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Uploaded: Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 7:59 AM
Updated: Monday, March 11, 2013, 7:01 AM
Stoneridge Drive improvements OK'd in advance of October opening of roadway's extension to Livermore
New traffic lights, turning lanes to be added at Stoneridge/Santa Rita Road
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by Jeb Bing
Pleasanton Weekly Staff
Photo
 | Construction will start next month on a $1.3-million intersection improvement project at Santa Rita Road and Stoneridge Drive in Pleasanton, another in a series of multi-million-dollar road and bridge building programs now under way to extend Stoneridge Drive east to El Charro Road and Livermore.
The long-awaited and often controversial extension goes back more than a decade and, at one time, was at the heart of political campaigns for City Council and regional agency posts.
The intersection project approved by the Pleasanton City Council Tuesday will widen the busy Santa Rita/Stoneridge intersection to three lanes, adding new left and right turn lanes, better pedestrian pathways, a new bus turnout where passengers can board more safely, and a multi-phase, computer-operated signal system to give more time on what's likely to be a heavier-traveled Stoneridge Drive.
Traffic signals also will be installed at Newton Way, Guzman Parkway and Trevor Parkway, streets and neighborhoods which will see through traffic on Stoneridge for the first time when the roadway extension is completed. Sound walls in those neighborhoods will be improved or installed along with noise attenuating (lessening) pavement between Santa Rita and Trevor.
The council awarded the contract to Carone and Company, Inc., the lowest competitive bidder for the work. The project is being funded entirely with various "non-city" sources, including funding from the Alameda County Surplus Property Authority pad to the city of Pleasanton to offset the cost of Staples Ranch traffic mitigations, as well as form other sources.
The extension of Stoneridge Drive will be completed and the roadway opened once work is completed on a new four-lane bridge now under construction just east of Trevor Drive. For years, a "Road Closed" sign as marked the end of Stoneridge at that point even though the city of Livermore completed the extension of Jack London Boulevard to El Charro last year.
When Stoneridge opens, motorists will have a new through street to drive between the two cities, a long anticipated, though often controversial goal of city and civic leaders. A main concern on the Pleasanton side is the possibility that commuters may use Stoneridge between the El Charro interchange at I-580 and the Stoneridge Drive interchange at I-680 to bypass the often-congested interchange of those two freeways, especially during rush hours.
Proponents of the Stoneridge Drive extension, however, have said the new roadway will provide faster, easier access for residents on both sides of El Charro to Pleasanton businesses where they work, ValleyCare Medical Center and now the new outlets shopping center at El Charro and I-580.Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by At Last!, a resident of the Danbury Park neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2013 at 8:59 am I sure hope they actually act, instead of just more delays.
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Posted by oldtimer, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2013 at 10:44 am I'm hoping that government works as usual on this project, that is more delays, more environmental studies required, etc. A similar pace as the one on Stanley, two years to make almost no improvements.
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Posted by Bill, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2013 at 12:33 pm The city council and Zone 7 are both meeting tonite. They should discuss as part of the improvements to this intersection, an offset curb for the Wheels' buses to drive into to load and unload passengers on southbound Santa Rita. As it is now, the buses come to a complete stop in the right hand lane causing traffic to back-up into the intersection. The speed limit is 45mph. A bus coming to a quick stop right after the intersection catches a lot of drivers off guard and unprepared. When turning right from Stroneridge to Santa Rita, the trees block the view of a stopped bus. A driver making a right turn has to contend with a stopped bus appearing in their face unexpectedly. I am sure Zone 7 would donate a small amount of their pumping station property so that this bus stop could be made safe.
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Posted by random dude, a resident of the Carriage Gardens neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2013 at 8:45 am Bill - your bus stop idea is already in the planned improvements.
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Posted by Gridlock, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2013 at 9:24 am I hope both the degree of blockage and the time to complete are kept to a minimum. All the East side will be gridlock during the process..altering other schedules.
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Posted by Terry Messick-Cass, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2013 at 11:10 am As a resident living close to Stoneridge Drive, I fear for the safety of children/parents as they pick their children up @ Mohr Elementary School??? I see an accident waiting to happen, especially on rainy days, when the carpools to pick up their children @ Mohr backs up on Stoneridge Drive. Drivers please be aware of the 2 schools and 2 parks on Stoneridge Drive, along with the fact that this is a residential community, not a Freeway!! The speed limit on Stoneridge Drive is not 45 MPH either......
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Posted by Max, a resident of the Stoneridge neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2013 at 12:53 pm Can't wait to have Dublin, Tracy, Livermore, outlet mall and 580 Traffic on Stoneridge Dr. including the crime and the trash.
Excellent decision by Pleasanton city members serving well Dublin and Livermore residents and screwing PLS residents.
Pleasanton will become another Milpitas/Fremont with a small variation: higher property taxes
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Posted by Flood?, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2013 at 8:43 pm FEMA flood maps on the FEMA website show the assisted living center that Pleasanton somehow approved in the 100 year flood plain with a designation of AH.
Stoneridge Drive where it is planned to be is also in the flood plain. In case of a flood, how are the seniors going to be rescued?
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Posted by Calm Inner City Traffic, a resident of the Stoneridge neighborhood, on Mar 9, 2013 at 9:13 am It's about time!!! What's next, a human chain across Stoneridge? The threats of not voting for City Council Members and not Re-Electing the Mayor won't work any longer. The extension was part of the General Plan and had made it past the challenges by the community. This has been approved and funded. This is the first step in reducing inner city traffic. It will take a load off of the collection of traffic at Santa Rita and 580, as well as Santa Rita and Valley. Next should be a connection between Stanley and El Charro. Now with the speed limits increased, this city will remain a great place to live.
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Posted by Max, a resident of the Stoneridge neighborhood, on Mar 13, 2013 at 7:28 am 100 year flood plain should be the least worry of senior citizens living at the assisted living center.
High traffic and be run over by cars from alternate 580 and outlet mall traffic should be the greater worry in my opinion.
Not only inner traffic in PLS would not be alleviated, we will have additional traffic of Dublin, Livermore, outlet mall and 580 commuters in PLS due to this extension.
Our school kids and citizens will be at higher risk. But who cares about that. City of PLS will have additional revenue due to Busch property. Also, PLS motorcycle cops can hide behind trees and write speeding tickets on commuters day in and day out. Another source of revenue. More PLS revenue, higher pension for the PLS city works and cops.
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