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<br />PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED <br /> <br />Commissioner Cooper stated that he supports the commuter rail line, but has concerns about the <br />station site and the use of Pleasanton A venue to access the station. He advised that he would hate <br />to see it delay the project, but he can't support the site for an interim station. He would prefer a site <br />further south near the Sunol Boulevard exit which would serve people coming down 1-680, as well <br />as the San Francisco property. He would like to see an interim station in place by next spring <br />somewhere other than Downtown, and therefore suggests that alternative sites be studied as <br />expeditiously as possible. He stated that he would like to see the commuter train succeed, but he <br />is concerned with the interim station being locked in as a permanent location. He fails to see how <br />hundreds of cars turning left from Bernal on to Pleasanton Avenue can be regarded as safe, <br />especially absent a stop light. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING WAS REOPENED <br /> <br />Mr. Montgomery clarified that the funds to construct the platform in Pleasanton are coming as a 50% <br />match to land that has been put up by Alameda County for the construction of the site. The County <br />is pledging the land for the station to match the Proposition 116 funds, and that if this site is not used <br />they will lose the matching funds unless Alameda County comes up with $500,000. <br /> <br />Commissioner Wright asked if Federal funding is available after the Demonstration Project without <br />matching funds. Mr. Montgomery responded that he would need to look into that. Commissioner <br />Barker asked if the City could provide the land in order to receive the matching funds. Mr. <br />Montgomery stated it does not have to be Alameda County, it just has to have a certain value. Mr. <br />Higdon noted that potential sites the length of the City were reviewed, but the paving cost in order <br />to provide parking adjacent to the platform weighed against using a different location for the interim <br />station. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED <br /> <br />Commissioner Dove stated that he has been working with Mr. Bailey of the Alameda County <br />Fairgrounds and Bill van Gelder on this matter for the past two years. He noted that the subsidy per <br />ridership is going to be very high and, therefore, the project must be very successful. He noted that <br />Diana Bonanno has been working with Wheels in establishing a circular bus route to accommodate <br />riders going to BART and Hacienda Business Park. <br /> <br />Commissioner Cooper commented that the buses could go where the station is. With the budget <br />surplus the cost should be evaluated and other options considered. <br /> <br />Chair Barker stated that the City needs to address the issues expressed by the Downtown residents <br />whether there is a station there are not. She noted that she agrees that the City should be willing to <br />invest in mass transit and that the budget surplus could be used in this area. She is willing to risk <br />this location under the condition that it be interim. If problems are experienced, money should be <br />budget in 1997-98 for a different station, and if the City owns property on Case or further down <br />Sunol, we should look into doing something right away. She also stated that a station should be part <br />of the San Francisco development. <br /> <br />Page 12 <br /> <br />June 11, 1997 <br /> <br />Planning Commission Minutes <br />