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alignment. The Circulation Element also includes a number of intersection improvements, including new traffic signals and turn lanes, as well as bicycle lanes. The extension of Stoneridge Drive from its current terminus to EI Charro Road was included as a future improvement in the 1996 General Plan although for several years it was the subject of much community controversy. The extension of EI Charro Road to Stanley Boulevard and the connection of Busch Road to EI Charro Road were similarly included in the 1996 General Plan; development of these roadways will likely be tied to development of the East Pleasanton area. Consistent with the City Council's direction, the West Las Positas interchange was not included in the traffic model which was run this spring, although the interchange will be included as an alternative circulation network analyzed in the Environmental Impact Report on the Draft General Plan since it is part of the existing (1996) General Plan. The Draft Circulation Element also reflects some road improvements currently completed which are different from those planned in the 1996 General Plan. These include the re-alignment of Vineyard Avenue northward as shown in the Vineyard Avenue Corridor Specific Plan, and the new alignment of Valley Avenue south of Bernal Avenue where Valley Avenue now connects to Junipero Street, rather than Sycamore Road as planned in the 1996 General Plan. The Draft Circulation Element is also updated to reflect the street networks in recently adopted Specific Plans for the Bernal Property, Happy Valley, and the Vineyard Avenue Corridor. Also included in the list of intersection improvements is a new traffic signal at Valley Avenue and Blackbird Drive/Northway Road. The need for a signal at this location was discussed at a Traffic Workshop in August 2006. At that time, the City Council directed staff not to include a signal at this location (or at Valley Avenue and Crestline Road) because of perceived negative impacts on the residential character of this neighborhood. However, without a traffic signal, at build-out, the Valley Avenue and Blackbird Drive/Northway Road intersection performs below the LOS D standard. Unless there is a specific LOS exemption for this intersection, this would result in an internal inconsistency in the General Plan. Staff recommends (and the Draft Circulation Element attached includes this) that a traffic signal is shown as a future improvement at this intersection, and that implementation of this improvement is scheduled for after 2015. The Planning Commission also recommended signalization of the Valley Avenue and Crestline Road intersection. This recommendation was based on Commissioners' perception that pedestrian safety for school children would be improved by a traffic signal rather than a stop sign. The signal is not a required improvement for the General Plan Level of Service. Staff believes that the existing pedestrian crossing adjacent to Harvest Park Middle School and the other traffic controls on Valley Avenue provide safe routes to the area schools. Information on accidents on Valley Avenue between Blackbird Drive/Northway Road and Greenwood Road shows no accidents involving pedestrians between 2000 and the end of 2006. There were three accidents involving bicyclists during this period; two at the signalized Greenwood Road intersection and one at Crestline Road which occurred in 2001. Page 3 of 7