Laserfiche WebLink
8.13. - Page 51 of 70 <br />Redwood City Broadway Streetcar/Urban Circulator Study <br />Summary Report <br />Alternatives, Development, and <br />Evaluation <br />Following the existing conditions analysis, options for <br />implementing the streetcar were developed. This included <br />considering alternate modal options and various route <br />options. <br />Mode Alternatives <br />Although this study was initiated to evaluate implementing a <br />streetcar in Redwood City, alternate modes were considered <br />to provide a cost and feasibility comparison. In addition to a <br />fixed streetcar route, a bus or shuttle "urban circulator" was <br />identified as a comparable and feasible alternative. This <br />section describes the basic features of these two options. <br />Streetcar <br />A streetcar is a fixed -route <br />light rail service <br />characterized by low -floor <br />vehicles, overhead power, <br />and exclusive right-of-way <br />(ROW) where possible. <br />Streetcar systems are <br />intended to serve areas with <br />medium-high land use <br />density and high levels of transit uses and walkability. <br />Stations are typically relatively close together (two to three <br />blocks) and speeds are relatively low (15 to 25 miles per <br />hour). Minimum frequency is typically every 15 minutes. <br />Streetcar systems require construction of the trackway and <br />also require a connected area with facilities for storage and <br />maintenance. <br />Urban Circulator <br />An urban circulator is a <br />rubber -tired bus service, <br />characterized by low - <br />floor, low -emission <br />vehicles with transit <br />priority treatments <br />where possible and high - <br />visibility stations. <br />Electric and/or <br />autonomous transit <br />vehicles could be used. Service characteristics would be <br />similar to the streetcar in terms of frequency and travel <br />speeds. Since a bus system does not require a trackway, it <br />could be implemented at a much lower cost than a streetcar. <br />A bus service could also be more flexible, as the route would <br />not be determined by the infrastructure. Bus -only lanes and <br />other transit preferential treatments could help to reduce <br />traffic related delays. <br />Smith <br />594 <br />