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<br /> 78 <br /> BRUCE LIEDSTRAND Page 5 <br /> COMMUNITY DESIGN DIRECTOR <br /> Those two assumptions are no longer true and Bay Area leaders are beginning to <br /> look for ways to bring the development patterns and transportation systems into <br /> better balance. One key resource in that effort is the traditional downtowns of <br /> the Peninsula located on what has now become the Caltrain commuter rail line. <br /> These traditional downtowns are a good place for higher density development <br /> because they are walkable and more easily served by public transportation and <br /> thus are less dependent on private cars. Redwood City is fortunate to have a <br /> traditional downtown on the Caltrain line and this paper will discuss the issues <br /> relating to downtown and the various transportation systems that serve it. <br /> Caltrain <br /> Caltrain Benefits <br /> 1. It connects to the regional transportation system and allows access to the <br /> entire Bay Area. <br /> 2. It provides frequent and regular service that is used by people from all <br /> walks of life. <br /> 3. It is located in the heart of the city and is available to serve what is likely <br /> to become the densest development in the city. <br /> 4. It connects to San Francisco Airport (SFO) and gives visitors access to <br /> Downtown Redwood City without the need of a rental car. <br /> 5. In the event of a gas crisis limiting the use of private cars, it is likely to be <br /> the backbone system of mobility on the Peninsula. <br /> CaItrain Future Changes <br /> 1. As Caltrain continues to improve its services, increases in train frequency <br /> and train speeds are likely to make the present system of at-grade <br /> crossings increasingly unsafe and unsustainable. This is particularly true <br /> where Caltrain is located in the heart of a dense pedestrian area such as <br /> downtown. Some fonn of grade separation will be needed. <br /> 2. High Speed Rail (HSR), the planned high-speed (100 to 125 mph on the <br /> Peninsula) tram system to link the Bay Area to Southern California, if <br /> implemented by a sharing of the Caltrain ROW, could improve access but <br /> also have negative impacts that would need to be evaluated. Redwood <br /> -2- <br /> . ,- <br />