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. I I I I . Mr. Ugarte said, based on previous comments by Council Members, Alternative 1 - appeared to meet most of the study's goals. He described the new 4-way expressway, some of it built over the salt ponds, a new connection from the Neighborhood, significant traffic improvements, and its compatibility with other planned improvements. Mr. Ugarte said Alternate No.1 would have hardly any impact on residential areas, would cost less than Alternatives No.2 and 3, but would slightly impact wetlands in two places. Council Member Claire provided background on the 1983 efforts to improve traffic flow in this area, and how Menlo Park and Atherton sued the State to stop an eastside, BaYITont road. He said that at that time Redwood City supported a parallel road leading to Woodside, but times had changed and traffic congestion had proliferated. Council Member Claire said he would not support any proposal that did not relieve the existing problems at Woodside Road and Highway 101, as well as include all the other improvements in the original plan. He asked, if the Council decided to approve any of the Alternatives proposed, would the City be better off? He said, he did not believe any of the alternatives would be beneficial to the City. Council Member Ira expressed concern about acquiring rights of way over the wetlands, and agreed with Council Member Claire that any approval would have to include improvements to the Woodside Interchange. Council Member Claire said the existing and future traffic problems in this region are - caused by and impacted by residential and commercial traffic ITom the County, Woodside, Atherton and Redwood City, and therefore should be addressed on a regional basis, not piecemeal by each jurisdiction. Council Member Claire said he could support Alternative No. I only if pressure was put on CalTrans, who controls Woodside Road, to improve Woodside all the way to El Camino Real. City Manager Everett said staff needed more data regarding the impacts of Alternative No. I, and more than minor changes to the two interchanges were needed for the improvements to be acceptable. He said Woodside Road through Redwood City did not need further traffic directed to it ITom a new parallel relief road. City Manager Everett said CalTrans also had to commit to appropriate signalization improvements. In response to Mayor Howard's questions, Mr. Ugarte said the T A would be glad to hold as many public hearings on this issue as Redwood City wanted. He said currently the TA was working with other agencies, but would be happy to work with community organizations. City Manager Everett said he would work with Neighborhood Associations to set up presentations, and reiterated that the City did not want to solve the traffic problem by relocating it elsewhere. - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 FEBRUARY 9, 1998 MINUTES Page No. 249 PAGE 7