By Eliza Ridgeway

Escalating construction costs and an expensive design demand from Santa Clara County are among factors that have increased the cost of a 1.5-mile Los Altos Hills pathway from Foothill College to Francemont Road by a third - to $1.1 million.

To pay the higher price tag, the town is considering using $200,000 more from the general fund, seeking more Valley Transportation Authority funding

and asking the college to cover the portion of the trail on its campus.

“Other than backing out on the project, I don’t know what else there is do to,” Councilman Craig Jones said. Mayor

Breene Kerr said that the council has to weigh the price increase against improved pathways safety.

The trail groundbreaking, scheduled for 11 a.m. June 9 at the corner of Moody and Rhus Ridge roads, will inaugurate a project to improve pedestrian safety and parking along the 1.5-mile stretch of Los Altos Hills.

The town budgeted $854,000 for improvements on Moody and Robleda roads and the Foothill campus. A $400,000 VTA grant and $337,000 in pathways in-lieu fees were expected to cover most costs.

However, construction costs have gone up everywhere, according to city engineer Henry Louie, and the town received only two bids from interested contractors. In addition, the VTA recommended a “highly engineered” 700-foot retaining wall at a cost of $230,000, 50 percent more than projected.

The Moody pathway would provide a safe corridor for pedestrians from Foothill College to Francemont Road, connecting with a path to Hidden Villa. Vehicles have been illegally parking on Moody Road to access the pathways, but Kerr said the city has been reluctant to enforce parking regulations because pedestrians do not have a safe alternative route.