Ok Kids-- The news you have all been waiting for-- especially you Margaret ......

Niles Canyon Trail

A feasibility study on a multi-use trail through Niles Canyon connecting Fremont and Sunol is now complete.

Prepared by East Bay Regional Park District staff, the 86-page report provides details for the proposed project that would create a 10-foot wide path for pedestrians, bicyclists and possibly equestrians to travel the picturesque canyon for about 6 miles.
Also proposed are two other trail connections that would tie Vallejo Mills Park at Niles Canyon Road, also known as state Route 84, and Mission Boulevard to the Bay Area Ridge Trail and another to connect from Vargas Plateau Regional Park in the Fremont hills to the Sunol Water Temple.
"We commissioned BKF Engineers as the lead consultant who put together the report," said Suzanne Wilson, the park district's senior planner for trails development. "The study includes expected impacts on the environmental and historical features within the canyon, but an (environmental impact report) has not been completed, and won't be until we secure funding to move this project forward."
At the moment, there is no funding identified to finalize the design and complete the environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA.
Partners in the project are County of Alameda, East Bay Regional Park District, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and Alameda County Water District. Currently, City of Fremont's role is as a stakeholder.
As part of outreach to the public on the proposed project, the park district held four community meetings between October 2014 and October 2015, including the Niles Canyon Stroll and Roll event, and presented the concept at City Council meetings in Fremont (April 2015) and Union City (May 2015).
A public meeting on the feasibility study is expected in May and has yet to be scheduled
Last October, California Department of Transportation closed state Route 84 to vehicle traffic which allowed walking and cycling through the canyon for several hours. The event attracted 10,000 participants, according to estimates.
The trails project is separate from a contentious Alameda Creek Bridge replacement proposal on Niles Canyon Road by Caltrans.
Three trail options
The study identifies three alternative routes which all include at least one major bridge. Expanding trail access in Niles Canyon "appears both complex and expensive" yet feasible, according to the study.
Similar to the Bay Area Ridge Trail, more than 365 miles are complete from more than 550 planned miles. The Niles Canyon trail would be built in phases.
While there is not an apparent preferred option for the trail alignment at this time, staff believes the North Canyon Trail, or option 1, is the ideal alternative.

Under the North Canyon Trail option, the trail would follow an alignment along the north face of Niles Canyon. For the trail to shift from the south to north side of the canyon, the project would build a bridge crossing Alameda Creek, state Route 84, and the Niles Canyon Railroad.
The project could locate the bridge near the remnants of the old highway bridge crossing. Given the length, the bridge would require multiple piers as well as extensive grading at the southerly abutment to create sufficient elevation to cross the highway, the study said.
Once on the north side of the canyon, the trail would run upslope of the Niles Canyon Railway, which would require the construction of walls to maintain vertical separation for the tracks.
As the trail enters the unincorporated community of Brightside, the new bridge could potentially be located on the north side of Niles Canyon Railway's maintenance facility. The location of the trail would require coordination with the Pacific Locomotive Association, which operates the Niles Canyon Railway, to ensure the security of its equipment, the study said.
The final segment uses portions of Old Canyon Road and Foothill Boulevard to reach the Sunol train station.

Under the South Canyon Trail option, or option 2, the trail would follow along the south side of Niles Canyon.
To continue the trail, it would cross Union Pacific Railroad tracks near the location of an existing at-grade crossing. Due to limited sight distance and high frequency and speed of trains, staff recommends construction of a grade separation to cross the tracks.
Providing 23 feet of clearance would require extensive grading on both ends of the bridge, the study noted.
Once on the east side of the tracks, the project would construct the trail through unimproved lands. In this area, where the topography is steep and vegetation is dense, the trail would require two bridges to cross Alameda Creek. The trail would end at the Sunol Water Temple, a classical pavilion at 505 Paloma Way.

Under the Rails with Trails option, or option 3, the trail would follow along segments of Niles Canyon Railway.
While operating trails near active rail lines can present challenges, the volume and speed of the Niles Canyon Railway is small, which provides an opportunity for a parallel trail, the report said.
Because of the limited operations of Niles Canyon Railway, the project could relocate the tracks, tightening curve radius particularly in constrained sections to provide additional trail area. Since the tracks are in their historical alignment, adjustments are an impact under CEQA. Additionally, this option would require coordination to guarantee reliable operation with the Pacific Locomotive Association.
This option could also be a major benefit to the Pacific Locomotive Association as the improvements could reduce maintenance related to landslides and provide new tracks and ties, according to the report.
"Potentially, this could occur along the entire length from Sunol to Niles, but given that the westerly segment to Mission Clay Quarry is not complicated, the project could implement this alternative at Dresser Bridge," the report states.
The project would also need to create a new crossing of state Route 84 parallel to the Farwell Bridge, which creates an important connection of Palomares Bridge.
From feedback received, there is a strong interest in linking Palomares Road to the Niles Canyon Trail, the study said. All proposed options have the trail south of state Route 84. To make the connection, the project would require a new pedestrian bridge spanning Niles Canyon Railway, Alameda Creek, and the highway
Expected to become a regional destination, the trail would need to accommodate users who travel by vehicle. There are existing parking lots on the west and east sides of the canyon. Given the trail's length, the project would also need to construct public restrooms.
Upon certification of the environmental impact report, the park district would need to secure grading permits from Alameda County and the City of Fremont for work within their respective jurisdictions to construct the trail. Additonally, to construct the bridges crossing Alameda Creek, the project will need to obtain permits from the Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Board and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
To move the project forward, park staff recommended a plan to identify unstable rock formations within the trail's alignment; to formalize the design of the North Canyon Trail defining the exact alignment and impact to adjacent resources; prepare an initial study, technical studies and environmental impact report; submit segments of the project for funding through federal and state grant opportunities; complete a study to determine the total number of parking stalls required at Niles and Sunol and to work with local leaders to increase knowledge and public support for the trail.
Total project costs are estimated at $57 million for option 1; $65 million for option 2; and $69 million for option 3. Due to the high costs, building the project in a three-phase strategy was recommended.
For more information about this project, visit ebparks.org/about/planning#niles+canyon, scroll down to Niles Canyon Regional Trail.

Contact Julian J. Ramos at ramos@themilpitaspost.com or 408-262-2454 or follow him on twitter.com/julianjramosmp. Visit us on our social media sites at facebook.com/FremontBulletin and twitter.com/FremontBulletin.


Serious comments from Altamont Press viewers are solicited.

Cheers.

KRK