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7.A. - Page 25 of 41 11AXINVE November 2, 2019 Mayor Bain, Vice Mayor Howard, and Council Members The City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road Redwood City, CA 94063 Via Electronic Transmittal Mayor Bain, Vice Mayor Howard, and City Council Members, As a party interested in the future of Downtown Redwood City, we want to express our support of the efforts by staff and the City Council to elevate the conversation regarding land use around the Redwood City Transit Center, the city's regional transit hub. Redwood City Moves recently completed a study on the community's transportation priorities. The study supports the need for thoughtful planning of Active Transportation Corridors, Complete Street Corridors and Placemaking, Network Gap Closure, Connectivity and Safety, Transit Accessibility and Service Enhancement, EI Camino Real Corridor Plan Implementation, and Transit Access Improvements. In the report, short and long-term improvements to the Redwood City Transit Center were identified by residents as a favorite "Signature Project." We believe the study and creation of a Transit Sub -Area as proposed by City staff can be a catalyst to help unlock key transportation improvements in the downtown core. For over a year, we have been working with the complex ownership structure at Sequoia Station and have been able to coalesce that group behind redevelopment of the site to create a once in generation opportunity. This comes at a time when the City is focusing on environmental and transportation priorities and the future of the Redwood City Transit Center. As staff has alluded to, Sequoia Station is a key part of any Transit Sub Area plan and the re -envisioning of the Redwood City Transit Center. In Exhibit A, we show the approximate right-of-way dedication of the Sequoia Station property that would be required to accommodate Caltrain's rail improvements. The impact of the rail expansion to Sequoia Station is significant. We trust City stakeholders will realize the opportunity at hand - to coordinate Sequoia Station's redevelopment with the expansion of the rail lines, or face an uncertain future for the shopping center. It is a unique moment in time for a vital area of the City, and it is critical that the opportunity for the redevelopment of Sequoia Station coincide with the City's focus on transit and the Redwood City Transit Center. The future of downtown and regional transit looks very different with - or without - a reimagined Sequoia Station. 11901 Harrison Street Suite 1430, Oakland, California 94612 415.669.5888 I www.lowe-re.com 219