(SAN RAMON, CA.) - The San Ramon Trails Master Plan was adopted unanimously during San Ramon’s City Council meeting on Jun. 23 despite the decision being surrounded by public criticism on poor community transparency and potential safety concerns.
The Trails Master Plan serves as a guide for the city's trail network, finding ways to improve connectivity, increase access to parks and open spaces, and promote walking and biking routes throughout San Ramon.
City officials said the plan is intended to help prioritize future trail projects as funding becomes available, and does not authorize immediate construction of any specific project.
According to staff, individual trail projects would still require review for environmental impacts and funding approval, with some cases needing coordination with homeowners associations and other agencies.
The plan calls for approximately 15 miles of new off-street trails, up to ten regional trail connections beyond city limits, and eight new trail access points throughout the city, including shade, signage, & maintenance recommendations.
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of San Ramon
Consultants with Design Workshop said the plan was shaped by seven months of community engagement, including more than 800 survey responses, public workshops, and meetings with regional agencies. Survey respondents strongly supported expanding and connecting San Ramon's trail system.
However, several residents questioned whether the outreach for the surveys had informed impacted neighborhoods.
During public comment, some speakers said they had not been made aware of the proposals and raised concerns about potential increases in crime, vandalism, traffic near schools, and future maintenance costs.
Resident Elena Formosa criticized the city's outreach efforts, saying, "I don't know who they outreached to," and called the proposal "a disaster waiting to happen."
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of San Ramon, Elena Formosa
Formosa further criticized the plan for including nine schools in the trail system, commenting on concerns regarding student safety from people in other counties.
“If you bring Alameda people here, what happens if students get hit?” Formosa said. “These e-bikers from Alameda may not even be in our system, so do our kids deserve to have crimes committed against them without any insurance, without any [means to find the] perpetrator?”
Others, including former mayor and resident Greg Carr, supported the concept of improving the trail network but encouraged the city to provide additional public presentations and address long-term operational and maintenance costs.
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of San Ramon, former San Ramon Mayor Greg Carr
Council members defended the outreach process, mentioning years of discussions surrounding trail improvements and the extensive public engagement conducted during the plan's development. They also emphasized that funding for future projects could come from sources such as the city's Open Space Fund and external grants rather than the general fund.
Mayor Mark Armstrong praised the plan and said residents consistently express support for San Ramon's open spaces and trails.
"I know there was significant community outreach," Armstrong said. "Our residents love our open spaces. They love our trails. They love getting outdoors and being a part of nature."
The council ultimately voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 2026-096, officially approving the San Ramon Trails Master Plan and allowing staff to begin pursuing future trail projects and funding opportunities.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at yashi.s@lead4earth.org.
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