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Mr. Knowles said when the Bernal Specific Plan was developed the current traffic model did not exist. Over the last two years, that area has been taken into consideration. Matt Sullivan asked with regard to Alternative 8, what specific changes are recommended that are geared toward regional transportation issues; e.g. getting people in and out of business parks or getting residents in and out of the city? Mr. Knowles said Appendix B identified roadway mitigations and how it impacted residents, any benefits to cut-through traffic, etc. He explained several incidents and locations and how the mitigations would affect the area. Mr. Sullivan referred to the EI Charro extension to Stanley and the Busch Road extension. It seemed that was primarily for getting vehicles in and out of town in a better way than currently exists. Mr. Knowles responded that the 1996 General Plan called for a four-lane Busch Road to EI Charro, and a four-lane EI Charro extension. That was put into the model. Staff did not make any recommendations and intended to fine-tune the area once the land uses are determined. Mr. Sullivan felt those options would serve regional needs as well as local needs. He then referred to page 7 of the staff report with regard to a fully functioning 1-580 and 1-680 and asked if other things were being discussed to accomplish this? Mr. Knowles said there is an on-going Triangle Study and preliminary data is favorable for the widening of Vallecitos south of Pigeon Pass. That would dramatically reduce cut-through traffic along the Sunol-First-Stanley Corridor. More business park traffic could then use Stanley to exit the city. In addition to the eastbound HOV lane, which extends from Hacienda to beyond Greenville Road, thought is being given to what would happen if an additional general purpose lane that linked the Isabel interchange to the Vasco Road interchange (that is basically Route 84 north and south). That would increase eastbound traffic lanes for the Brentwood bound traffic out of the main mix. Other regional improvements are being considered beyond what is being discussed at this meeting for the General Plan. Mr. Sullivan referred to Appendix C, page 5, fourth paragraph, which discussed the need for a "major east/west route to accommodate new traffic and any shifted traffic would likely be replaced." He asked if that meant that if Stoneridge were extended, it would fill up and any relief on other roads would just fill again because the roads are just at over capacity? Mr. Knowles said that was possible, but there are still methods of relieving some of the congestion. Mr. Sullivan believed the differences between Alternatives A, Band C are somewhat marginal given the current land use. He did not see any advantage of one over the other as far as traffic congestion on a local level. Mr. Knowles said if it were possible to have an actual demonstration on the streets, it would be obvious there really was a significant difference in the proposals. There are increments of difference in the alternatives and it is up to Council to say if it they are significant. Joint Workshop City Council/Planning Commission 7 08/30/05