
contribution
from
the
director
now
Bike
to
Work.
Day
is
May.
14Th
I
urge
you
all
to
bike
to
work.
Let's
make
a
difference.
F
Let's
show
that
by
bicycling
to
work
we
can
have
a
significant
impact
on
congestion
across
this
concurrent
bike
to
work
day,
and
you
have
a
beautiful
bridge
here
to
try
out
as
part
of
that.
So
congratulations
on
a
beautiful
structure,
you're,
helping
the
state
conserve
resources,
you're,
reducing
our
carbon
footprint
and
you're
building
a
healthier
community.
Thank
you
very
much.
A
Thank
you,
so
I
I
said
that
you
know
this
wasn't
about
me.
It
was
about
all
the
people
that
preceded
me
and
then
I
forgot
to
acknowledge
them.
So
I'm
going
to
do
that.
Now
we
have
former
mayor
sandy
James
here
with
their
own
cheering
gallery:
okay,
former
Mayor
Dan
Burnett
and
former
mayor
Richard,
Lowenthal,
all
all
key
key
active
drivers
for
this
and
then
former
Sunnyvale
city,
council,
woman,
Knight
I,
don't
know
if
she
was
in
mayor
Julian,
Miller
I
understand
is
here
as
well,
so.
A
So,
even
though
we
all
have
good
intentions
and
we
raise
the
money,
ultimately,
we
are
not
the
people
that
are
going
to
build
the
bridge.
We
do
not
have
the
capability
and
skill
to
do
that.
That
fell
to
an
organization
called
HNTB
and
I
would
like
now
to
have
Bob
Strom
said,
come
up
representing
that
organization
and
thank
you
for
all
your
hard
work
and
tell
us
a
little
bit
about
it.
G
G
The
city
decided
we're
going
to
look
at
another
alternative
and
they
went
out
to
New
York
City,
where
I
live
and
commissioned
a
study
with
Les
Robertson
and
associates
in
HNTB,
and
the
study
concluded
that
a
cable-stayed
steel
bridge
can
be
built
at
this
location
within
the
city's
budget
of
10
million
dollars.
So
shortly
thereafter,
Ralph
Qualls
called
me,
and
he
discussed
with
me.
His
conversations
with
many
of
the
leaders
here
behind
me
will
Kempton
be
John's.
Rtp
John
Risto,
with
the
VTA
Dali
sand
of
all
and
with
the
construction
manager.
G
Tom
Loomis
of
swenerton
I
knew
these
people
I've
worked
with
him
over
the
many
years
here
in
Silicon,
Valley
and
I
was
so
pleased
to
hear
that
they
favored
this
project.
They
were
supporting
it.
I
met
with
my
engineering
team
and
we
sat
down
and
I
said
you
can
be
confident.
This
group
in
Silicon
Valley,
will
get
the
money
and
they'll
get
it
approved.
Now
it's
up
to
us
to
deliver.
So
we
had
a
kickoff
meeting
and
Ralph
came
out
there
to
New
York
and
met
with
all
my
engineers
and
he
said
I.
G
Let
me
tell
you
my
expectations:
make
it
look
good
at
day
and
at
night
make
Caltrans
happy
make
the
community
happy
make
it
meet
my
budget
and
by
the
way,
can
you
make
it
ready
to
advertise
for
bids
in
six
weeks
and
I
said
Ralph
come
on
you're,
an
engineer
that
takes
six
months
and
he
said
no
six
weeks.
Do
you
have
any
more
questions,
so
the
men
and
women
from
HNTB
they're
over
there
I
want
to
recognize
just
a
few
of
them.
G
G
They
had
a
lot
to
do
in
that
six
weeks.
Analysis,
creativity,
preparing
a
Bittle,
constructible
set
of
plans
and
specifications.
Caltrans
reviews
had
to
happen.
Construction
cost
estimates,
Quality
Assurance.
There
were
so
many
activities
going
on,
but
it
all
happened
and
it
all
came
together.
