Amador County – Ione held a workshop on transportation Tuesday and identified some of its policy wishes, which included establishing a system of trails and bicycle paths and also of keeping sidewalks, even if it means putting up with diminished automobile traffic. The joint session of the Ione City Council and planning commission was held to help the planning department focus its policy in drafting traffic plans as part of the city General Plan update. City Planner Christopher Jordan and consultant Daniel Hamilton led the discussion. Jordan said Thursday that most of the policy questions were answered in the affirmative, with the council wanting more study and information. He said the council wanted to decrease the “Level Of Service” standards for automobile traffic so that they are not taking out sidewalks. In doing so, he said they are “accepting a little bit more congestion on the existing roadway.” He said not taking out sidewalks helps increase the level of service for pedestrians, “so lowering a threshold of service to these roads was a good thing.” The council and planning commissioners also set a policy to identify a “backbone system” for foot trails and bicycle paths. Part of that would be to remove a bike path plan from the Silver Property, while staff will check to see that existing bike lanes were marked with proper paint striping on Shakely Road and Faiway and Castle Oaks Drives. Staff will look around town and also work on the system design with the General Plan Executive Committee. He said the intent is to have linked and circularly connected trails and bicycle paths, to give people route choices. Story by Jim Reece