Reso PC22-07 0080 PC Reso Recommending Approval of the Transit District Amendments to the General Plan and DTPP

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considered. Finally, the issue of station size must be considered. Adding HSR service to Redwood City’s train station will require it to be wider and longer—fitting the larger station into the tight confines of Downtown could be a significant urban design challenge. New Street Network Connections The railroad currently creates a major barrier in Downtown. Pedestrians have very few points at which they may safely cross the tracks, and the lack of side street access causes most buildings to turn their back to the railroad or to pull away from it altogether, creating a band of inactivity nearly two blocks wide at points. The grade separation of the railroad tracks will provide the opportunity to fix improve this, by creating new street connections between the northeast and southwest sides of Downtown. Upon the grade separation of the railroad, the following streets should be prioritized for a crossing the railroad right-of-way at-grade in the DTPP Area: Brewster Avenue. Broadway, which should also be considered for straightening to its original alignment. Hamilton Street. Harrison Avenue. Jefferson Avenue, which would necessitate the removal of the current underpass. Maple Street. To enhance walkability and community connectivity to the maximum possible extent, the following additional street connections and/or bicycle and pedestrian-only connections should also be considered: Fuller and/or Bradford streets should be considered as possible links from Arguello Street to Perry Street in order to break up the excessively long block between Broadway and Brewster. Hamilton Street at the existing pedestrian railroad crossing, should be considered as a permanent bicycle/pedestrian link to break up the long block between James and Jefferson. Wilson Street, which would terminate at the new “Lane” street behind the Library. Monroe Street, which would terminate at the new “Lane” street behind the Library. Maple Street, which should be maintained as a bicycle/pedestrian link if the road can’t be lowered beneath the railroad tracks due to the proximity of the creek. B) Streetcars Streetcars, also sometimes known as trolleys or trams, are small, lightweight electric vehicles that run on fixed tracks—primarily on shared lanes in public streets. Typically, streetcars are intended for trips that are only a couple of miles long within a City, from neighborhood to neighborhood. These are trips that are too long for walking and too short for regional transit such as light rail, heavy rail, or commuter rail systems. In general, streetcars serve a similar role as local buses, but they can be more appropriate for corridors planned for higher densities due to their ability to attract higher ridership than busses and stimulate housing development. Although streetcars cost more to construct than typical bus systems, they cost far less than heavy and light rail systems. The lack of need for right-of way purchases, grade separations, and major reinforcement under the tracks make streetcars relatively inexpensive and quick to construct. Streetcars fill an important link in the transportation system, and have proven to be a great stimulator for walkable urban development. Their popularity is due to many factors, including a more comfortable ride, less noise, and lack of diesel fumes. The Potential Transit Projects map shows corridors in Redwood City that streetcars can potentially be implemented on. These corridors were identified in the new Redwood City General Page 20 of 45