Pleasanton Mayor Jennifer Hosterman concluded the meeting by saying,
What a wonderful workshop we have had tonight, let’s move forward!
Here at the East Bay Bicycle Coalition we couldn’t agree more.
Thanks to tireless efforts from advocates like James Van Dyke, a board member of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, great things are happening in Pleasanton right now for bicycling! We just learned, here at the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, that a critical connection between the Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station and Hacienda Business Park, along Hopyard Road, was just funded through the CalTrans Bicycle Transportation Account. This project on Hopyard was the only project in the entire East Bay to win funds though this very competitive funding process.
In addition those of you who have been following the TIGER II funding through the East Bay Regional Park District will know already that this project funds two important connections across the 580 in Pleasanton, one completing the Alamo Creek Trail though the 580/680 interchange between Dublin and Pleasanton, and the second filling in a 1.6 mile gap in the world-class rail-trail conversion, the Iron Horse Trail.
With this segment completed in 2012 the Iron Horse trail will extend 30 miles from Concord to Pleasanton, connecting three BART stations, 8 parks, 8 cities, 30 schools and countless numbers of employers and shopping districts. The segment that is being funded though the TIGER II funds will close the gap between the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station and the start of the Plesanton section of trail that currently extends from Santa Rita and Stoneridge through downtown Pleasanton. With this connection completed you will be able to ride from Concord all the way to Downtown Pleasanton on the Iron Horse Trail.
On February 10th the Pleasanton City Council met to hear comment from the community on this project, as presented by James Townsend, Trails Development Program Manager for the East Bay Regional Park District. Many people came out to this meeting from the community, almost universally in support of a rail trail project in their town. While there were many concerns expressed about specific trail alignments, there was little outright opposition to the project.
Google Map showing proposed pathway gap closure
View Iron Horse Trail (Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station to Santa Rita Road) Feasibility Study in a larger map
One concern brought up by many, including members of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, was about the routing around property belonging to Zone 7 of the East Bay Municipal Utility District at the corner of Santa Rita Road and Stoneridge. Up to this point Zone 7 has not been willing to consider access across this property that would result in a significantly improved alignment at this corner. The City Council agreed to form a liaison committee with Zone 7, and your East Bay Bicycle Coalition will also reach out to urge Zone 7 to come to the table.
The City Council meeting on the 10th ended with an outpouring of support for the Iron Horse Trail project in Pleasanton. Every member of the City Council declared their support for this project to move forward as quickly as possible. Councilmember Cindy McGovern said about this project “I truly never thought this would happen in my lifetime. [This project] will give kids a chance to have a feeling of neighborhood.”
Pleasanton Mayor Jennifer Hosterman concluded the meeting by saying,
What a wonderful workshop we have had tonight, let’s move forward!
Here at the East Bay Bicycle Coalition we couldn’t agree more.
To learn more about this project check out this presentation from the East Bay Regional Park District:
Powerpoint Presentation on the Iron Horse Trail Feasibility Study