I
call
it
a
perfect
bridge
kit.
It
came
together
piece
by
piece
and
it
was
documented
and
delivered
to
the
city,
and
then
the
day
we
were
all
waiting
for,
our
hearts
were
beating.
It
was
bid
opening
day
it
was
November,
13,
2007
and
I.
G
The
contract
was
then
awarded
to
Golden,
State
bridge
will
Reeves
and
his
team
over
the
next
year,
with
great
skill
and
innovation
constructed
this
475
foot
long
bridge
those
eighty
six
foot
tall
towers.
They
were
constructed
in
two
nights
within
six
hours
each
night
and
whenever
they
occupied
a
lane,
they
returned
that
Lane
in
time
for
commuter
traffic
back
to
Caltrans.
So
let's
hear
it
for
Golden
State
Bridge.
G
And
I
also
want
to
recognize
the
workers.
There
were
up
to
50
trades
people
out
on
the
project,
from
iron
workers,
to
Mason's,
to
concrete
workers,
to
cable
installers,
to
painters,
to
electricians,
to
equipment
operators
to
landscapers,
and
these
folks,
along
with
all
those
materials,
the
only
material
up
there
that's
imported
is
that
high-strength
steel,
which
is
from
Germany
everything
else,
all
the
labor
made
in
America
made
for
the
residents
of
Santa,
Clair,
County
and
hopefully,
visitors
from
around
the
world
will
enjoy
it.
Now
we
all
know
nothing
happens.
Without
a
leader.
H
Thank
you
very
much
Bob
Tamara
members
of
the
Council
of
both
cities
and,
ladies
and
gentlemen,
this
is
a
little
overwhelming.
For
me,
it's
been
a
long
time
coming
the
nice
thing
about
by
the
way
I
set
the
agenda
today
and
the
nice
thing
about
making
myself
the
last
speaker
is
that
all
the
important
things
have
already
been
said
by
everybody,
and
the
other
thing
is
that
whatever
I
say,
nobody's
gonna
be
able
to
rebut
it
when
I'm
done.
H
I've,
never
seen
such
a
confluence
of
collaboration
and
goodwill
and
effort
to
make
this
project
happen
would
have
been
possible
without
without
all
those
folks,
all
working
together,
but
I
have
to
tell
you
Bob
was
too
modest.
He
he
was,
you
know,
laying
it
all
on
me.
The
two
of
us
together
we're
sitting
at
this
conference,
table
in
August
to
try
and
decide.
Are
we
gonna
do
this?
H
Now
we
stuck
our
necks
out
on
this
thing
and
it
can
now
be
told
neither
one
of
us
probably
had
the
authority
to
do
what
we
did,
but
we
decided
you
know.
We
know
our
our
company
and
our
governing
body,
and
this
thing
has
to
be
done
and
then
we
thought.
Well,
you
know
what
the
heck
you
know.
If
we
this
thing
blows
up
in
our
face,
you
know
little
jail.
Time
builds
character.
H
State
Bridge
I've
never
worked
with
a
contractor
that
was
so
effective,
so
efficient
so
get
to
it
and
safe
this
project,
not
one
injury,
not
one
single
injury,
and
let
me
tell
you
yeah,
that's
a
real,
that's,
a
real
feat,
and
so
congratulations
to
will
Raines
and
Erin
Lindsay,
because,
let
me
tell
you
working
at
night
over
an
interstate
highway
is
not
for
the
faint
of
heart.
I
can
tell
you
two
last
recognitions
and
then
I'll
be
done,
which
I
know
is
good
news
to
all
of
you.
H
First
of
all,
I
can't
go
and
I've
never
acknowledged
this,
but
there's
one
component
of
this,
without
which
none
of
this
would
have
been
possible.
