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truly be a hub in the trail system. She encouraged Council to open the boundaries and become the hub it can be for multi-use trails systems. Ms. Dennis indicated one of the letters Council received indicated the Park District had had difficulty getting a multi-use trail through Niles Canyon. The PUC would not permit that as long as there is a train in operation. Ms. Combs said there was a plan that had two trails, with one closer to the water and meandering around the train tracks. Mr. Campbell asked if passage of Measure K would benefit the corridor. Ms. Combs was uncertain, but felt any additional funds for maintenance and operation would allow more things to occur than are possible now. She believed there would be another bond issue for park acquisition in the future. Alan Ramsay, 7546 Homewood Court, said one of the things that attracted him to Pleasanton was the old fashioned downtown character of Main Street. Whenever out of town visitors come, them are two things they do: stroll Main Street and go for a ride on the Niles Canyon Railway. He felt these two things could be blended together to preserve the historic downtown along with the historic aspects of the original Transcontinental Railroad that passed through here. This was the main line for ten years from 1869-1879. He asked for a factual study to bring the railroad downtown. There has been too much heated debate over this. Nelson Crosby, 75 Kilkare Road, Sunol, indicated that the Pacific Locomotive Association (PLA) had given its word to Sunol residents and has broken its word on almost all the terms. A major problem is the exhaust from the train. It can be smelled 300 yards away from the tracks. The trains idle at the depot for at least 30 minutes. There are noise problems due to whistles and horns early in the morning. He said there was no communication from the PLA to Sunol residents. It does what it wants along the tracks. For instance, it trimmed trees along the tracks, which removed some of the privacy of certain neighbors. Remarks have been made about the train being good for the kids and that is true for a couple of times a year. What is really great for kids is to hike the trails along the ridge in the open space and being able to see wildlife. He encouraged people who don't live near the tracks to imagine what it is like for the train to be in their backyard. He felt they would have a different view of it. Bruce Rogers, 11885 Foothill Road, Sunol, suggested the residents of Pleasanton review the history of the PLA. It has caused problems in every community it enters. He complained of the exhaust from the train. It started operation with three months a year and a few trips per month, then it expanded to more than once a week now. It has changed the atmosphere of the town due to the number of people that have come in. He would hate to see Pleasanton's downtown disrupted in the same way. Neil Davies, Sunol, indicated the PLA came to Sunol in 1987. The County informed the residents and there were several meetings. There was not a lot of support from the residents. The original proposal was for the train to mn twice a month for three months of the year. This Pleasanton City Council 11 03/05/02 Minutes