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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02141984 - X.2 r � THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on February 14 , 1984 by the following rote: AYES: Supervisors Powers , Fanden, Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT. San Ramon Valley Southern Pacific Right-Of-Way Mr. Ray Bloss , Chairman, San Ramon Valley Southern Pacific Right-of-Way Study ,Committee, this day having appeared before the Board to present the findings and recommendations of said Study Committee with respect to possible acquisition by the County of the Southern Pacific Right-of-Way (Walnut Creek/ San Ramon area) for purposes of a public transit system; and Mr. Bloss having advised that any type of public transit system in the Southern Pacific Right-of-Way raises significant environmental issues , that a substantial number of San Ramon Valley residents are not convinced that a new transit system would he beneficial to the area, and that any plan for use of the Right-of-Way should include recreational uses; and Mr. Bloss having presented the recommendation of the Study Committee that purchase of the Southern Pacific Right-of-Way be deferred until such time as an Environmental Impact Report and Alternate Analysis studies as well as a feasibility study can be accomplished; and Supervisor Schroder having commented that the Environ- mental Impact Report and Alternate studies should he cor.!pleted and the results thereof transmitted to the interested cities in the San Ramon Valley; and Supervisor Torlakson having noted that this matter is of great concern to the residents of the San Ramon Valley, and having suggested that the matter be referred to the Board 's Transportation Committee and the Countywide Transportation Advisory Committee for review; Board members being in agreement, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the findings and recommendations of the San Ramon Valley Southern Pacific Right-of-Way Study Committee are REFERRED to the Transportation Committee (Supervisors Powers and Schroder) and the Countywige Transportation Advisory Committee for review. 1 hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the nlnutes of the Board of Supervisors on the dats shown. ATTESTED: /1V H141 J.R. OLSSON, CQUN Y CLERIC and ex of iclo Clerk of the Board By U4� (O i,soOaputy Orifi. Dept.: Clerk of the Board Cc: Board Transportation Committee Public Works Director Countywide Transportation Advisory Committee , County Administrator I . M SAN RAMON VALLEY SOUTHERN PACIFIC RIGHT-OF-WAY STUDY COMMITTEE 000 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Prepared for DANVILLE CITY COUNCIL SAN RAMON CITY COUNCIL CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 000 February 1, 1984 222 R E P O R T These findings and recommendations of the San Ramon Valley Southern Pacific Right-of-Way Study Committee have been formulated after six months of study, public hearings and deliberations on the proposal to purchase the 19-mile Southern Pacific Right-of-Way, a substantial portion of . which .bisects San Ramon Valley. The Study Committee is composed of representatives of the following organizations: San Ramon Homeowners Association Danville Association Alamo Improvement Association Association for the Preservation of Danville Boulevard 000 223 SAN RAMON VALLEY SOUTHERN PACIFIC RIGHT-OF-WAY STUDY COMMITTEE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS F I N D I N G S 1. That any type of public transport in the Southern Pacific Right-of-Way raises significant environmental issues, especially over those portions which are adjacent to residential properties. 2. That any plan to use the ROW should include recreational uses, such as walking, jogging, bicycling and horseback riding. 3. That substantial numbers of citizens of San Ramon Valley are not convinced of the benefits which reportedly will accrue to residents from a new transit system. 4. That the County's present policy of pursuing the purchase of the ROW prior to conducting studies to learn its advantageous uses and the environmental impacts thereof is an .error in priorities, and may create a fait accompli which will unfairly work against, and tend to usurp, contrary opinion on the desirability of a ROW transit system. 5. That no clear evidence has been presented to show that the owner of the ROW needs to, or is anxious to, sell same; and that the County's and cities' emergency ordinances dealing with the private development of the ROW are sufficient deterrents to its sale, and will allow time for analysis and study of specific transit system proposals before risking public funds in a contract of purchase. 6 That all the citizens of Contra Costa County may be exposed to substantial but undetermined financial risk by having to return funds for the purchase . of the ROW which are advanced by state and Federal agencies, if the decision is taken not to use the ROW for public transit. 7. That automobile parking facilities, and passenger ingress and egress facilities, appear to require the dedication of land, including land in residential areas, beyond the confines of the ROW corridor itself. 8. That many owners of residential parcels adjoining the ROW have expressed concern and anxiety about the impacts of noise, air pollution, diminished privacy and potential property value loss arising out of a public transit system in the ROW. 9. That in the haste to purchase the .ROW, little or no consideration has been given to an alternate plan of establishing a transit .system, express and/or local, along Danville Blvd./San Ramon Valley Blvd. , or along I-680, or both. 10. That the needs of residents of San Ramon Valley, and of commuters, for public transport may well be adequately served by an expanded coach service of the CCC Transit Authority. 11. That there is substantial concern in San Ramon Valley over the probability that a transit system would be established without a popular vote at the ballot box. -2- ?j. 12. That purchase of the ROW by the County transfers all planning authority for the. ROW to the County. 13. That Federal funding of a new transportation project, under the Federal Transportation Assistance Act of' 1982, requires a consensus of the community on the desirability of said project. 14. That approval of the "eight principles" governing use of the ROW, as listed in the Bauer Report, will be cited as approval of a transit system in the ROW for the purpose of gaining Federal funds. R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S I. That the purchase of the ROW be suspended until the necessary Alternate Analysis Studies and Environmental Impact Reports have been prepared. 2. That a study be -undertaken to determine the service capability of the CCC Transit Authority to fill the transit needs of San Ramon Valley; :and that:', i an immediate feasibility study be commenced on establishing a rail transit service in the I-680 corridor. 3. That the cities of San Ramon and Danville resolve to urge the Board of Supervisors to defer purchase commitments for the ROW until after studies -3- 2� are made to more precisely identify the needs for future public transit in San Ramon Valley, and the sources of the needs, as may be disclosed in detailed Alternate Analysis Studies and Environmental Impact Reports. 4. That the San Ramon Valley SP ROW Study Committee continue to monitor developments related to the ROW, and report thereon to residents and government authorities in San Ramon Valley. 000