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Description
From 1988: This is an overall look at the history of the Highway 85 issue, including recent developments regarding potential interchange sites, municipal elections in Saratoga and public hearings in Cupertino. Also discussed: the Cupertino City Council's decision to delete the Mary Avenue interchange from consideration.
This video is one in a series of programs presented as part of the City of Cupertino's digital video archive project.
A
This
is
a
familiar
sight
for
most
South
Bay
commuters,
rows
and
rows
of
traffic,
backed
up
for
miles
on
our
freeways,
and
it
seems
to
get
worse
every
day.
Cupertino
and
its
surrounding
communities
make
up
one
of
the
largest
and
fastest
growing
metropolitan
regions
in
the
country.
However,
the
present
number
of
freeways
cannot
accommodate
this
growing
population
highways,
280,
101,
880
and
237
are
just
not
sufficient
for
handling
the
increasing
flow
of
traffic.
A
Plans
for
extending
the
highway
were
first
drafted
in
1956
by
the
California
State
Highway
Commission,
but
only
recently
have
County
officials
acquire
the
necessary
funds
to
support
the
project.
The
proposal
calls
for
the
extension
of
the
freeway
along
the
West
Valley
corridor
there,
by
connecting
it
with
the
other
major
South
Bay
routes.
Now,
after
more
than
30
years
in
the
books,
it
seems
highway.
85
is
at
last
becoming
a
reality.
B
Today,
I
feel
good
because
they
said
it
couldn't
be
done,
and
here
we
are
breaking
ground
on
the
longest
stretch
of
highway.
It's
going
to
be
built
in
the
state
and
I
think
it
shows
that
we're
at
can-do
County
and
it's
really
nice.
It's
not
me
and
it's
not
the
traffic
Authority
and
it's
not
all
the
elected
officials
that
we've
just
introduced.
B
C
Now,
coming
from
Saratoga
often
have
to
explain
that
there
are
many
of
us
who
are
very
supportive
of
the
freeway.
Quite
a
few
Sarah
tokens
are
here
today
to
demonstrate
their
interest
and
support
for
the
project.
That's
why
I'm
not
going
to
pass
up
the
opportunity
to
take
the
mic
for
a
second
and
join
in
recognizing
the
gratitude
that
all
of
us
hold
towards
those
of
you
who
have
been
working
in
the
trenches
for
so
many
years
to
make
this
happen,
it's
a
constant
refrain.
It's
incredible!
C
The
anecdotal
accounts
going
back
to
the
40s
when
Saratoga
was
but
a
village.
There
are
people
who
met
with
Caltrans
to
talk
about
the
route
of
the
freeway,
we're
breaking
ground
for
today,
and
we
need
to
say
thank
you
to
all
those
people
and
we
should
say
thank
you
with
a
great
deal
of
pride,
because
Santa
Clara
County
is
the
can-do
County
for.
A
Many
highway
85
is
a
project
long
overdue
for
years.
San
Jose
area
commuters
have
had
to
deal
with
the
day-to-day
congestion
of
the
local
freeway
system.
Arterial
streets,
particularly
here
in
Cupertino,
have
also
experienced
a
significant
increase
in
commuter
traffic
traffic
counts
on
De
Anza
Boulevard
at
Stevens
Creek
have
risen
nearly
70
percent
since
mid
May
1979
other
major
Cupertino
intersections
have
recorded
similar
increases,
in
fact,
without
a
major
change
in
the
flow
patterns
of
local
traffic.
These
figures
could
very
well
double
by
the
year
2000
85.
D
Is
a
is
a
necessity
for
the
for
the
county
and
it
will
be
unknown
at
this
time
as
to
how
much
real
benefit
it
will
have
on
some
of
our
major
roadways.
There.
There's
growth
in
the
county
that's
going
to
occur.
There
is
a
peak
period
right
now
that
is
beyond
one
hour
and
the
capacities
that
are
being
provided
may
cause
that
peak
period
to
shrink
but
still
put
out
same
amount
of
cars.
D
As
you
see
on
the
road
today,
there
will
be
that
may
be
that
same
amount
tomorrow
with
increases
in
growth
in
the
county.
