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Vice Mayor Cook Kallio inquired about resulting vibration, as well, and Mr. Quint said that at- grade tracks can provide more vibration. He directed her to the Noise and Vibration portion of the DEIR for further information. Vice Mayor Cook Kallio questioned if those impacts would be significantly more mitigated by a freeway track versus travelling through Staples Ranch. Mr. Quint explained that impacts are measured relative to recipients and, as cars on the freeway are not considered recipients, a freeway track would be less impactful by nature. Vice Mayor Cook Kallio inquired about BART's current alignment or freeway right of way. Mr. Quint clarified that BART does own the Isabel /I -580 station and shop site but nothing along 1- 580 itself. Councilmember Sullivan questioned if noise and vibration impacts from both an aerial and ground level standpoint would be evaluated with the program EIR. Mr. Quint confirmed, but said it would be done with much greater detail with the project specific EIR. Councilmember Sullivan said that with 35 years of experience, BART should have a pretty good idea of those impacts now. Vice Mayor Cook Kallio stated that the downtown Livermore terminus has essentially no parking, noted that the projected ridership differences are negligible, and asked whether this was taken into account. She also referred to earlier slides which indicated traffic impacts to this area were satisfactory and questioned how to determine which is most satisfactory in terms of decreased congestion. To the latter, Mr. Quint deferred to the DEIR for greater detail. To the former, he stated that the parking at the downtown Livermore station was capped at 2,500 spaces at the request of the City of Livermore. Vice Mayor Cook Kallio said ridership is not the same as getting cars off the freeway and she requested a relative ranking for reducing both traffic and congestion. Mr. Quint could not recall specific numbers but explained that some new riders would be coming from another form of public transit. Councilmember McGovern thanked him for a clear and concise review. She asked if Livermore has identified a preferred alternative or any goals and principles to be achieved by the extension to date. Mr. Quint anticipated that the workshop process would provide that input. Councilmember McGovern referred to the hybrid alignment mentioned earlier and questioned and confirmed with Mr. Quint that this is a true possibility. Councilmember McGovern asked how high aerial tracks could be expected to reach. Mr. Quint said it would depend on the circumstance, that those at El Charro Road would reach 40 feet (including the train) in order to clear the freeway ramps, but that those through the Chain of Lakes would not be as high. Councilmember McGovern shared concerns in terms of visual impacts on the senior complex approved for Staples Ranch. Councilmember Sullivan questioned why El Charro Road tracks could not be at grade. Mr. Quint said that some at grade portions along the alignment were considered but it was ultimately determined that an aerial path would best avoid the quarry operations taking place there. City Council Minutes Page 5 of 13 December 15, 2009