AgdaPkt 2010-02-01 clsd and regular

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Saltworks Proposal- Transportation Group Summary Report (22 January 2010) 7A - ATTACHMENT NO.4 Page 5 4. Impacts to Local Corridors - Based on the existing conditions analysis from the new Draft General Plan, both the Woodside Road and Whipple Avenue corridors are operating at Level of Service (LOS) E between EI Camino Real and US 101. Since these key corridors are currently operating at capacity or over capacity, they do not have excess capacity to easily absorb the Saltworks project traffic. The future operations of these intersections is a key consideration in the evaluation of the Saltworks project during a CEQA analysis. 5. Adequate Truck Access to Port of Redwood City - The ultimate design of the Blomquist Street / Seaport Boulevard connection will need to be evaluated to assess potential impacts and the quality of truck access to the Port of Redwood City and industrial uses along Blomquist Street. 6. Evaluation of Regional Effects - While regional benefits are a key element of the Saltworks development proposal, a comprehensive analysis has not been performed. A CEQA analysis would need to quantify vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of the project and any project alternatives according to current guidelines recommended by regional and State agencies. Without a detailed analysis, the veracity of the anticipated 50-percent reduction in VMT stated in the application cannot be assured. 7. Definition of Permanent Transit System (Streetcar) - The Saltworks proposal includes a permanent transit system within the community that could be integrated into the streetcar system proposed by the City in its new Draft General Plan. The related issues to be addressed in a CEQA analysis would include transit ridership estimates for the overall system (City and Saltworks project), an alternatives analysis for Federal funding, construction phasing with Saltworks development, cost sharing and funding, economic analysis, structure of a public/private partnership for the operation of a joint system, coordination with other agencies, and the design of the system. Not all of these issues would need to be resolved in a CEQA analysis, but they should be considered. Other circulator systems in lieu of a streetcar system would also need to be evaluated if the City's proposed streetcar system were delayed or abandoned. 8. Adequacy of External Bicycle and Pedestrian Connections - The off-site bicycle and pedestrian connections are generally provided at the same locations as vehicle access with the exception of the Seaport Boulevard / Woodside Road corridor. There is a proposed trail connection to Redwood Creek. A CEQA analysis would need to consider whether this level of connectivity is adequate to provide reasonable mobility across US 101 connecting into the Saltworks internal circulation system and recreational areas as well as connecting to the existing local streets west of US 101. The off-site bicycle and pedestrian facilities proposed by the project should be clearly documented for evaluation in a CEQA analysis. 9. Greater Detail of Transportation Demand Management Program - The Saltworks proposal describes a transportation demand management (TOM) program that includes the creation and funding of a transportation management association (TMA). In preparing a CEQA analysis, the specific TOM program components that are guaranteed to be provided by the project should be clearly stated in the project description in order for the environmental analysis to include any associated vehicle trip reductions. Without specified components or a monitoring system, a CEQA analysis would need to take a conservative approach and use little or no reduction for a TOM. 10. Identify Components of Parking Management Plan - The specific components of the Parking Management Plan are not identified. Similar to the TOM program, trip reductions associated with the parking strategies cannot be included in the environmental analysis without more detail and iii