It
may
be
that
every
two
cars
you
see
out
there
today
you'll
have
you'll,
see
three
cars,
so
it's
hard
to
tell
with
growth,
with
other
factors
as
to
really
what
the
final
impact
will
be
of.
D
E
85
is
not
the
whole
answer.
It
is,
in
my
opinion,
an
indispensable
portion
of
the
whole
answer.
However,
we
can't
have
a
viable
transportation
network
in
Santa,
Clara
County
until
route
85
is
completed,
237
has
made
a
freeway
and
101
has
expanded
its
entire
length.
I
think
a
longer
term
plan
requires
the
whole
range
of
traffic
improvements
that
are
identified
in
the
T
2000
study,
which
has
just
recently
been
concluded
and
disseminated
by
the
group
that
created
it.
E
That
program
includes
a
number
of
improvements
to
other
automobile
corridors,
but
also
the
utilization
of
light
rail
in
heavy
use
of
light
rail
and
various
corridors.
I
think
all
these
things
taken
together
provide
the
complete
answer,
but,
to
reiterate
I
would
say:
route
85
is
an
indispensable
portion
of
that
answer.
According.
A
To
traffic
studies
like
the
1987
Barton
Ashman,
Cooper
Tina's
can
expect
the
following
general
improvements
as
a
result
of
highway.
85
s,
construction,
easier
access
to
the
freeway,
with
Cupertino
interchanges
proposed
at
both
Stevens
Creek
Indiana
boulevards,
moderate
reductions
in
traffic
flow
along
east
to
west
running
arterioles,
and
a
reduction
in
overall
commute
time
for
most
County
residents.
Yet,
despite
these
optimistic
predictions,
there
are
still
those
who
believe
85
is
simply
not
the
answer
to
the
present
traffic
problem.
I.
F
Think
that
it's
a
major
step
towards
continued
Los,
Angeles
ation,
that
that
kind
of
land
and
that
kind
of
trip
patterns
between
home
and
commute
that
it's
going
to
reinforce
long-distance
commuting.
It's
going
to
tell
people
that
it's
we're
trying
to
provide
a
way
for
you
to
live
in
coyote
Valley
and
have
a
job
in
in
Sunnyvale
or
Palo
Alto,
or
something
like
that.
Also.
A
Concerned
with
the
issue,
our
residents
of
Saratoga,
a
quiet,
upper-middle
class
community
of
30,000
for
several
years,
the
town
has
been
strongly
divided
over
the
highway
85
issue
in
1986.
Saratoga's
voted
against
measure
B,
an
initiative
which
would
have
banned
the
construction
of
the
freeway
in
their
community.
The
measure
was
barely
defeated
by
some
600
votes.
Now,
it's
1988
and
opponents
of
85
are
still
trying
to
stop
the
freeway
for
the
same
reasons.
Basically.
G
A
Of
the
freeway,
however,
suffered
a
fatal
blow
this
past
November
when
Saratoga's
voted
in
favor
of
the
construction
of
an
interchange
within
their
city
limits,
although
no
definite
interchange
site
has
yet
been
determined.
The
fact
that
Saratoga
has
allowed
an
interchange
at
all
is
good
news
for
Cupertino
the.
D
Studies
would
indicate
that
if
there
wasn't
an
interchange
in
Saratoga
that
a
lot
of
traffic
would
concentrate
at
the
Saratoga
Sunnyvale
Road
interchange,
which
then
would
cause
levels
of
services
to
be
lower
than
desirable,
with
an
interchange
in
Saratoga.
Some
of
that
traffic
now
will
be
dispersed
rather
than
concentrated
in
Cupertino.
So
it
was
a
very
beneficial
vote.
D
A
Resolved
the
Saratoga
interchange
question:
it
seems
now
that
the
construction
of
highway
85
can
continue
as
scheduled
here
in
Cooper.
However,
another
issue
has
surfaced,
one
that
has
gripped
the
community
in
a
storm
of
controversy.
We'll
take
a
look
at
the
issue
of
no
access
when
our
special
report
continues
in
a
moment.
