PC 040902 - Laserfiche WebLink

safety and the second to timing. He noted that the longer the City waits, the more it will cost to r- do any improvements. He advised that he is definitely in favor of constructing the braided ramp and this would be his number one priority. He stated that the City will have to comply with Caltrans' mandates in order to obtain Federal dollars. Paul Stewart, 3813 Muirwood Drive, stated that he is not necessarily opposed to the West Las Positas Interchange, but he does have concems about safety. He advised that a friend of his was the crossing guard last year at Dorman and West Las Positas and this is a terrible intersection. He commented that he is concerned about eastbound traffic into Hacienda Business Park. He asked if West Las Positas Road will be widened from Foothill Road to where it goes down to two lanes. He advised that this needs to be done. Mr. Lum advised that this was not part of this study, noting that the General Plan shows West Las Positas widened to two lanes, but that location will be looked at as part of the overall City Baseline Model. Chairperson Maas asked what would happen to the western portion of West Las Positas if the interchange was constructed. Mr. Homolka advised that the plans the Committee prepared show no improvement; however, the model did take into account all traffic improvements suggested in the General Plan. Commissioner Sullivan commented that he believes there is a traffic light planned for Muirwood Drive. Mr. Knowles advised that he would need to look into this issue further, but he thinks that some Federal funds were available for the signal, and because of the other improvements that would be necessary, the funds were insufficient. Chairperson Maas stated that she feels there definitely needs to be some mitigation in this area if the interchange is constructed. r- Joseph Cunningham, 3599 Carlsbad Court, commented that an alternative that has not been mentioned is to do nothing. He noted that he attended several ofthe meetings, including the meeting where the City presented the 2000 Traffic Plan. He further noted that the information in the Plan led to building the interchange, and the Committee felt as if it had been sabotaged. He advised that the cars traveling on West Las Positas going to Donlon School and Hart Middle School need to be looked at, noting that there is no room for additional traffic from an interchange. He advised that he also attended a meeting in October at which Mr. Homolka presented an idea that included a high-speed ramp and concerns were expressed regarding student safety if this high-speed ramp was constructed. He noted that the ramp would also have impacts on the Arroyo. Mr. Cunningham advised that he feels Caltrans should take over and do the right thing, and that the City of Pleasant on should not have to make routes through Pleasanton to make up for what Caltrans did not plan. Joe Russo, 6772 Paseo San Leon, stated that he sees the West Las Positas interchange, as he did the Stoneridge interchange infrastructure, as a greater convenience that would benefit all of the residents of Pleasanton. He advised that he shares those concerns related to safety and other issues, but he believes the City has had issues related to traffic flow at other major intersections, such as that at Bernal Avenue when Pleasanton Middle School was constructed, and in his opinion those issues have never been dealt with adequately. He noted that the situation at that intersection will probably get worst with the construction of homes on the Bernal property, but no one has discussed the issues of Bernal being impacted if the West Las Positas Interchange is not going to be constructed. He advised that he believes that the traffic needs should be spread r' PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES April 9, 2002 Page 9