Pleasanton — The City Council on Aug. 5 approved moving $175,000 from the city’s repair-and-replacement operating budget into a new capital improvement project (CIP) to pay for design and early work on a possible railroad Quiet Zone.

Supporters told the council the measure responds to a long-running noise issue and urged a faster timeline. "This is an issue that greatly affects my family, especially my 3‑year‑old son, who has trouble sleeping because of the intense sounds of the train horns," said Ying Jin, a Pleasanton resident during public comment.

City staff and the traffic engineering consultant said the approved funding pays for consultant design and early construction planning but cannot control the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) review schedule. "Going through the FRA just takes a lot of time," said Mike Desano, the city traffic engineer. He told the council the two‑year estimate in staff reports covers the full process through construction and that, while some elements could be identified early, FRA review remains a pacing factor.

Why it matters: The council’s action starts the technical work to determine what crossing treatments will be required to qualify for a Quiet Zone (for example, additional gates or roadway modifications) and to prepare submittals for FRA clearance. Residents told the council that train horn noise is affecting sleep and daily life and asked the city to accelerate planning as much as possible.

Details of the action and funding: City staff said cost savings in the operating repair-and-replacement budget made $175,000 available; councilmembers approved creating a new CIP project and shifting the funds into it. The council approved the consent calendar — which included this transfer — by unanimous roll call.

What staff said about timing and next steps: Desano laid out a four‑phase plan in which the consultant would deliver a design and identify required construction early in the process. He said the city could accelerate its own design and construction phases if the improvements are limited (for example, to traffic bollards or other simple treatments), but the FRA’s review timeline could still require many months. Staff said the consultant work should clarify whether the required work is straightforward and how quickly construction could follow.

Public response and context: Several speakers at the meeting urged the council to move quickly. "We will be very thankful for your help in creating a train quiet zone, which would make Pleasanton a more peaceful and enjoyable place to live," Sameer Rajguru said during public comment. Mayor and council members asked staff to pursue the design work and to report back with the consultant findings.

What the vote means: With the engineering work funded, the city will begin consultant procurement and initial design. Any construction, and the date a Quiet Zone could become active, will depend on the FRA review and on the consultant’s findings about what physical upgrades are required.