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Chapter 1 x Executive Summary <br />1-3 <br />One thing that has not changed is that existing alternative transportation modes cannot reliably <br />accommodate growing travel demand while providing travel times that are reasonably <br />competitive with the automobile. As a result, a growing desire to rethink transportation solutions <br />has resulted in the current effort to develop a multimodal transportation strategy that could be <br />implemented through a partnership between the public and private sectors. <br />DTCS recommends operational and infrastructure improvements related to the Dumbarton Rail <br />Bridge as well as the Highway Bridge and its approaches that would be phased over time. As such, <br />it identifies short- and long-term transportation alternatives that contribute to an ultimate vision <br />for a multimodal Corridor that meet the needs for regional mobility while mitigating impacts on <br />local communities. For the purposes of this study, short-term improvements are considered to be <br />those that can be implemented by or around 2020 and long-term improvements are those that <br />can be implemented by or around 2030. DTCS also includes a preliminary analysis of funding and <br />financing opportunities given the potential to implement the improvements with private <br />financing. <br />1.1 Need and Purpose <br />There are a number of indicators that highlight the need for transportation improvements in the <br />Dumbarton Corridor: <br />Worsening Roadway Congestion. The existing highway capacity in the Dumbarton Corridor is <br />not sufficient to accommodate current and forecasted peak-hour demands at high levels of <br />service. Nearly all major arterials within the DTCS area currently operate at LOS E or F during the <br />morning and evening peak periods. This has produced increasing unpredictability in travel <br />patterns and travel times that threaten the region’s quality of life. <br />Worsening Jobs Housing Imbalance. A major driver behind the congestion increase in the <br />Dumbarton Corridor is accelerated job growth in Silicon Valley combined with limited housing <br />supply on the Peninsula. Between 2010 and 2014, San Mateo County added 54,600 jobs <br />compared to 2,100 new housing units. This jobs/housing imbalance has resulted in significant <br />commuting into San Mateo County from surrounding areas. Regional forecasts show employment <br />growth will outpace population growth through 2020 and beyond. <br />Lack of Regional Transit Connectivity. Another driver of congestion is that existing transit <br />systems do not support east-west connectivity in the South Bay. The Dumbarton Highway Bridge <br />is the primary choice for travelers between southern Alameda County and San Mateo and Santa <br />Clara counties but lacks substantial transit options, forcing a higher mode share for the <br />automobile. <br />Increasing Threats to Economic Growth. As congestion increases due to the jobs/housing <br />imbalance, the region’s economy is compromised as employers’ ability to attract and retain <br />needed talent is affected. Lengthening commutes result in a less efficient economy that could have <br />ripple effects on the region’s overall quality of life. In addition to the traditional means of looking <br />at costs, there are social costs to be borne by the commuters, businesses, and overall <br />environmental health if traffic congestion is not addressed. <br />6.1.D. - Page 12