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Bus Shelters Bus shelter design can impact the character of a street. The City, Hacienda Business Park, and Wheels, own and maintain bus shelters in Pleasanton. The majority of bus shelters in the city, while functional in providing shelter, seating, lighting, and views of oncoming buses, appear utilitarian with often weathered plastic siding. Thus the existing shelters do not contribute to unique design character when located near neighborhoods, parks, and the Downtown. The location of a bus shelter is as important as its design. The location should be safe and convenient for passengers going to and from residential, commercial, and public areas. Landscaping Pleasanton generally has a very green, well-landscaped appearance with extensive informal plantings on private lots contrasted with more formal public street landscaping. Many of the City's streets have developed, or are in the process of developing, a significant canopy of trees which is reminiscent of neighborhoods in older, mature communities. Well designed and maintained landscaping can gready enhance the appearance of a streetscape. The City maintains over 15,000 trees near streets while private home and business owners maintain over 60,000 trees. Pleasanton's business parks contribute significandy to the city's landscape character through the special attention given to the appearance of streets and intersections within their boundaries. In some areas of the city, such as near the intersection of West Las Positas Boulevard and Foothill Road, landscaping is sparse where future road widening and interchange improvements are, or were, anticipated. Native landscaping has been planted in several areas, especially along Foothill Road. New native landscaping often complements the existing hillside landscaping and reminds people of northern California's past. When allowed to grow naturally, native landscaping is attractive and sustainable. Native landscaping needs litde to no watering within a few years of planting, if the planted area is large enough to adequately accommodate its growth. Throughout the city there are several areas containing landscaped parkway strips between the sidewalk and street curb. These enhance the small-town character of the city and improve a pedestrian's sense of safety due to the physical separation between the sidewalk and street. Typically these strips measure five feet or less in width, whereas a width of six to ten feet is needed for trees to meet their growth potential and/or survive in the long term. There are locations in the city where landscaped parkway strips could be added along street edges to soften their appearance and improve the pedestrian experience. Public Signage The visual and informational quality of signage in Pleasanton varies widely. There is a proliferation of new traffic signs. Penal codes often require multiple traffic signs to be installed, if the posted information is to be enforced. Signage directing visitors to the Downtown lacks distinctive design and Community Character 011607 clean 10-10 1/3/2007