CCMIN012979 - Laserfiche WebLink

Olga Morrow, 4593 Del Valle Parkway, stated that when the Suit between PSSA and the City was settled in May, 1978, the City agreed to do a "full and complete" EIR before extending the Del Valle Parkway to Main Street. She asked if this was going to be done, stating that she felt the draft EIR on the railroad project did not satisfy or address matters such as school buses using the Del Va!le Parkway. Staff explained that the Del Valle Parkway completion had been included in the prelLninary EIR on the railroad project. After considerable discussion, I.~yor Mercer instructed staff to meet with Mrs. Morrow and representatives of PSSA to discuss what additional information was desired by PSSA and to include this material in a separate section of the Final EIR. Bob Abreu, 4653 Del Valle Parkway, stated he felt the City was acting in bad faith in light of the PSSA settlement because they had not been informed of a possible railroad track consolidation before the agreement was signed. He also stated he felt DeLeuw-Cather should not be allowed to do the design of work on this project. Mr. Barton stated that DeLeuw-Cather had not signed any contract to do the design work for this project. Franklin Lowenthal, 4586 Gatetree Circle, requested that the City Council delay a decision on this matter until further review had been completed. He suggested the Council appoint a panel of citizens with perhaps ad hoc members, representatives of the Southern Pacific and I,restern Pacific, and City staff, to make a comprehensive study of all the alternatives and report back to City Council with their recommendations on the following alternatives: (I) consolidation on the ~ tracks; (2) consolidation on the SP tracks; (3) removal of both tracks with construction of a new track around the City; and (4) no project. Mr. Lowenthal asked about receiving Federal money for completion of this project. He was ad- vised t~t with Federal budget cutbacks this was not a feasible or practical solu- tion consideration. Mr. Lowenthal discussed other possible means of acquiring money for this project such as increased railroad contribution and bond issues. He requested Council to compare total construction costs between the two railroads. Mr. Lowenthal discussed various advantages and disadvantages that he felt should be considered regarding noise, traffic safety, Castlewood area, fewer Souther Pacific miles of track, impact on commercial area, pipeline in the Southern Pacific right-of-way, future impact, BART rail service, and funding. Dorothy I.~son, 7055 Via Quito, representing RAILSWAP, presented a letter to the City Council offering the following alternatives:. "Route all trains through town on the Southern Pacific tracks, leaving the existing Western Pacific tracks as a spur line to the winery, if it can be sho~m this would be necessary. We could then eliminate seven (7) at grade conflict points along the Western Pacific corridor: St. ~rys St., Division St., Rose Avenue, West Angela St., Bernal Avenue, New Bernal J~venue (to be constructed), and Castlewood Drive. The only overpass re- quired at this time would be that proposed for Bernal Avenue and South ~a~ . _= ~n Street. Stanley Blvd could remain an at grade crossing, until such time as Del Valle Parh.~ay is completed to that point. "Santa Rita Road, Del Valle Parkway (when completed to l,hin Street), and St. John Street could all remain as at grade crossings; because the use of these crossings would be reduced to an average of once per week. The reduced traffic at the Santa Rita Road crossing should be of some value, on the P.U.C.'s priority system. 2. 1/29/79