Published Sunday, February 18, 2001, in the Contra Costa Times
Neighbors rail about ACE riders
Those who live near the Altamont Commuter Express parking lot are
finding their residential spaces taken by commuters
By Bonita Brewer
Times Staff Writer
PLEASANTON -- Neighbors of the Alameda County Fairgrounds already
have to cope with "no parking" signs posted in front of their own
homes during the 16-day annual fair.
And throughout the year, they must battle for street parking during
big weekend events at the fairgrounds and in downtown Pleasanton.
But now, residents are even losing parking spots during the week to
an increasing number of commuters snagging spaces to catch Altamont
Commuter Express trains to the Silicon Valley.
"It's an invasion," West Angela Street resident June Blanchette said
of all the ACE riders who park in her neighborhood. Many attempt to
avoid what she conceded are nasty traffic backups getting in and out
of the ACE parking lot on Pleasanton Avenue across from the
fairgrounds.
"We used to fight parking during the fair, but now that's just a drop
in the bucket compared to our troubles," Blanchette said. "Now, we
call it 'fair time' year-round. There are a lot of kids playing
outside. These are narrow streets, so when cars are parked all the
way up and down, it's dangerous."
Blanchette and other neighbors are circulating a petition reminding
the city and ACE that the station, which is on county-owned property,
was supposed to be temporary while a permanent station location was
sought.
In the meantime, despite pleadings from frustrated ACE riders, the
residents' petition requests that the city not open an access gate
for the ACE parking area onto West Angela Street. Neighbors also want
resident-only permit parking to be considered.
City traffic manager Bill van Gelder is recommending that the West
Angela gate be opened to encourage more ACE riders to use the parking
lot. He said that during a recent city survey, only 14 cars from the
ACE lot went through the West Angela neighborhood when the gate was
open, only three fewer than when the gate was closed.
Even if Pleasanton's ACE station is moved to the south side of Bernal
Avenue -- a proposal being studied but not definite -- officials say
it wouldn't happen for at least two or three years. Meanwhile, they
say parking woes at the station near the fairgrounds -- with
spillover onto residential streets -- will likely worsen with
increased ridership as train service expands starting next month.
Though ACE is working with local transit agencies to provide more
shuttle service to the station from BART and elsewhere, "short term,
traffic is going to continue spilling onto city streets and we will
be discussing with immediate neighbors the idea of preferential
parking," said van Gelder.
Mike Meier, another West Angela resident, has cancer and said when
his daughter comes to take him for chemotherapy, she has to park down
the street if there are ACE riders' cars parked in front of his
house, which has no driveway.
"When we come back (from treatment), she usually just drops me off in
front," Meier said. "She wants to stay and visit sometimes, but
doesn't want to have to park up the street and walk all the way back."
Harrison Street resident John Reding said that for now, parking in
the interior of the fairgrounds should be opened up to ACE riders to
relieve pressure on residential streets.
A third round-trip ACE train will begin March 5, and a fourth train
with a potentially bigger parking impact in Pleasanton will go into
service this fall.
Already, between 40 and 60 ACE riders park mostly along Pleasanton
Avenue rather than deal with the high volume of cars trying to leave
the station's parking lot in the evening via the single exit.
Although there's usually leftover space in the 600-stall parking lot,
many ACE riders, including Jeff Conway of Tracy, say they can leave
more quickly if they park along Pleasanton Avenue or side streets.
Several neighbors say the station should be moved across Bernal
Avenue to property owned by San Francisco. A citizen committee is
developing recommendations for various uses of that land, but is
expected to take another eight months. The overall land-use plan
could then require environmental study and voter approval. Funding
for an ACE station has not been secured.
A community meeting on the commuter issue and fair-time parking is
scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Pleasanton Library, 400 Old
Bernal Ave. Among agenda topics, which could face objections from ACE
riders, is a proposal to shuttle riders from a remote parking lot.
Bonita Brewer covers Tri-Valley growth and transportation. Reach her
at 925-847-2120 or bbrewer@cctimes.com.
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