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People exiting vehicles at the ACE parking lot on Pleasanton Avenue recently have received reminders that the spaces are not for those who carpool.
Signs with this message mark both ends of the large lot across from the Fairgrounds, but efforts have now been ramped up to make sure everyone gets the message.
“It seems the owner/operator of the lot is getting serious about enforcing this anti-carpool policy because they recently had a small army of parking lot attendants handing out fliers reiterating this policy,” said Pleasanton resident Brian Ishaug. “The Pleasanton ACE train parking lot is popular for carpoolers because the train can be used as a back-up. This alleviates one big problem of carpooling, being stranded because the person driving can’t drive back for some reason.”
“It’s also a convenient meeting place because the train can be used as an alternative to carpooling if not enough people show up to carpool,” he added.
John Giovannoni, ACE operations manager, said he and his staff have been monitoring the parking lot after requests from the Fairgrounds.
“We’ve had situations lately where the lot has been getting more full,” Giovannoni said. “The Fairgrounds asked for our assistance. We’ve watched people, asked for ACE passes, and advised them that it’s not reserved for commuters.”
The lot is owned by Alameda County and managed by the Alameda County Fair. When the Altamont Commuter Express began to stop in Pleasanton 14 years ago, some hoped a parking lot would be built on the city-owned property just south of Bernal Avenue, and use of the Fairgrounds lot was supposed to be temporary.
“That parking lot has quite a history,” said Janet Lockhart, Alameda County Fair board president and interim CEO. “Recently there was an agreement between the Alameda County Supervisors, the city of Pleasanton and the Fairgrounds that that (the lot) will serve as the permanent location for the ACE train parking lot. We finally resolved the issue.”
The city of Pleasanton has agreed to help with paving and restriping the lot every 15 years.
A small portion of the parking lot is reserved year-round for ACE travelers, Lockhart said. During the annual County Fair, which runs this year from June 19-July 7, additional parking for train riders is provided near the Satellite Wagering Facility on Valley Avenue and a shuttle provides a ride to the ACE platform. At that time the lot becomes preferred parking for the Fair.
But Lockhart pointed out that parking is important year-round for the Fairgrounds, which is used continually for events that often draw large crowds.
“The Fair tries to be a good neighbor to everybody but when there’s an event, there’s an event,” Lockhart said. “Sometimes people don’t stop and think about the Fair being a business.”
“It’s the only place ACE people can park,” she added. “They need to have it available to them. We also need spaces available — we don’t know what we are going to book, a big luncheon or dinner. Sometimes it’s problematic when they have a lot of participants.”
Three Silicon Valley companies, including Google, rent parking spaces at the Satellite Wagering Facility for their employees who then ride their buses to work, she noted.
“I can understand residents getting tense about it being in the middle of their community and not being able to use it,” Lockhart said, “but it’s owned by the county, not the city.”
“If this no carpool parking policy is strictly enforced, it could force carpoolers that want to use the train as a back-up to park on nearby city streets instead of the ACE train lot,” Ishaug said. “I am frustrated that public money is paying for that lot, but it’s not being used in the best public interest: to promote train riding and carpooling.”
Giovannoni said some drivers park in the lot then take the passenger shuttle to Bishop Ranch, or to BART to avoid paying BART parking fees.
“We will be putting in security cameras with license plate readers so when someone goes into lot after hours — the last train leaves at 10 — it will set off a trigger,” Giovannoni said. “At first we will put a flier on the car saying, ‘Please don’t do it again.'”
“It’s safe where we are, we understand that,” he added. “But they should be using a Park ‘n’ Ride.”
Planning ahead is usually best. Parking is an issue all around town. Perhaps our taxes would be better spent on adding/increasing parking lots. This should be a higher priority than other “Special Projects” the City spends money on. Security cameras and support staff will be expensive and controversial. Good luck collecting the fines and restriping the parking lot!!
Giving tickets is a good source of income…need i say more? BUSTED!
Let’em park. Good god the carpoolers are doing their fair share to keep cars off the freeways. You should offer encorgaement not dish out punishment. Typical government bureaucracy.
When I swing by these parking lots they are always three quarters empty. Do not understand where the fair gets the idea that the lots are “near” full.
why dont you worthless liberals go after the flagrant disreguard for proper parking at bank of america on main street every farmers market, black ave. post office every day, or how about the complete arrogance of the new demographics that are out every day at our schools. these people are the worst drivers i have ever incountered simply because they dont have any respect for the rules of our great country. where are the pleasanton police ? pleasanton police can make a fortune for our town if the would just patrol the streets in front of our schools twice a day. and these people deserve what they get.
I drive by that lot every day. I have never seen it full except during the fair.
Bill – well said. It is stupid that we want to punish those who want to do exactly what they are encouraged to do.
“The Fair tries to be a good neighbor to everybody but when there’s an event, there’s an event,”
It’s hard to keep track of all those midweek events that pack the parking lot and cause overflow into neighborhoods.
Seriously, they could use parking as a money maker if they charge a small fee.
the fair tries to be a good neighbor? Then how about not allowing parking on the neighboring streets during the Good Guys events. These people have no respect and block peoples driveaway , fire hydrants and crosswalks.
I am very very close to the lot in question and I have seen it quite full at times.
The fair is a good neighbor? Excuse me??? They allow a muslim festival, that revolves around LOUD music, over Easter weekend and call themselves a good neighbor?
I called the PPD as I could not even sit outside my home without hearing the ear splitting music and was told that there were hundreds of complaints. I am not at all religious but this kind of extreme noise is unacceptable at any time. A muslim festival on Easter? Really?
The fair brings a crowd to town that we hardly need and they take up all street parking, blocking driveways, without penalty. The PPD needs to ticket and tow these creeps who think they can take over our neighborhoods at will.
I agree with resident in downtown-but I have no problem with the fair people as there is no parking on my street when the fair is open with the exception of the hours past 8pm. still no problems–its the good guys and the muslim festival that block the fire hydrants, crosswalks and driveways. I see PPD riding by on their mikes but never paying attention as to how close to the corner (of parking on the corner etc)
yes If I did that I would be sure there would be a ticket on my car.
I find it funny how they don’t want car poolers parking there and at times when other things (except the good guys and the fair)going on-they lock the gates so no one can park there YET, tonight the first Street fair of the year the lot is jammed with people parking their vehicles there and walking to main Street–Are they are going to be ticketed? WEll it’s only fair, if carpoolers can’t park there then why should street fair people be allowed to park there?
after all the lot belongs to the county not the city. think of the money the county can make tonight.