Fremont City Council Meeting: 05/12/26 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Public Projects
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5712) DOC ID: 5712
Updated: 5/8/2026 10:45 AM by Dina Lewis Page 1
Dumbarton to Quarry Lakes Trail Project - Make Finding of CEQA Exemption for the Dumbarton Bridge to Quarry Lakes Trail Phase A Segment Project (PWC9026) Contact Persons:
Name: Danielle Del Rosario Hans Larsen
Title: Senior Transportation Engineer Public Works Director Div/Dept: Public Works Public Works
Phone: (510) 494-4535 510-494-4722
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to facilitate environmental clearance for the Dumbarton to Quarry Lakes Trail Project – Phase A Segment (Project) and make a determination of Statutory Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Environmental clearance is needed to facilitate approval of a Caltrans encroachment permit application for project construction. The project has received approvals of grant funding for planning, design and construction.
Background: The City of Fremont has led the development of the Dumbarton Bridge to Quarry Lakes Trail project in partnership with Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC), Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), and Caltrans. The project will create a new continuous multi-purpose path for walking and biking, serving recreation and transportation purposes, by connecting the following destinations in North Fremont: Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Dumbarton Quarry Campground, Coyote Hills Regional Park, Bay Trail connections to Union City and Newark, Ardenwood Business Park, Ardenwood Transit Center (served by Dumbarton Express), Ardenwood Park and Historic Farm, Alameda Creek Trail, and Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area. The trail also provides a regional bicycling connection between the East Bay and the San Francisco Peninsula via the Dumbarton Bridge.
In 2024, City staff completed the project scoping and alternative analysis for the entire trail alignment between Dumbarton Bridge and Alameda Creek.
Due to the length and complexity of the overall trail corridor, the trail was divided into separate implementation phases, with each phase having its own funding plan, implementation strategy, and schedule. The Phase A Segment Project is advancing first, as it provides the initial trail connection between the Dumbarton Bridge area and the City of Fremont roadway Council Staff Report (ID # 5712) Meeting of May 12, 2026 Updated: 5/8/2026 10:45 AM by Dina Lewis Page 2
network in the Ardenwood area. Part of the Project trail segment extends along Quarry Road, which is within Caltrans right of way and requires the City to acquire a Caltrans encroachment permit for the project construction.
The Project is currently in the environmental and design phase, with Project construction scheduled to start in Spring of 2028.
Discussion/Analysis: The Project includes the construction of a Class I multi-use path along Quarry Road from the State Route 84 (SR 84) toll plaza to Paseo Padre Parkway, using the existing Class I multi-use paths on west side of Paseo Padre Parkway (Quarry Road to Kaiser Drive), using the existing on-street cycle track along Kaiser Drive (Paseo Padre Parkway to Ardenwood Boulevard), and providing a new Class I multi-use path along the west side of Ardenwood Boulevard (Kaiser Drive to Ardenwood Terrace).
From the Ardenwood Boulevard/Ardenwood Terrace intersection, trail users can travel along the internal roadway and multi-use path network within Ardenwood Historical Farm to get to the I-880/Decoto Road interchange.
The trail segment along Quarry Road is within Caltrans right-of-way and requires Caltrans project development review and an encroachment permit for the trail construction. As part of the Caltrans review process, the City is required to make a CEQA determination for the project to complete the environmental phase of work. Completing the environmental phase is a Caltrans requirement before approval of the project’s encroachment permit.
The Project environmental consultant (LSA Associates) assessed the Project’s scope of work, location, and cost, and determined that the Project qualifies for a statutory exemption under CEQA by meeting the following exemption criteria:
1) Project is a new pedestrian and bicycle facility;
2) A public agency is the lead agency for the Project;
3) Project is located in an urbanized area;
4) Project is located within existing public right-of-way; 5) Project does not include the construction of new automobile lanes or increase of automobile capacity within existing public right-of-way; 6) Project does not include the demolition of existing affordable housing units;
7) Project cost does not exceed $100 million; and
1) Project will be constructed by a skilled and trained workforce.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5712) Meeting of May 12, 2026 Updated: 5/8/2026 10:45 AM by Dina Lewis Page 3
A memorandum prepared by LSA Associates detailing how the Project meets the various exemption criteria is attached to this staff report. The memorandum has been reviewed and supported by Caltrans.
Fiscal Impact: There is no direct cost or fiscal impact associated with making a CEQA determination for the Project. The Project design and construction is fully funded by Regional Measure 3 (RM3) grant funds from MTC.
Environmental Review: The Project is exempt from CEQA review pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.25 as the Project is a pedestrian and bicycle facility project that improves safety, access, and mobility within the public right-of-way; a local agency is the lead agency for the Project; the Project does not induce single-occupancy vehicle trips by addition of vehicle lanes or road widening; and the Project does not require the demolition of affordable housing units.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Memorandum in Support of a Statutory Exemption for the Dumbarton Bridge to Quarry Lakes Trail Phase A Segment Project by LSA Associates
Recommendation: Find that the Dumbarton Bridge to Quarry Lakes Trail Phase A Segment Project is exempt from CEQA (pedestrian and bicycle facility project).