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Uploaded: Monday, February 11, 2013, 7:22 AM
Updated: Thursday, February 14, 2013, 7:03 AM
Freeway noisy over recently opened trail connection
Pedestrians can't hear approaching bicycles
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by Dolores Fox Ciardelli
Pleasanton Weekly Staff
Photo
 | The recently completed trail connection between Pleasanton and Dublin that passes under I-580 is subject to noise from the overhead freeway that is causing concern.
"You can't hear the sound of bikes at all," Deborah Wahl, a member of the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trails Committee, said at its meeting last week. "It's not just when you're under the freeway but by the park. It's so loud. And bicycles either don't have bells or don't use them."
As a possible solution, traffic engineer Janis Stephen showed photos of markings on the Monterey Bay Regional Trail which clearly show that pedestrians should keep to the right and cyclists are expected to ride toward the center.
"The Park District does not stripe its trails," Jim Townsend, of the East Bay Regional Park District, told the committee. "It's a maintenance headache -- they wear out quickly."
Secondly, he noted that the markings are not legally binding so are not honored. And lastly, the Park District doesn't paint stripes on trails for aesthetic reasons.
"We want them to look like trails, not roads," Townsend said, adding, "I know there are lots of opinions on this."
Another suggestion was to put up a sign telling bicyclists to call out as they approach but Townsend said the Park District would be against such signage.
"It sounds terrible to say but typically these things work themselves out," he said.
Trails do have a 15 mph speed limit, he noted.
"It might be a good reminder to post the speed limit," pointed out Sgt. Robert Leong, who attends the meetings as a member of the Pleasanton Police Department.
The Contra Costa Canal Trail near Walnut Creek BART has a similar situation but has come up with no solution, Townsend said, adding that he is pleased the Pleasanton-Dublin trail connection is getting traffic.
"We get lots of compliments on it," he said.
"It sounds like a couple of signs could be well used," committee Chairman Kurt Kummer said.
"I'll look into that," Townsend replied.
He also said the underpass is being studied for how well its closure works during storms that cause flooding of the adjacent Alamo Canal.
"The fence is designed to drop down manually when we close the gates but we are going to rethink that," Townsend said. "It takes two people to take the fence down and we don't always have two people. And we've found that people read the sign (saying the trail is closed) and go around it."
Then they are walking in a foot of water and cannot see the horizontal fence, which is hidden by the water.
The 700-foot segment under I-580 to connect the Centennial Trail in Pleasanton and the Alamo Canal Trail in Dublin was completed in October, a joint project involving the cities of Pleasanton and Dublin, Alameda County Transportation Commission, Zone 7 Water Agency and Caltrans. East Bay Regional Park District operates and maintains it.
Money for the $2.4 million project includes $1 million from federal TIGER II (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) funds plus the Federal Transportation Improvement Plan, Alameda County's Measure B, the Park District's Measure WW and the cities.
"The contractor did a good job," Townsend said. "It was early and a bit under budget."
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Posted by Sirena, a resident of the Val Vista neighborhood, on Feb 11, 2013 at 9:05 am My husband and I walked the trail on Saturaday,which is busier than the weekdays. I didn't noticed any noise from traffic. Bike riders were very polite. We walked together so bikes could pass us. I think everyone walking should have common sense and share the trail. It seems lately you need to label or have signs about everything for the people who can't think.... Only problem that I saw was one person on a cell phone for the at least 10 min. not paying attention to her surrondings. It seems now a days people make a big deal out of nothing. Excellent job on the trail.
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Posted by AnnaS, a member of the Foothill High School community, on Feb 11, 2013 at 10:00 am Noise from the highway and bikers who have to share the trail with runners and walkers are not the main problem of the Pleasanton to Dublin trail. The main problem of this trail is the extremely strong odor from the wastewater treatment plant. This is a problem for the city to take care of. Bikers, runners and walkers can handle the accident-free traffic on the trail without the city babysitting their moves.
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Posted by Carlos, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Feb 11, 2013 at 10:15 am $2,400,000 ??????
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Posted by Jim, a resident of the Pleasanton Valley neighborhood, on Feb 11, 2013 at 2:40 pm The connection trail is wonderful - I run on it twice a week. Noise and odor are not a problem. Thank you EBRP, Pleasanton and Dublin for the connector on the Alamo Canal Trail.
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Posted by Steve, a resident of the Stoneridge neighborhood, on Feb 11, 2013 at 4:25 pm I really hope they don't think bicyclists pay attention to posted speed limits on a trail. Can you really tell if you're exceeding 25mph on a bike?
Not that bicyclists would be reckless, but bikes generally don't come with a spedometer, do they?
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Posted by Mike, a resident of the Mission Park neighborhood, on Feb 12, 2013 at 9:30 am The speed limit on the entire length of the Iron Horse Trail (and all East Bay Regional Parks trails) is 15 MPH.
The project took 12 years and was funded partly by Measure B. See - Web Link - for the history:
A complete funding report for Bay Area Transit projects is at: Web Link
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Posted by Walkman, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Feb 13, 2013 at 9:50 am Take your headphones off, pay attention, and stay to the right. You aren't the only one using the trail.
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Posted by Curious Freddy, a resident of the California Reflections neighborhood, on Feb 13, 2013 at 12:23 pm Mandatory air horns on the handlebars of all bikes might help a bit.
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Posted by IJustWorkHere, a resident of the Stoneridge neighborhood, on Feb 13, 2013 at 3:48 pm Build it... And they will Complain!
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Posted by common sense, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 13, 2013 at 7:38 pm It is responsibility of the bicyclists to see that no pedestrian is hit, if they do, SUE EM!! LOL. Don't waste any money on this non-issue
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Posted by Dolores, a resident of the Kolb Ranch Estates neighborhood, on Feb 14, 2013 at 4:13 pm Obviously they need to relocate the freeways.
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