AgdaPkt 2010-02-01 clsd and regular

Browse Search

Saltworks Proposal- Transportation Group Summary Report (22 January 2010) 7A - ATTACHMENT NO.4 Page 31 the community. The Saltworks proposed streetcar network would augment and connect with a portion of a holistic streetcar or circulator network that the City commits to develop and implement. This would be appropriate and relevant, provided the City indeed commits to plan, seek funding for, and build a streetcar network in the same timeframe or in advance of the Saltworks development. Absent a City streetcar network, the Applicant has stated that it would use a different transit mode that would be entirely compatible with the City's primary mode, such as rubber-tire transporters or circulator systems. The Applicant proposes to construct the onsite segment of a transit system and the first off-site segment, across U.S. 101 to connect to Broadway near the Midpoint Technology Park complex. This was interpreted to mean that Saltworks would fund and construct such system segments. Saltworks proposes to work with the City to use this level of commitment as a "substantial private sector commitment" as a part of a public/private partnership to leverage total funding of a holistic community streetcar system that includes Saltworks segments and the City's Broadway, Middlefield and Seaport Boulevard segments. This may be a once in a generation opportunity for the City to utilize significant private investment to match public funding dollars that could be available to the City. While never certain and highly dependent on further analysis, under current and proposed Federal funding programs for modern streetcars, such leveraging of private investment could potentially result in 80% to 90% of the cost covered by sources external to the City. Alignments - The alignments shown conceptually in the Saltworks proposal are generally supportive of and responsive to City alignments conceptually shown in the new Draft General Plan. As recognized in the Application, close coordination between the City and Saltworks would be needed to resolve specific routes along existing and possibly new streets during an environmental review stage. Transit Ridership - As stated previously, the vast majority of the Saltworks residential units are within % mile of the proposed transit stop. The preliminary transit ridership estimates provided by the Applicant were approximately 5,300 daily boardings at full project build out in 2035. This level of ridership would be in line with some comparable streetcar systems, and an acceptable level of ridership to justify the investment. However, since this is only a preliminary forecast, refined ridership forecasts should be developed for the overall system including both the Saltworks and City portions of the alignment. These forecasts should include the City's presumed increases in development within the streetcar corridors and ridership for the other downtown alignments. Major Crossings - Two crossings of US 101 would be required to connect the Saltworks project with downtown Redwood City for the proposed streetcar system: one new crossing is described as connecting Bayfront Expressway with Broadway in the vicinity of the Midpoint Technology Park; and another is described as an upgrade / reconstruction to the existing crossing at the Maple Street Bridge in terms of widening and seismic retrofit. These bridge crossings would require significant capital expenditures; however, it is understood that they would be built for both auto and streetcar. One of the benefits of streetcars is that they are relatively light weight compared to heavy rail systems. It is anticipated that the new bridge crossings would not need significantly higher loading requirements to accommodate streetcars compared to a typical vehicular bridge. The Saltworks application indicates that the Applicant would fund and construct the new US 101 overcrossing. This would reflect a significant infrastructure commitment by the Applicant for public benefit. 5.2 EMPLOYEE SHUTTLES In addition to the content contained within the Statement of Justification the DMB team discussed the creation of a point-to-point shuttle program for Saltworks residents to major employers in the area, such as Oracle and Sun Microsystems. The shuttle program would be coordinated through the Transportation Management Association (TMA) discussed in the next chapter. Funding could be provided through the Peninsula Commuter Alliance with the employers subsidizing all or a portion of the costs. 5.2.1 Key Issues This type of shuttle program would reduce peak period vehicle trips to and from the site. The extent of the reduction is dependent on the number of shuttles, the number of employers served, and the number of residents 24