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BACKGROUND The California Department of Transportation makes funding available through the Bicycle Transportation Account to fund projects that improve safety and convenience for bicycle commuters who are traveling to work, school, shopping destinations or activity centers. Proposed projects must be identified in a master plan. The City of Pleasanton's recently completed Pedestrian Bicycle Master Plan provides the opportunity to compete for this grant funding. This grant program is highly competitive, as there is approximately 7.2 million in funding available for all of California. After reviewing the grant requirements and typical projects that have received funding in the past, staff recommends that a grant application be submitted for construction of on- street bike lanes (also known as Class II Bike lanes) on Hopyard Road from Owens Drive to Black Avenue. The bike lanes will be installed by narrowing the width of the existing vehicle travel lanes to make room for the bike lanes. The narrowing of the vehicle travel lanes will provide a more comfortable experience for bicycle commuters and may help to control vehicle speeds. This project will provide a major north /south bicycle facility that will connect the Val Vista, Valley Trails, Del Prado and Birdland residential areas with the Hacienda Business Park, Hopyard Road shopping centers, and Hart Middle School. This segment of Hopyard Road includes a connection to the east/west Arroyo Mocho Trail and connects to existing bike lanes on Stoneridge Drive, West Las Positas Boulevard, and Valley Avenue. At its meeting of November 2, 2009, the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee voted to support this grant application. DISCUSSION The recently completed Pedestrian Bicycle Master Plan identifies the need for more north /south bicycle facilities. Although Santa Rita Road on- street bike lanes have a higher priority rating in the master plan, it is a more challenging project to design and construct. On- street bike lanes for Hopyard Road is, relatively, an easier project to design and construct and will demonstrate significant progress on goals established in the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. Staff recommends that the first projects undertaken after the completion of the master plan should not be the most challenging or difficult projects, because setbacks and difficulties may tend to lessen momentum and enthusiasm for the master plan and its objectives. For the past several years, as Pleasanton roadways have been resurfaced and restriped, bike lanes have been added wherever roadway widths allow. However, there are no plans to resurface Hopyard Road in the coming years. The Master Plan also identifies a project to install bike lanes on Hopyard Road north of Owens Drive to Page 2 of 3