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other excursion railroads. He felt that should be done. He supported a city-wide vote in November on this issue. He asked people to remember the train helped Pleasanton to get started. He encouraged seniors to volunteer at the PLA and they would find out the members are not bad people and they have a lot of fun working on the railroad. Larry Dom, 5150 Case Avenue, said he has compassion for the residents of Ridge View Commons, but he also works at a downtown store. He supports the PDA request for an 18 month study. In the meantime, he felt the railroad people should start laying track from the other end and build it to Bemal Avenue. People may see the train come that far and find it is not so bad after all. He suggested taking a group of people from Ridge View Commons to Sunol to fide the train to see what the train is really like. The Transcontinental Railroad was built in the 1800's, but if they had had to go to all the meetings it has taken to decided whether the train comes to Pleasanton, the Transcontinental Railroad would have been built in 2200 instead of 1800. He further stated that the Transcontinental Railroad only came as far as Sacramento. The train that finally came to San Francisco is the one we are talking about now. He would like to see that bit of history returned to Pleasanton. James Swofford, Marketing Director of the Pacific Locomotive Association, 3647 Calvin Avenue, San Jose, said he has attended most of the meetings of the Specific Plan committee. He was surprised about the recommendations of the ERA economic study, because the PLA did not participate in that. He did not know where the consultant got the information about the train. He believed a lot of the concerns of the residents could have been answered in the environmental impact report, but there was not a lot of empirical data to support the conclusions that were reached. That was brought to the attention of the Planning Commission when the PLA supported the recommendation of the Downtown Association for the City to consider acquiring the Transportation Corridor and to put a train on it. A meeting was arranged with staff to discuss these matters and they were told by staff that because of the type of EIR that was done, that the hard data the Downtown Specific Plan Committee had asked for from the PLA in a legally binding context at a concept level plan would not be considered in the current EIR but in some following project level EIR. He felt the answers they provided to solve the concerns were not made available. For instance, there was no discussion on the category of an exempt grade crossing. That is a PUC category for an infrequently used rail line that does not require service vehicles to stop every time except the few minutes it would take a train to actually cross the intersection. He said there were some committee meetings held at Ridge View Commons and the residents there were invited to come ride the train. He believes there is a lot of misinformation because of a lack of direct exposure to the trains. He was surprised at the lightening rod this issue has become in this community. The PLA intentions are good and he was certain the City would control what the PLA could do. If diesel trains are not wanted, then the train will not run when the steam train is not available. The City can control what times the train will run. He believed there was a lot of unnecessary agitation. In conclusion, he asked Council to support the recommendation of the Downtown Association for additional time to provide additional information. The PLA will continue to work to provide information so the final decision is based on truth, accuracy and complete data. There being no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. Pleasanton City Council 20 02/05/02 Minutes