The city is now planning to change what it calls the De Anza Trail to a multiuse recreational and commuting trail in the near future. The trail is expected to be built along a PG&E right of way along the railway tracks.

The city called a community meeting to discuss the development of the trail on June 28. At a city council meeting in March, staff was directed to form a task force and hold public meetings to evaluate the project. Design Studios West, a project consultant, was chosen at the beginning of June. The master plan for the project is expected to be completed by October 2004. The next phase, which involves construction, will start in the spring of 2005 and is expected to be completed by fall of that year.

The VTA has expressed support for the 1.6-mile-long trail area and has pledged to provide 80 percent of the project cost. The rest is being provided by an anonymous donor. The estimated cost of the development is about $2 million.

According to Robert C. Eck, vice president of Design Studios West, some aerial topographic mapping of the trail will take place over the next few months. The firm will also look at the historic, cultural and paleontological importance of the area.

"The trail is expected to be 8 to 12 feet wide," said Eck.

Homeowners and some people who use the trail now showed up in force at the meeting. Some voiced concerns about the increase in traffic that a designated trail will bring. Others talked about safety issues.

Jim Stallman, who lives near the designated trail area, said that his biggest concern was new houses being built in the area.

"A lot of us like the open space as it is. But without designating it as a trail, we might lose it all together," he said.

"This trail works very well, because the parking and restrooms in Congress Springs Park can be used by those using the trail," said Stallman.

Ganesh Rajan, a resident who has his backyard on the designated trail, said that his biggest concern was privacy and safety issues.

"Traffic will definitely increase once this area becomes a designated trail. There are little kids around. Some of us have pools in the backyard," he said.

"I still like the idea of having a trail nearby. We can just walk across instead of driving somewhere," said Rajan.

He said he was worried that transients might start hanging around and start using the benches that are going to be provided as part of the project.

Lisa Konie has been using the undesignated trail for the last year. "I am out there for four or five days a week. It is a great running route away from traffic and busy streets. It is outstanding," she said.

Konie said the project seemed inevitable because VTA had already promised money for it. "This project is going to go through barring something we cannot overcome. That is because they have outside funds. I am afraid that not enough people are going to know about what is happening," said Konie.

She was apprehensive that the trail would become just another piece of asphalt. "It is kind of low key now. I am afraid that they are going to take it too far and get it commercialized," she said.

Konie said that she saw different species of birds and rabbits while running on the trail, and she was afraid all that might disappear once construction begins in the area. "I can list off all kinds of species, from cottontail rabbits to falcons and ground squirrels that frequent that area. It is their natural habitat," she said.

"We are chasing everything out of here. I would be disappointed if they put up lights there. I will feel comfortable if they maintain it close to the natural state while making it more accessible," said Konie.

John Cherbone, city public works director, indicated that the city does not plan to put up lights on the trail. "It will be a dawn-to-dusk kind of trail. It will also be patrolled by law enforcement," said Cherbone at the meeting.

"This trail is liked and lovingly used by a number of people. We are going to augment it, and it can be accessed by the disabled, too," said Mayor Ann Waltonsmith at the end of the meeting.