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Transportation Options Study One of the most critical issues facing the development along the bay front is the transportation connection to the rest of Redwood City. The bay front area should be a "nice place" and a destination for all residents of Redwood City. Residents should have choices on how to get to the bay front, not only by auto, but by bike, walking, and public transportation. Because of this major concem staff is recommending that in addition to the more traditional traffic study in each of the respective EIR's (traffic counts, intersection analysis, etc.), the City will prepare a special "transportation options study" that describes innovative and "out of the box" transportation solutions. This study will be part of the Bay Front Plan. It will reseamh and identify opportunities and constraints for connecting the bay front to the west side of US 101. It will propose alternative mode solutions, possibly including a fixed guide way and public system. This transportation document would become an important part of the Bay Front Plan and will be integrated with the standard traffic study of each EIR. Please refer to the attached proposal for more information. (Jim Daisa, the proposed Transportation Consultant, will further discuss this study at your meeting). Staff is proposing to hire Kimley-Hom and Associates to prepare the transportation options study. The company has extensive experience in this field. In fact, the consultant has recently prepared a similar study for the City of Santa Cruz. The firm will also be partnering with other individuals that are in the forefront of the "new urbanist," transit and pedestrian-oriented, and alternative mode transportation planning. Staff truly believes this special transportation options study is an important component of each EIR and the Bay Front Plan. This analysis will, in fact, provide a common assessment of "cumulative impacts" that can be common to all the EIR's. The study is vital to the planning process, and therefore each applicant should pay the cost of this study to complete the EIR review. The tra.nsportation consultant has determined the cost of this special study to be $61,679. The developers will deposit their share of the $61,679, plus an initial deposit equivalent to 10% of the cost ($6,168) that will be used to recover costs for staff time spent on the project. Staff will be asking each of the developers to contribute toward the total cost of this alternative transportation study in addition to paying the respective EIR costs. Staff intends to divide the total cost of the transportation options study equally among all three project developers, resulting in an initial contribution of $22,615.66 each. The consultant plans to complete the study by summer. In this way the study will be available prior to the Planning Commission's final review of the EIR's in the Fall. This study will provide valuable ideas and should not delay any project review by the City. Alternatives 1. Not approve the agreement, and therefore not proceed with the transportation options study.