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Lengthy Council discussion ensued regarding the various options and questions asked and answered regarding various access issues and sidewalks. Mayor Hosterman opened the item for public comment. Carol Mahoney, representing Zone 7, addressed the City Council indicating Zone 7 is in support of the Iron Horse Trail and they have been participating in the Ad Hoc Committee Meetings. Jim Townsend, representing East Bay Regional Parks District, addressed the Council giving a brief background on the Iron Horse Trail system. He indicated they support the City's efforts to install wayfinding signage to direct trail users, bicyclists and pedestrians, from the Dublin BART Station to the completed section of the Iron Horse Trail beginning at Santa Rita Road. He stated the advantages of Option 1 is that it remains a paved trail the entire course of the interim alignment; the downside is there is the opportunity to mix bicyclists and pedestrians on the sidewalk which is sometimes problematic. But, balancing against directing trail users, many of whom are commuters on bicycles, onto an unpaved gravel road would probably go unused in most cases. It would be too hard on their tires and bones. Given those two choices, Option 1 provides a hard surface connection all the way from the Dublin BART Station to the entrance of the trail at Santa Rita. His main point is to recommend that the Council follows Mr. Wolfe's recommendation which is to keep your eyes on the prize, which is creating a class one separated Iron Horse Trail all the way through Pleasanton. He indicated while the midwalk crossings are definitely a challenge, they have been successfully addressed in many other locations along the Trail. He stressed the importance of working toward the long-term solution of constructing the Trail along the licensed corridor primarily dealing with the mid-walk crossings appropriately, whether that be through bridges, detours to signalize the intersections, whatever seems to be the best solution. It is their feeling that with the state bond measures and with federal funding, that there is actually going to be significant state and federal funding for these kinds of projects. He noted Pleasanton and the Park District, working cooperatively, have been very successful in obtaining local grant funds for the Iron Horse Trail Project and they are confident that the community would support spending what it takes to get this job done right. In response to question, Mr. Townsend indicated a committee has not been set up to finish the plans for Option 3. He indicated they are looking at prioritizing that once they get the next phase of the Alamo Canal project underway which would be the plans, specifications and estimates. Once that gets going and they wrap up the Iron Horse Trail section, EBRPD will be able to free up some staff time to do the same sort of feasibility and engineering study on the Iron Horse Trail segement through Hacienda that they did to begin the Alamo Canal section. Planning and feasibility to complete the long-term segment could probably be completed in a 3-5 year timeframe with construction dependent on funding and whatever constraints are identified. Deborah Wahl, noting her participation on the Ad Hoc Committee, spoke in support of the temporary connector and specifically in support of Option 1. She felt there are many challenges to be addressed and stressed the need to get people off the street. City Council Minutes 8 March 6, 2007