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AUGUSTIN BERNAL MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL PROJECT DRAFT INITIAL STUDY 12956 DUDEK 8 April 2022 General Plan Land Use Designation and Zoning:  General Plan Land Use Designation: Parks and Recreation, Agriculture and Grazing  Zoning: Public, Planned Unit Development – Low Density Residential PROJECT DESCRIPTION Project Design and Use The Augustin Bernal Mountain Bike Trail Project (project) would consist of development of an approximately 0.7- mile-long (3,700 linear feet) downhill-only technical mountain bike trail within and adjacent to Augustin Bernal Community Park in the City of Pleasanton (City). Mountain bike riders already use the proposed trail location and have created several trails through this unofficial use. The purpose of the current project is to provide an appropriately designed and engineered trail to minimize erosion and user risks, and to reduce potential pedestrian/bicyclist conflicts on the multi-use trails in Augustin Bernal Community Park. The Pleasanton Trails Master Plan (City of Pleasanton 2019a) recognizes that the City’s extensive trails system provides unique and highly valued recreation opportunities to its residents, contributes to the community identity, and supports public health. Although the City’s trail network is robust and offers connections to regional facilities, the Master Plan identifies that there are important “gaps and unimproved segments that reduce the usability and enjoyability of the trails” (City of Pleasanton 2019a). As discussed in Section 1.6 and Appendix B of the Pleasanton Trails Master Plan, through the public outreach conducted during development of the plan, the City identified resident preferences and desired facilities, which includes more natural trail surfaces, closing gaps in the existing trail network, and constructing more trails dedicated to mountain bikes to meet user demand and reduce trail conflicts. In questionnaire responses, construction of the Augustin Bernal Mountain Bike Trail was specifically identified as one of the community’s top priorities (City of Pleasanton 2019a). Thus, this project is proposed for construction because it is a high-priority connection that would contribute to the City’s comprehensive vision for the full potential of the Pleasanton trail system and relieve pedestrian/bicyclist conflicts on the multi-use trails in Augustin Bernal Community Park. As shown in Figure 3, Proposed Trail Alignment, the trail would include a range of features, such as turns, banks, jumps, and grade changes, and provide alternate trails or ride-around space on challenging features to accommodate trail riders with less experience. Grade reversals and berms would be used to provide for appropriate drainage and minimize erosion. Several sections of existing user-created trails and trail spurs would be decommissioned. Wayfinding signage would also be provided along the trail to identify that the trail is restricted to mountain bike use and to identify challenge levels for particular trail segments. The trail width would vary based on grade, topography, trail features, and needs for maintenance access. It would range from approximately 4 feet to 20 feet. Examples of these features are shown in Figure 4, Typical Trail Design. The complete trail design plans are provided in Appendix A. The proposed trailhead would be on the Ridgeline Trail, which continues north through Augustin Bernal Community Park and south into the southern portion of Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. It would also be near Thermalito Trail, which continues south into Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. The proposed trail terminus is at the Augustin Bernal Community Park staging area. As shown in Figure 5, Existing Trails, beginning at the staging area, cyclists could follow existing multi-use trails to reach the proposed trail, specifically Golden Eagle Trail to Valley View Trail to Ridgeline Trail.