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Ms. Lindy Chan, Principal Planner
<br />City of Redwood City, Planning Services
<br />July 13, 2020
<br />Page 9
<br />As explained in the Prior Comment Letters, the Draft EIR was required to address potential
<br />effects related to traffic, including noise, air quality, and any other issues affecting schools.
<br />(Pub. Resources Code, §§ 21000, et seq.; Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, §§ 15000, et seq.;
<br />Chawanakee, supra, 196 Cal.AppAth 1016.) Additionally, specifically related to traffic, the
<br />Draft EIR was required to analyze safety issues related to traffic impacts, such as reduced
<br />pedestrian safety, particularly as to students walking or bicycling to and from Sequoia High
<br />School; potentially reduced response times for emergency services and first responders traveling
<br />to these schools; and increased potential for accidents due to gridlock during school drop-off and
<br />pick up hours.
<br />The requirement to analyze student safety issues is rooted in both the California Constitution and
<br />CEQA. Article I, section 28(c), of the California Constitution states that all students and staff of
<br />primary, elementary, junior high, and senior high schools have the inalienable right to attend
<br />campuses that are "safe, secure, and peaceful." CEQA is rooted in the premise that "the
<br />maintenance of a quality environment for the people of this state now and in the future is a
<br />matter of statewide concern." (Pub. Res. Code § 21000(a).) Naturally, safety is crucial in the
<br />maintenance of a quality environment. "The capacity of the environment is limited, and it is the
<br />intent of the Legislature that the government of the state take immediate steps to identify any
<br />critical thresholds for health and safety of the people of the state and take all coordinated actions
<br />necessary to prevent such thresholds being reached." (Pub. Res. Code § 21000(d).) The
<br />Legislature has made clear in declarations accompanying CEQA's enactment that public health
<br />and safety are of great importance in the statutory scheme. (Pub. Res. Code §§ 21000 (b), (c),
<br />(d), (g); 21001(b), (d) (emphasizing the need to provide for the public's welfare, health, safety,
<br />enjoyment, and living environment.) (California Building Industry Assn. v. Bay Area Air
<br />Quality Management Dist. (2015) 62 CalAth 369, 386.)
<br />As noted in the Prior Comment Letters, it is anticipated that the construction of and traffic
<br />generated by the Project, and especially as modified to include significantly more residential
<br />units, will severely exacerbate the already stifling traffic in the general area, and the safety issues
<br />posed thereby. The Project site's neighborhood, which is located on the periphery of the City's
<br />downtown core, is one of the most heavily traversed areas in Redwood City. El Camino Real
<br />already suffers from substantial vehicular congestion, which produces noise, exhaust fumes, and
<br />pollution.3 Further, a trend currently exists where commuters along El Camino Real seek less -
<br />congested travel paths in the residential neighborhoods to the north and south of the boulevard,
<br />resulting in speeding and dangerous traffic conditions in those neighborhoods, including those
<br />residential neighborhoods surrounding Sequoia High School.4 The proposed Project, is
<br />anticipated further to impede circulation in the neighborhoods surrounding Sequoia High School,
<br />and clog the access roads to, from, and around the District's high school, by adding thousands of
<br />new cars to these roads. (See, 5 Cal. Code Regs. § 14010(k), which requires that school facilities
<br />be easily accessible from arterial roads.) These new cars will make it more difficult and
<br />dangerous for students and staff to safely drive, walk, and bike to Sequoia High School, both
<br />'Redwood City General Plan (October 11, 2010) at Figure BE -14; pp. BE -106 and BE -131.
<br />4 Id. at p. BE -134.
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