Public Works
by John M. Zukoski on December 7, 2011 | 
5 Comments | Topics: Parks · Public Works
The City of Dublin, CA recently received go-ahead from its city council to solicit bids for the construction of the Alamo Canal Trail connection underneath the I-580 freeway. Senior Civil Engineer Ferd Del Rosario estimates that the connection will be completed by Fall 2012. The under-crossing will connect the Alamo Canal Trail north of the freeway, which is adjacent to the City Library, with Pleasanton’s Centennial Trail to the south.
Once completed, the new regional trail will connect approximately 25 miles of continuous trail facilities from Pleasanton to Concord.
The connection will include a 12-foot-wide and roughly 700-foot-long concrete trail below I-580 along the Alamo Canal. Safety lighting and two emergency call boxes connected to Dublin’s dispatch telephone number for emergency use will also be installed. The completed trail will be opened to the public during trail use hours, except when the Alamo Canal overflows and floods the trail. Construction near the canal will be limited between April 15th and October 15th.
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by John M. Zukoski on October 15, 2011 | 5 Comments | Topics: Announcements · Public Works
AT&T recently announced network upgrades in Dublin, CA designed to provide its customers faster speeds, increased reliability and best-in-class wireless service. The enhancement came just in time before the release of the much anticipated release of the new iPhone 4S. AT&T’s network enhancements include a new Dublin cell site intended to improve coverage from the intersection of Alcosta Boulevard and I-680 to Alcosta Boulevard and the Iron Horse Trail. It is also expected to bolster service on Village Parkway from Alcosta Boulevard to Tamarack Drive, including the surrounding neighborhood.
“In addition to minimizing dropped calls, these upgrades are specifically geared to enhance the smartphone experience for Dublin residents. Dublin has seen a dramatic increase in smartphone use over the past several years, and AT&T is ensuring our network is equipped to handle that increase,” said AT&T spokesperson George Ross. “With its close proximity to two major highways and BART, Dublin is a critical Bay Area nexus. AT&T recognizes the importance of maximizing our network strength here so that the residents, small businesses and commuters can always count on excellent service,” continued Ross.
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by John M. Zukoski on October 13, 2011 | 4 Comments | Topics: City Hall · Local Issues · Opinions · Public Works
Developers are continuing to build new homes in Dublin, CA as families flock to the city for its access to job centers, terrific schools, marvelous parks, and, in some cases, beautiful views. Much of the new housing in Dublin is concentrated in the more hilly areas that require significant amounts of grading, rock blasting, and engineered site fill to create level areas. Some of these areas pose significant landslide risks to nearby homeowners. One such catastrophic landslide in 2006 resulted in a death and a subsequent $4.8M award from the City of Mill Valley to the victim’s grieving family.
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by Jimmy Huang on October 11, 2011 | 113 Comments | Topics: Local Issues · Opinions · Public Works
The Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD) has been hard at work for the past year. Unfortunately for residents and businesses in Dublin, south San Ramon, and parts of Pleasanton, the senior executives of this local water agency seem to have been spending most of their time devising schemes to wring out over a quarter million dollars in bonuses for themselves this year. The DSRSD Board of Directors approved the 2011 bonus payout by a vote of 3 to 2 with Board President Pat Howard, Board Member Georgean Vonheeder-Leopold, and Board Member Rich Halket in favor of the bonuses. Board Members Dan Scannell and Dawn Benson voted against the egregious payouts. “To give out a quarter-million dollars in bonuses, I haven’t seen that,” said DSRSD Board Member Scannell. “There are other programs like this, but not to the breadth that we have done.” Board Members Scannell and Benson need the help of all ratepayers to overturn this reckless decision.
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by John M. Zukoski on September 10, 2011 | 1 Comment | Topics: Announcements · Public Works
Dublin San Ramon Services District received a $1.13 million grant for the Central Dublin Recycled Water project from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Proposition 84 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Implementation Grant Program. The $4.6 million project will bring recycled water to irrigate Dublin’s oldest neighborhoods, providing a rationing-resistant water supply for schools, parks, and other valuable public landscaping. New distribution pipelines in Central Dublin will connect to existing recycled water infrastructure that already serves other parts of the city.
The project will reduce potable water demand, as well as the volume of treated wastewater discharged to the San Francisco Bay, by more than 70 million gallons per year (approximately 215 acre feet). Expected to be shovel-ready in the summer of 2012, construction could support 91 to 138 jobs.
