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not accomplish anything other than to be an advisory vote. She was just at a conference regarding ISTEA funding and how difficult it is to get grants. She asked Mr. Lure if ISTEA funds would be available for a recreational type train vs. a commuter rail or some other kind of application. Mr. Lum indicated there are national public hearings on how ISTEA funds would be in the future. The Mayor was correct, this project almost succeeded except for the lack of community support. There are separate categories for this type of project. If ISTEA comes back in a similar form, it is possible this project could be competitive. Mr. Tarver indicated this was a restoration/trail/corridor type project that serves a different need than highway and road improvements. He felt there was good chance that projects like these will be included.' He was very disappointed to lose the $750,000 grant for the trail and tight of way improvements for this corridor. Ms. Michelotti asked about the Pacific Locomotive Association (PLA) and why it indicated it was not a part of the application. Mr. Lum indicated the PLA has the current license and is negotiating with the County. The Pleasanton Railroad Association (PRA) is supporting the PLA's effort. The County is officially negotiating with the PLA for the license agreement and is the County is the lead agency for any grant applications. Ed Churlca, 507 St. John Street, representing the PRA, indicated he was thinking about putting the initiative on the ballot in June, but them were articles about $30,000 being wasted. He collected over 1000 signatures of support within two weeks. There 35 people from Ridge View Commons who signed the petition. There are some issues that confuse him. One of them is funding. In 1987, the Pacific Locomotive Association started building rail in Niles Canyon from Sunol towards Fremont. They built a quarter mile of track and started giving rides and taking donations. In 1994 or 1995, they had completed six miles of track for excursion rides for a rolling railroad museum entirely with donated money. If the voters of Pleasanton approve the initiative and he has permission to start construction, he felt there is a good chance they will start construction without federal, state or city money, because PLA has proven it can construct six miles without funds. Funding is not an issue as far as Mr. Churlca is concerned. If you had to use a normal construction company, it would cost about $1.4 million per mile, which includes setting up the train, laying the ties, putting in the ballast and laying the rails, and putting in the grade crossings, etc. He has a section of property that has been used for rails for 128 years until 1988. Mr. Churlca indicated the intent is to build track as far as Bernal Avenue. There are 3.3 miles from Sunol to Verona Bridge where the ties are already in the ground and it would not take much to put the rails back in. From Verona to Bernal, you have to put in 2.6 miles of track and ties on top of the ballast that is still there. It does not cross any streets, the overcrossings are already there over Happy Valley and Sunol Boulevard. There are some small sections to be concerned with regarding the Junipero grade crossing. He believed there had been 04116/96 -26-