Archive for 2010
by Around Dublin Team on June 26, 2010 | 
10 Comments | Topics: Announcements · Public Works
Northern California’s first Express Lane, covering 14 miles of I-680 southbound from Pleasanton to Milpitas, will open Monday, September 20 at 5AM. The opening will launch a new era in Bay Area transportation and congestion management. For the first time, solo drivers can choose to use the carpool lane by paying a toll electronically via a FasTrak® toll tag. Carpools, transit vehicles, and motorcycles, as well as hybrid vehicles with a valid sticker, may continue to use the lane for free.
“The new Express Lane will be a great step forward for drivers who want a reliable trip without risking a backup,” said Scott Haggerty, chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and of the joint powers authority overseeing the I-680 Express Lane. “Things will soon be easier for everyone driving south over the Sunol Grade because the I-680 project is on schedule to open on September 20.”
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by John M. Zukoski on June 25, 2010 | 1 Comment | Topics: Local Issues
Dublin had one prostitution arrest made next to the Dougherty Hills Dog Park at the 6200 Block of North Lake Drive. A rape was also reported on May 14th. The location of the alleged rape is not known. The number of reported crimes in Dublin inched up to a preliminary count of 192, which is an increase of four reported incidents compared to the 188 cases in April 2010. The mix of crimes is similar to the previous month’s breakdown with 44% involving theft, 43% related to traffic and quality of life, and the remaining 13% involving violence.
Eight breaking & entering crimes were reported in May with six in west Dublin and one just off Dougherty Road in central Dublin. Residents on the 5300 block of Blairmore Place in Dublin Ranch were hit with a home invasion and burglary. Many home burglary attempts in May were thwarted thanks to the vigilance of residents in their own neighborhoods.
Not all crimes are reported by Dublin Police Services. Police officers in Dublin will sometimes choose not to report a crime in order to protect the victim or nearby residents. Unfortunately, victims and community members have become increasingly concerned with the seemingly arbitrary reasons for not filing official reports by Police Services in some recent crimes.
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by John M. Zukoski on June 24, 2010 | 22 Comments | Topics: Development
Jordan Ranch is 189 acres of mostly residential development that will be located in Fallon Village next to the Positano community in Dublin, CA. Jordan Ranch will include 780 residential units spread over six neighborhoods with parks, an elementary school, and some retail space. The developer and the City Council expressed their reservations about the proposed location of the retail component. The currently proposed retail site may be relocated closer to Fallon Road to ensure the viability of the businesses.
The Jordan Ranch homes will reflect an earlier time when simple farmhouses, cottages, and barns dotted the countryside. Some of the architectural styles will include Farmhouse, Cottage, Folk Victorian, and Rural Contemporary. Of the 780 total residential units, 457 will be single-family detached homes in Neighborhoods 1-3 with private yards of around 400 square feet. These neighborhoods will feature traditional, cluster, and small lot/alley loaded home designs. The other 323 units in Neighborhoods 4-6 will be a mix of townhomes and lofts. The lofts will be built above the retail units in the mixed-use area. The homes located directly off Positano Parkway in Neighborhood 1 will most likely be built first, because much of the necessary traffic infrastructure is already in place.
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by John M. Zukoski on June 23, 2010 | 41 Comments | Topics: Schools
Every year Newsweek picks the best high schools in the country based on the “Challenge Index,” a ratio calculated by dividing the total number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Cambridge (AICE) tests given with the number of graduating seniors at a particular school in the previous year. The cutoff ratio for 2010 is 1.000. According to Newsweek, a ratio of at least 1.000 means that the schools had as many tests in 2009 as they had graduates. A total of 1,623 schools, or roughly six percent of all the public high schools in the United States, made the 2010 Newsweek list. This number is an increase of 66 compared to 2009, which had a total of 1,557 schools on the list.
The Tri-Valley made a strong showing on the 2010 Newsweek list with over half of our schools in the top 6%. Foothill High School and Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton ranked the highest among the Tri-Valley high schools at 404 and 603, respectively. San Ramon Valley High School in Danville placed 1,035 on the list. Rounding out the Tri-Valley entries were Monte Vista High School in Danville at 1,439 and California High School in San Ramon at 1,469. Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon should become eligible for consideration in 2011.
