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7A <br />Page 14 <br />The transportation impact analysis in this EIR chapter focuses mainly on motor <br />vehicle traffic and associated roadway system operation and safety issues, as <br />dictated by the significance criteria for "transportation/traffic" set forth in the <br />California Environmental Quality Act {CEQA) Guidelines for EIR preparation. <br />However, the Draft Precise Plan also recognizes the need to make pedestrian <br />comfort, safety and convenience a "priority" in the Downtown, and emphasizes <br />goals, policies and actions designed to make the Downtown more pedestrian <br />friendly and enjoyable. The Draft Precise Plan envisions a Downtown <br />revitalization program that would encourage pedestrian friendly development and <br />promote alternative travel modes such as transit and bicycles. The Draft Precise <br />Plan has been formulated to recognize contemporary downtown <br />pedestrian/transit orientation concepts. Il~lore specifically, the Draft Precise Plan <br />has been designed to take full advantage of the following Redwood City <br />Downtown characteristics considered highly conducive to pedestrian activity: <br />{i) The Downtown is the "Transit Hub" of the City, containing the Caltrain <br />station and connections to local and regional bus transportation, making <br />the area an appropriate location far more compact, higher intensity <br />development. <br />{ii) The Downtown includes mixed use--i.e., homes, offices, stores, <br />restaurants, and entertainment uses conveniently located in the same <br />neighborhood. <br />{iii} Development in the Downtown can be more compact and conveniently <br />accessible without a car, rather than being spread out as in the rest of the <br />City. <br />(iv} The Dawnto~vn provides a comfor±ably :valkable and interesting pedestrian <br />environment. <br />{v) The Downtown provides a "park once" environment--people can park <br />once, perhaps in a public parking facility, upon arrival in the Downtown, <br />and can circulate throughout Downtovn on #oot without parking again. This <br />"park once" environment also allows more potential walk-in customers for <br />Downtown businesses. <br />Recognizing these important factors, the Draft Precise Plan outlines a vision in <br />Section 1.2 {Building the Vision) for making pedestrians a priority by proactively <br />planning for a comfortable, walkable urban environment in the Precise Plan area. <br />The Draft Precise Plan calls for creation of a network of inviting public places and <br />street frontages designed to encourage walking and lingering. <br />The adopted Redwood City Strategic General Plan also includes goal and policy <br />language encouraging creation of pedestrian-oriented environments, including a <br />policy calling for "safe and convenient movement and access in Redwood <br />Atty/ResolReso.1683 <br />030707 <br />