The Lawson Middle School Bikeway Project was initiated as a result of the School Walk Audit Implementation Project. The purpose of the School Walk Audit Implementation Project was to enhance the safety of students walking or biking to the City of Cupertino's fourteen public schools by identifying various improvement projects to enhance roadway safety for all school-age children. The Walk Audit project developed a comprehensive list of recommendations for improving bicyclist and pedestrian safety surrounding Cupertino's public schools. One of the improvements identified was the installation of a two-way separated bike path at Lawson Middle School, which would provide a safe and convenient way for students to access the campus bike cages. Due to the congested conditions during the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times, the sidewalks adjacent to the school are crowded with students, and the streets around the school experience significant vehicular traffic. Installing the bike path would provide cyclists with a separate, dedicated space, keeping them away from vehicles on the road and pedestrians on the sidewalks. The City Council authorized the Lawson Middle School Bikeway Project in the Fiscal Year (FY) 22-23 Work Plan, with a budget of $40,000, to evaluate alternative configurations for a bike path to access the bike racks from the neighboring streets. Transportation Division staff hired Hexagon Transportation Consultants, Inc. to assist with this effort.

The scope of the study included the following:

• Field observations to understand existing conditions, including pick-up and drop-off patterns and typical travel patterns for students biking and walking to school
• Data collection including but not limited to information relating to students biking to school, collisions in the area, parking demand in the campus parking lots and along the surrounding streets
• Community engagement:

o    Three Community Meetings

o    Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Meeting

o    City Council Meeting (upcoming)

• Development of alternatives with concept drawings, an analysis of potential multi-modal transportation benefits or negative effects, and cost breakdown for each alternative

The final Lawson Middle School Bikeway Feasibility Study provides a summary of the data collection, community outreach, and alternatives development.

City Council Meeting - Tuesday, July 9 at 6:45 p.m. - NEW!

On July 9, 2024, the Cupertino City Council will be considering a recommendation to install on-street, two-way protected bikeway along the west side of Vista Drive and the north side of Forest Avenue along the Lawson Middle School frontage, in line with community and Bicycle Pedestrian Commission support for this alternative. Questions or concerns about the project can be directed to Matt Schroeder, Senior Transit and Transportation Planner, at matts@cupertino.org.  Comments on the proposed Council action can be directed to citycouncil@cupertino.org, or you may attend the meeting on July 9, 2024, scheduled for 6:45 p.m at Cupertino Community Hall, 10350 Torre Ave or via teleconference.