H
Understanding
begins
with
communication,
but
communication
is
hard
when
you
put
up
walls,
you
might
think
you're
safe
behind
those
walls,
but
you're
not
safe,
you're,
just
alone.
Walls
that
keep
your
feelings
inside,
keep,
love
and
understanding
out.
It
doesn't
have
to
be
that
way,
communicate
open
the
door,
let
love
and
understanding
in.
J
Know
robbing
forests
are
more
than
just
great
places
to
go
hiking
in
they
are
sure
furnace
or
holes
to
lots
of
different
animals.
We
get
wood
from
forests
and
they
help
keep
our
air
and
water
clean
gas,
but
our
furnace
is
threatened
by
development
than
people
who
don't
treat
them
with
respect
or
to
find
out
how
you
can
help
right
to
forests.
National,
Wildlife,
Federation,
Washington.
K
L
As
I
said
before,
cupertino
is
a
unified
city.
It's
comprised
of
several
communities
or
neighborhoods,
there's
a
progressive
community
without
one
with
a
workable
blend
of
commercial
and
real
estate
and
and
residential
pockets.
It
has
been
an
ideal
place
to
live
and
raise
our
families.
Today,
we
are
faced
with
an
issue
which,
if
not
handled
properly,
can
have
far-reaching
impacts
on
our
lives,
as
well
as
unification
of
our
city,
we're
threatened
with
an
issue
that
can
conceivably
pit
neighborhood
versus
neighborhood,
one
that
is
guaranteed
to
generate
ill-will.
If
handled
improperly
axis.
A
Or
no
access
that
was
the
subject
of
debate
at
the
November
15th
public
hearing
held
at
Cupertino
Monta
Vista
High
School,
nearly
a
thousand
people
were
on
hand
to
discuss,
interchange
alternatives
that
would
allow
northbound
280
traffic
access
to
Stevens
Creek
Boulevard.
The
present
alignment
allows
for
such
access.
However,
with
the
proposed
extension
of
route
85,
only
southbound
280
traffic
would
be
allowed
to
exit
at
Stevens.
Creek
merging
distances
for
northbound
vehicles
are
simply
too
short
in
response
to
this
access
problem,
the
city
of
Cupertino
and
Caltrans
have
come
up
with
six
possible
alternatives.
A
D
D
The
real
benefit
is
that
you'd
have
better
access
and
you
would
not
have
to
circulate
through
the
city
to
get
to
your
destination
well
by
limiting
that
one
particular
access
you're
going
to
force
people
to
use
De,
Anza,
Boulevard,
Stevens,
Creek
impact
McClelland
Road,
possibly
rainbow
drive
rather
than
get
off
at
Stevens
Creek,
can
use
Bob
Road
to
gain
their
access.
According.
A
M
The
the
biggest
impact
of
route
85
will
be
the
the
transfer
of
traffic
congestion
from
local
streets
and
getting
the
heavy
volume
of
traffic.
That's
currently
jamming
those
local
streets
onto
a
high-speed
facility,
a
high-volume
facility
that
can
better
handle
that
traffic.
We're
talking
about
a
demand
in
that
corridor
of
about
one
hundred
and
forty
thousand
vehicles
a
day,
moving
primarily
from
the
residences
residences
in
the
south
and
to
the
jobs
in
the
north
and
the
return
movement
in
the
afternoon.
M
A
good
portion
of
those
we
estimate
something
on
the
order
of
a
hundred
thousand
of
those
vehicles
will
be
going
on
to
the
mainline
freeway.
That's
going
to
provide
a
very
significant
amount
of
relief
on
local
streets.
I
think
that's
going
to
be
the
biggest
and
the
most
immediate
benefit
of
route
85.
So.
A
If
the
no
access
alternative
means
substantially
greater
traffic
volumes
on
Cupertino
streets,
are
there
perhaps
better
solutions?
The
Mary
Avenue
alternative
provides
access
to
Stevens
Creek
Boulevard
via
a
proposed
off-ramp
to
be
constructed
just
south
of
the
existing
two
80-85
interchange.
