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Task 1.4— Alternatives Analysis <br /> The first step in this task will be to formulate the alternatives to be considered for the <br /> streetcar and for an urban circulator bus concept. The Consultant will also discuss with <br /> the City the extent to which other options should be considered and how we should <br /> include possible future expansion options consistent with those shown in the General <br /> Plan. It is envisioned that the urban circulator option would be a bus based service. <br /> However, it could use low-floor tram-like buses that would give it many of the attributes <br /> of a streetcar. There may also be route variations that could be considered. For <br /> example, a bus service could cross the Caltrain tracks and serve the western portion of <br /> Broadway as depicted in the General Plan. <br /> The Consultant will develop a range of potential feasible alternatives for each of the <br /> following project features: <br /> • Modal Options — Assess viability of modern or heritage streetcar against other <br /> potential modes, including bus rapid transit, light rail transit, and urban circulator <br /> bus. <br /> • Alignment Options — Examine termini station locations at Sequoia Caltrain <br /> Station and future Stanford in Redwood City development, potential alternative <br /> alignments to constrained sections of Broadway Street, and turn-around loop <br /> options. <br /> • In-Street Operations — Assess center-running versus curbside running and the <br /> following streetcar options: mixed-flow trolley; enhanced trolley with transit <br /> priority consideration; and enhanced trolley in dedicated transit lanes. <br /> • Stations and Connectivity — Identify and assess station spacing and locations, <br /> connectivity to future streetcar service expansion and intermodal transfer <br /> opportunities, and station size requirements. <br /> • Storage and Maintenance — Identify potential storage and maintenance facility <br /> locations based on design requirements. <br /> • ITS and Design Features — Incorporate transit signal priority, complete and green <br /> streets features, appropriate parking, and consistency with design criteria in <br /> completed and approved plans. <br /> The alternatives evaluation will include two steps or iterations: Step 1 - conceptual <br /> options screening; and Step 2 - detailed alternatives evaluation. Step 1 will include a <br /> qualitative conceptual-level evaluation designed to assess the advantages and <br /> disadvantages of the various options identified above. In Step 2, the Consultant will <br /> develop evaluation criteria to eliminate those options that do not meet project goals, do <br /> not have City or public support, or have fatal flaws, such as extensive right-of-way <br /> needs or significant environmental or transportation impacts. <br /> A short list of up to three fully-defined alternatives will be developed from the Step 1 <br /> evaluation to advance to the more quantitative analysis in Step 2. In Step 2, the <br /> Consultant will evaluate ridership (outputs from Tasks 1.2 and 1.6), operational issues, <br /> right-of-way/easement requirements, compatibility with adopted plans (see Task 1.2, <br /> Redwood City General Plan, Downtown Precise Plan, Broadway Corridor Plan, and <br /> Stanford in Redwood City Precise Plan), feeder transit service interconnectivity, parking <br /> impacts, environmental factors, construction and operating costs, and other issues. The <br /> REV: 01-06-16 VR <br /> Page 11 of 17 <br /> ATTY/AGR.2016.003/CDM Smith - Streetcar and Downtown Transit Center <br />