We
wouldn't
have
even
tried
it,
and
that
was
in
the
last
half
of
2007,
between
September
and
November,
the
unwavering
support
of
the
City
Council
at
that
time
and
they're
here,
dolly
Sandoval
Chris,
Wang,
Orrin,
Mahoney
and
Richard
Lowenthal,
and
the
personal
support
and
encouragement
that
I
got
from
our
city
manager.
My
longtime
friend
and
colleague,
Dave
nap
I,
was.
H
And
I
didn't
tell
you:
I
was
so
absorbed
with
trying
to
get
the
task
done.
That
I
didn't
think
about
it.
The
time
but
I
look
back
on
the
four
four
of
you
I
thought
to
myself.
They
must
have
been
standing
there
with
their
fingers
crossed
hoping
to
God.
That
I
could
pull
this
thing
off
and
they
never
gave
up
on
us.
So
I've
never
formally
acknowledged,
Chris,
dolly
horn,
Richard
and
Dave.
How
much
that
meant
to
me
and
how
wonderful
it
was
that
you
did
that.
So
we
sincerely
appreciate.
H
H
This
is
a
fabulous
day
and
it's
a
long
time
coming
and
while
you
recognize,
as
everyone
said
this,
this
is
an
architectural
icon
and
some
people
have
actually
called
it
public
art,
it's
that
good,
but
it
also
makes
you
real.
Big
is
doli
pointed
to
earlier
a
real
big
put
your
money
where
your
mouth
is
statement
about
this
region's
commitment
to
alternative
transportation,
particularly
pedestrians
and
bicycles,
and
remember,
in
addition
to
the
over
quarter
million
people
are
gonna
use
this
bridge
every
year.
H
Don't
forget,
there's
a
hundred
and
fifty
thousand
more
that
are
going
to
drive
under
it
on
interstate
280
and
when
they
do
I
hope
they
see
all
these
people
all
of
you
walking
and
cycling
across
it
to
emphasize
what
it
stands
for
and
to
everyone
for
your
support
and
genuine
goodwill
on
behalf
of
all
of
us
who
worked
on
it.
Thank
you
very
much.
A
So,
thank
you,
Ralph
and
no
you're,
not
the
last
one
I'm,
the
last
one.
So
now
I
think
I
think
there's
another
message
that,
hopefully
you
took
from
from
all
of
your
heard
today,
and
that
is
the
your
power
out
there.
This
started
as
a
bottoms-up
project
like
many
projects
in
Cupertino.
This
is
not
about
us
figuring
out,
what's
best
for
for
all
the
people
in
a
community.
A
A
We
had
a
meeting
this
morning,
just
coincidentally
the
same
day
as
today,
with
representatives
from
the
Union
Pacific
Railroad,
about
the
possibility
of
putting
a
bridge
across
the
Union
Pacific
tracks
to
complete
the
Stevens
Creek
Trail
over
in
the
park
over
there
and
guess
who
was
there
Don,
Burnett
and
Inge
some
of
the
same
people
that
were
there
at
the
beginning
of
this
story.
So
hopefully,
a
few
years
from
now.
A
I,
don't
know
if
I'll
still
be
on
the
council
when
it
when
it
gets
done
over
there,
but
we'll
we'll
have
the
same
people
here,
telling
the
story
of
how
they
started
that
project,
and
basically
we
got
agreement
in
principle
that
that
could
happen,
and
that's
really
good,
because
we
never
even
were
able
to
talk
to
anybody
from
Union
Pacific
before
we
couldn't
find
out
who
to
talk
to.
So
it's
just
a
start,
but
it
is
a
start.
A
So
I
want
to
conclude
with
my
own
description
of
Ralph,
because
we
talked
about
how
you
know
this
is
a
team
project
and
everything,
but
it
you
know,
I
didn't
have
my
fingers
crossed
Ralph
said
we
had
our
fingers
crossed.
I
didn't
have
my
fingers
crossed
because
Ralph
has
such
an
amazing
track
record
with
all
the
projects
that
he's
done
for
the
city
of
Cupertino,
every
single
one
of
them
has
come
in
on
time,
early
and
under
budget.
