Trail gets funds Trail gets funds (August 27, 2004)

City OKs agreement for Iron Horse Trail segment

One more portion of the Iron Horse Trail, so popular in communities to the north, is being funded, thanks to an agreement between the city and the East Bay Regional Park District.

The funding agreement was approved by the City Council at its last meeting as a routine matter but Councilman Matt Campbell thanked all involved. "It's very exciting," he said.

EBRPD secured a grant for $450,000 for the construction of the portion between Busch Road and Santa Rita Road, plus is adding $50,000 of its own money. This segment is approximately 1 mile and the path will be 16 feet wide, with landscaping.

The total cost of the project will be $769,000, according to staff reports, and the city will provide the balance of $269,000 from Measure B Bike and Pedestrian Funds.

Ponderosa Homes is building the trail between Busch and Mohr Avenue, and is working with the city on design consistency for the improved paths.

The Iron Horse Trail is constructed along the right of way of the old Southern Pacific Railroad, which was closed in 1977, and currently runs from Concord to Dublin. The right of way also runs through Pleasanton, and the Parks and Recreation Commission has given its paving top priority as funding becomes available.

A 1997 study on the Iron Horse Trail found that 36 percent of the million user trips each year were for transportation, whether going to school, jobs, visiting friends, parks or shopping. -Dolores Fox Ciardelli

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