The
problem
here,
Mary
Avenue
residents
residents
believe
the
increasing
flow
of
traffic
through
there
hood
will
create
problems
with
noise,
safety
and
congestion.
This.
N
A
Other
alternatives,
the
full
interchange
in
McClellan
Road
proposals
have
their
drawbacks
as
well
off
ramps
that
these
locations
will
force
traffic
into
areas
which
are
presently
not
designed
to
handle
the
projected
decreased
level
of
service.
The
proximity
of
three
schools
and
residential
areas
makes
these
alternatives
undesirable
to
many.
So
having
already
heard
testimony
for
most
of
the
residents
of
the
affected
areas,
which
of
the
alternatives,
is
the
City
Council,
most
likely
to
favor
the.
D
If
you've
got
to
remember
that
this
whole
process
would
not
end
on
Tuesday
night,
it
must
go
through
and
a
evaluation
process,
both
environmentally
and
technically,
to
determine
whether
these
alternatives
really
could
be
implemented,
and
this
process
may
take
anywhere
from
18
to
24
months
to
really
evaluate
all
the
other
factors
that
have
really
not
have
been
included
in
this
report.
This
report
is
really
a
cursory
review
of
the
viability
of
different
alternatives
as
it
as
a
conform
to
standards
required
by
Caltrans
to
geometric
design.
Q
R
Seems
some
misguided
individuals
out
there
are
abusing
our
public
lands,
are
vandalizing
our
public
parks
of
playgrounds
and
they're
over
running
our
wild
areas?
Real
nice
guys,
some
clowns
are
even
stealing
artifacts
from
historic
sites.
Now,
when
I
hear
about
things
like
that,
it
really
bothers
me,
I,
find
it
unacceptable
and
I
know
you
do
too,
because
these
lands
are
ours.
Yours
and
mine.
Now,
I
know
what
you're
thinking.
What
can
I
do?
R
Q
M
A
18
mile
extension
of
highway
85
is
scheduled
to
take
place
in
four
major
segments
over
the
next
four
to
five
years.
The
Cupertino
Saratoga
stretch
of
the
highway
will
be
constructed
along
the
West
Valley
corridor
from
Stevens
Creek
Boulevard
in
the
north
to
Route
17
in
the
south.
Although
work
has
already
begun
on
the
Stevens
Creek
85
overpass,
the
Cupertino
interchange,
controversy
could
potentially
pose
a
delay
for
the
rest
of
the
freeway.
M
If
we
are
involved
in
a
solution
that
is
going
to
take
time
that
you
first
adopt
the
freeway
agreement
agree
to
sign
that
agreement,
and
then
we
will
work
with
you,
along
with
the
Department
of
Transportation
and
others,
to
try
to
implement
whatever
a
decision
that
you
think
is
appropriate
here.
If
we
are
to
get
this
project
moving
and
keep
it
on
schedule,
we
need
that
signed.
Freeway
agreement
and
I
wanted
to
leave
you
with
that
tonight.
There.
D
A
Seems
then,
only
a
matter
of
time
before
highway
85
becomes
a
reality
for
South
Bay
commuters.
How
much
time,
however,
is
still
unknown?
There's
still
a
lot
of
work
to
be
done,
signing
freeway
agreements,
allocating
funds
and,
of
course,
resolving
the
280
Stevens
Creek
axis
problem
here
in
Cupertino.
Most
agree.
However,
when
the
freeway
is
finally
completed,
Santa
Clara
County
traffic
may
be
able
to
move
just
a
little
bit
easier
and
the.
E
Study
says
quite
clearly
that
the
freeway,
with
or
without
interchanges,
is
an
indispensable
portion
of
the
answer
to
traffic
relief
in
Santa,
Clara
County
and
in
Saratoga.
You
cannot
expect
any
meaningful
reduction
in
traffic
congestion
without
route
85
built,
and
you
can
say
that
quite
safely,
from
whatever
perspective
you
select
from
a
Saratoga
perspective
or
a
Santa
Clara
County
perspective.
That
conclusion
still
holds
true.