A
This
would
not
have
happened
without
the
competence,
experience,
credibility,
professionalism,
passion
and
yes,
the
connections
that
only
Ralph
could
bring
to
this
project.
So
Ralph
I'm
going
to
turn
over
to
you
to
unveil
a
sculpture
and
do
the
ribbon-cutting,
but,
as
I
said
in
the
state
of
the
city,
this
would
that
we
would
not
be
here
without
you.
So
thank
you
very
much.
H
Well,
ladies
and
gentlemen,
the
next
item
honor
and
thank
you
mr.
mayor
for
those
comments,
I
really
appreciated.
The
next
item
on
our
agenda
is
where
we
have
a
beautiful
sculpture
of
birds
that
we
set
up
and
designed
by
our
fine
artist
and
architect,
Amidala
and
Tom
I
see
over
on
the
side
here.
Would
you
mind
stepping
over
here
to
where
the
sculpture
is
Tom?
I
know,
unaccustomed
as
you
are
to
being
in
front
of
large
crowds,
so
Tom
I
dollar,
give
him
some
encouragement.
H
Ladies,
don't
I
have
to
tell
you
the
first
design
that
Tom
came
up
with
because
we
wanted
all
these
birds
that
are
indigenous
to
the
area
was
a
series
of
egrets
and
other
things
that
were
on
the
rail
of
the
bridge,
the
fence
that
you
see
out
here,
and
they
were
all
on
the
fence.
It
was
absolutely
gorgeous.
I.
Think
some
of
the
council
members
will
remember
that
first
design
and
we
loved
it.
H
But
then
we
went
up
to
Canada
to
the
University
of
Ontario
to
do
the
wind
tunnel
testing
on
the
bridge
and
the
first
wind
tunnel
testing
was
like
80
miles
an
hour.
Ism,
the
bridge
birds
literally
flew
off
the
bridge
and
disappeared
they're
still
circling
up
in
Ontario
someplace.
As
far
as
we
know,
so
we
went
to
a
next
another
concept
that
I'm
going
to
ask
mr.
Baer
and
I'll
go
over
and
ask
Tom
to
describe
it
to
you.
C
Thank
You
Ralph,
the
a
few
words
Ralph,
says.
One
of
the
things
about
the
bridge,
I'd
like
to
just
say
before
I
talk
about
the
sculpture
is
that
in
my
mind
the
bridge
is
the
first
flying
machine
because
it
takes
place
in
air
and
all
of
the
activity
and
all
of
all
of
the
construction
and
all
of
the
expertise
that
goes
into
it
just
goes
into
holding
people
and
things
up
in
the
air,
and
so
when
it
came
to
do
the
sculptural
theme,
I
thought
that
birds
are
nature's
flying
machine
and
we
have
the.
C
H
You
thanks
Tom
my
dala,
ladies
and
gentlemen.
Another
guy
worked
with
four
years
of
terrific
architect
and
artist,
so
let's
unveil
them.
The
first
is
a
family
of
Coyle
indigenous
to
this
area
and
drew
if
you'll
pull
the
cord.
The
next
one
is
a
red
shouldered
Hawk,
which
is
also
indigenous
to
this
area.
I
think
you'll
agree
that
Tom's
design
and
Larry's
sculpture
are
absolutely
beautiful
and,
as
you
go
across,
the
bridge,
you'll
have
a
chance
to
stop
and
look
at
them
a
little
more
closely.
H
I
did
I
will
have
to
tell
you
that
I
got
into
a
knockdown
argument
with
Tommy
and
and
Larry
the
sculptor
and
told
him
they're
gonna
have
to
move
that
Hawk
looking
a
little
bit
this
way,
because
the
way
they
placed
it,
it
was
getting
ready
to
pick
off.
One
of
these
quail
and
I
didn't
think
the
kids
would
like
that
very
much.
So
congratulations
to
you
Tom
and
to
us
for
this
fine,
sculpture,.