The $1.13 million state grant funds almost 25 percent of the total cost of the project. The District is currently applying for a federal grant to cover another 25 percent, and the remaining cost of the project will be paid by the District’s Water Replacement Fund (from both ratepayers and developers). The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation funded the project’s feasibility study through a $253,400 WaterSmart Grant, received August 1st. This grant is one of 18 that DWR awarded to 13 members of the San Francisco Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA), for a total of $30,093,592. BACWA’s members are public utilities that collect and treat wastewater in the nine counties that surround the San Francisco Bay.
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by John M. Zukoski on August 23, 2011 | 17 Comments | Topics: Development · Public Works
Formerly known as the Mission Peak project, the Fallon Crossing project in All-America City Dublin, CA is likely to be the next new home development of East Dublin. Located on the northwest corner of Tassajara Road and Fallon Road, Fallon Crossing by Standard Pacific Homes is expected to have 106 single family homes right next to KB Home’s Bella Monte project. Street names such as Syrah Drive and Pinot Noir Court give a hint as to the most distinctive feature of Fallon Crossing.
The Fallon Crossing homeowners association (HOA) will own and operate an initially non-fruit bearing vineyard in the middle of the community. “Until we understand the costs associated with maintaining a fruit-bearing vineyard, we can not commit to installing fruit bearing vines,” noted Standard Pacific Homes project manager Aaron Ross-Swain. “We are very sensitive to the burden that HOA dues place on homeowners, so it is our goal to come up with a scenario that provides a strong look to the community while minimizing the HOA costs to the homeowners.” In addition to the vineyard, Fallon Crossing is expected to have over 40 acres of open space for Dublin residents to enjoy.
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by John M. Zukoski on July 18, 2011 | 3 Comments | Topics: Local Issues · Public Works
Morning commute traffic along southbound Interstate 680 (I-680) for residents in and around Dublin, CA is about to change again. Ramp meters in the southbound direction of I-680, from the Stoneridge Drive Interchange in Pleasanton to the California State Route (SR) 237 Interchange in Santa Clara County, was set to solid green during the morning peak period, 6AM to 10AM, on July 18th. The Southbound I-680 metering lights start being fully functional on July 25th. Ramp metering will be in effect Monday through Friday from 6AM to 10AM.
Last Fall, Caltrans introduced Northern California’s first Express Lane, covering 14 miles of southbound I-680 from Pleasanton to Milpitas. That project’s stated goal was to ensure that traffic is always flowing smoothly in the Express Lane by using “dynamic pricing.” Unfortunately, the I-680 Express Lane resulted in increased highway delays as motorists merging onto the freeway cut across several lanes of traffic to reach the Express Lane. Caltrans now hopes the new ramp metering system will improve travel times during peak periods of heavy traffic along the corridor and mitigate the congestion it has caused with the introduction of the Express Lane.
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by John M. Zukoski on July 11, 2011 | 10 Comments | Topics: City Hall · Parks · Public Works
The City of Dublin, CA has demonstrated a strong commitment to providing residents with a quality of life that is unparalleled based on income per capita in the East Bay. The City’s plan to spend $13.9M in capital projects over the 2011-2012 fiscal year offers residents much to look forward to throughout Dublin. Dublin’s newest park at Positano, aptly named Positano Hills Park based on a suggestion from Dublin resident Nicole Roy Borris, is expected to be completed in October 2012. Positano Hills Park will include fun play area features for kids, a basketball court, and a vast open field that can be used for soccer and softball.
The City of Dublin will also draw up the construction & design documents for the Emerald Glen Park Recreation and Aquatic Complex and Passatempo Park at Sorrento East. While funding has yet to be secured, Dublin residents can also look forward to the future 14,700-square-foot Community Center at Emerald Glen Park. Other planned but currently unfunded park improvements include future phases at the Heritage Park & Museums and Fallon Sports Park.
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by John M. Zukoski on February 20, 2011 | 3 Comments | Topics: Public Works
A lab equipment technician from Pleasanton took the 100,000th trip on the new I-680 Express Lane last month, as usage of the new lane continues to rise. Larry Uruaqut, a technician for Beckman Coulter, says he uses the lane two days a week en route to service calls in the Palo Alto area. According to the Express Lane records, Uruquat made the historic trip on January 13th.
“I really like the lane,” Uruquat said. “It’s a nice feature to have when you don’t have someone to carpool with. I just wish it was going in both directions.”
Since opening last September 20th, the southbound Express Lane over the Sunol Grade from Pleasanton to Milpitas has seen weekly average usage increase by more than 20%. The lane reached a high of 2,024 users on January 20th.
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