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by John M. Zukoski on June 22, 2010 | 12 Comments | Topics: Development · Public Works · Sustainability
Dublin residents may have noticed patches of sidewalk being pulled out along Dublin Boulevard. These targeted sidewalk removals are part of the new bus stop construction for the Tri-Valley Rapid, an innovative mass transportation initiative. Through the use of technologies like bus signal priority, the Rapid will not get held up at every light, so bus riders can go through the Tri-Valley in record time. In addition to offering riders a significantly shorter average commute time, the Rapid is environmentally friendly. Powered by low-emission electric hybrid technology, the Rapid is an effective way to get cars off the road, reduce the Tri-Valley region’s carbon footprint, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption.
The Tri-Valley Rapid project will cost a total of $13M, with $11M coming from the Federal government, $1M from sales tax proceeds, $700K from California’s Proposition 1B funds, and $400K from the Transportation Fund for Clean Air. Once in operation, Tri-Valley Rapid will cost an estimated $1.4M per year to maintain for an estimated 6,400 average weekday riders.
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by Around Dublin Team on June 20, 2010 | 9 Comments | Topics: Announcements · Local Issues
Dublin Police Services has recently received a special bulletin from East Bay Regional Parks about an attempted robbery along Iron Horse Trail. On Sunday, June 13, 2010, around 7:50PM, the victim was walking along the Iron Horse Trail, east of Dougherty Road in Dublin, CA, when he was confronted by a male suspect. The victim was unable to provide any additional description. The suspect sprayed the victim in the eye with an “ammonia” smelling liquid, causing instant pain and loss of vision.
“Gimme your sh*t,” said the suspect. As the victim screamed in agony, the suspect fled the area without taking anything from the victim.
Please report any similar incidents to East Bay Parks Police Investigations Sgt. Tyrone Davis at (510)690-6554.
In the meantime, Dublin residents are reminded to exercise caution when enjoying the trail. Some safety best practices include:
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by Around Dublin Team on June 19, 2010 | No Comments | Topics: Announcements · Sustainability
Recycling just got more rewarding in Dublin, CA, where StopWaste.Org announced the start of a recycling contest that gives residents a chance to win prizes for keeping their trash free of recyclables and compostables.
During regular garbage collection days from June 21–July 31, the prize crew will select random garbage carts and separate the contents into three categories: recyclables, compostables, and garbage. Five households in each city with the least amount of recyclables and compostables in their garbage relative to the whole cart will be declared the winners. They will receive their choice of $50 in cash or gift vouchers for BART or Safeway, with the best of the group in each city being named the grand prize winner. A grand prize winner from Dublin with the least amount of recyclables and compostables in overall garbage will receive an additional $250 in cash and the title of being Dublin’s best recycler.
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by Around Dublin Team on June 18, 2010 | 1 Comment | Topics: Local Issues
Now that another senior class has graduated from Dublin High School and Summer Break has started for everyone in the Dublin Unified School District (DUSD), the City of Dublin would like to remind everyone about the recently adopted “Social Host” Ordinance. Designed to curb underage drinking, the new regulations and fines were designed to curb underage drinking. The City holds persons “hosting” parties involving alcohol responsible for making sure that guests drinking alcohol are 21 or older.
The ordinance gives law enforcement an additional tool to combat underage drinking. Violation of the ordinance is an infraction. Infractions are punishable by a fine of $100 for the first violation, a fine of $200 for the second violation, and a fine of $500 for each additional violation within one year of the first violation. The responsible persons need not be present at the gathering in order to be deemed in violation of its provisions.
Based on data compiled by California Department of Public Health, 29% of 11th graders, 15.8% of 9th graders, and 6.4% of 7th graders report that they have had at least one episode of binge drinking in the past 30 days. The Dublin community is very aware of these sobering statistics and recognizes underage drinking as a growing epidemic.
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by Around Dublin Team on June 17, 2010 | 23 Comments | Topics: Development · Public Works
The East and West Dublin BART Corridor Enhancement Project is underway with several of the aesthetic elements designed to improve the visual appeal of the Dublin Boulevard corridor and link neighborhoods through the transit-oriented area already installed. In 2005, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission granted the City of Dublin $3.4M of Federal Transportation Enhancement Activities fund for the approval of high-density housing near the East and West Dublin BART stations. Enhancements recommended in the Corridor Enhancement Project include median markers, wayfinding signs, city monument signs, and the gateway feature called the Eternal Ribbon at the southeastern corner of Dougherty Road and Dublin Boulevard.
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