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03/27/2007 The transportation impact analysis in this EIR chapter focuses mainly on motor vehicle traffic and associated roadway system operation and safety issues, as dictated by the significance criteria for "transportation/traffic" set forth in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for EIR preparation. However, the Draft Precise Plan also recognizes the need to make pedestrian comfort, safety and convenience a "priority" in the Downtown, and emphasizes goals, policies and actions designed to make the Downtown more pedestrian friendly and enjoyable. The Draft Precise Plan envisions a Downtown revitalization program that would encourage pedestrian friendly development and promote alternative travel modes such as transit and bicycles. The Draft Precise Plan has been formulated to recognize contemporary downtown pedestrian/transit orientation concepts. More specifically, the Draft Precise Plan has been designed to take full advantage of the following Redwood City Downtown characteristics considered highly conducive to pedestrian activity: (i) The Downtown is the "Transit Hub" of the City, containing the Caltrain station and connections to local and regional bus transportation, making the area an appropriate location for more compact, higher intensity development. (ii) The Downtown includes mixed use--i.e., homes, offices, stores, restaurants, and entertainment uses conveniently located in the same neighborhood. (iii) Development in the Downtown can be more compact and conveniently accessible without a car, rather than being spread out as in the rest of the City. (iv) The Downtown provides a comfortably walkable and interesting pedestrian environment. (v) The Downtown provides a "park once" environment--people can park once, perhaps in a public parking facility, upon arrival in the Downtown, and can circulate throughout Downtown on foot without parking again. This "park once" environment also allows more potential walk-in customers for Downtown businesses. Recognizing these important factors, the Draft Precise Plan outlines a vision in Section 1.2 (Building the Vision) for making pedestrians a priority by proactively planning for a comfortable, walkable urban environment in the Precise Plan area. The Draft Precise Plan calls for creation of a network of inviting public places and street frontages designed to encourage walking and lingering. The adopted Redwood City Strategic General Plan also includes goal and policy language encouraging creation of pedestrian-oriented environments, including a policy calling for "safe and convenient movement and access in Redwood Atty/Reso/Reso.1683 6 14769 030707 Muff #613