HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW Transit Center Relocation Draft Environmental Impact Report PPTSan Rafael Transit Center Draft EIR Comments
Proposed Ordinance
San Rafael City Council
October 4, 2021
Background
On April 19, 2021, the City Council received an Informational Report
Four (4) study options were identified:
•Move Whistlestop Alternative
•Adapt Whistlestop Alternative
•4th Street Gateway Alternative
•Under the Freeway Alternative
•No Build Alternative
San Rafael City Council 2
October 4, 2021
Notice of Availability
On August 11, 2021, Notice of Availability Release by Golden Gate
Bridge District
•Notice of Availability provides 60 –day review and comment
period
•Comments Due October 12, 2021
San Rafael City Council 3
October 4, 2021
City’s Role as a Responsible Agency
City is a Responsible Agency because the City will take action on the
project
•City must comment on the NOP
•City will need to adopt the final CEQA document prior to taking
action on the project
•City will need to conclude that the EIR adequately disclosed all
potential impacts.
San Rafael City Council 4
October 4, 2021
General Comments on the DEIR
In some cased the DEIR relies on incorrect or outdated assumptions
•Ridership Assumptions
•General Plan 2020 v. General plan 2040
•Range of Alternatives not adequate
In some cases the DEIR omits analysis and disclosure of certain impacts
•Vibration related impacts (Table 3.11-12)
•impact on historic resources
•Traffic related impacts.
San Rafael City Council 5
October 4, 2021
Comments on the DEIR –Traffic Related Impacts (most comments were made previously)
San Rafael City Council 6
March 1, 2021
•Transportation Summary Report shows Under the Freeway alternative
with clear circulation and intersection delay advantages. The DEIR seems
to dismiss these advantages.
•DEIR relies on outdated transit ridership data from 2017. City mentioned
the need to:
•Use actual and current ridership data and not historic
•Justify replacement of the transit center based on recent data
•Include uncertainty of SMART running after 2029
Comments on the DEIR –Ridership Assumptions
•July 2021 report to the Board concludes changes to ridership from
pre-pandemic levels as follows:
o Bus ridership is down 74%.
o Bus service reduced by about 50%
o Ferry ridership is down 93%
o Bridge traffic is down 17.6%
San Rafael City Council 7
March 1, 2021
Comments on the DEIR –Traffic Related Impacts
San Rafael City Council 8
March 1, 2021
•Both Whistlestop alternatives are shown to reduce intersection delay.
The conclusion is counterintuitive and fails to recognize the additional
delay that would be cause by introducing driveways along Fourth Street.
•Parking displacement is not a stand alone CEQA-related impact. Under
the Freeway alternative cannot be labeled significant and unavoidable
based on parking.
Comments on the DEIR –Traffic Related Impacts
San Rafael City Council 9
March 1, 2021
•Comments on Transportation Summary Report were not responded to:
•Pedestrians trip assumptions are lacking
•Ignored impacts of bringing pedestrians and bicycle activities towards
Fourth Street
•Ignored vehicle storage and queueing deficiencies in the heart of
pedestrian district.
•The No-build alternative was not adequately evaluated. It is important to
note the functional difficulties for all modes.
Comments on the DEIR –Traffic Related Impacts
San Rafael City Council 10
March 1, 2021
•Third and Hetherton and the SB right turn demand needs to be
recognized and used in evaluating significance. Two major issues:
Pedestrian safety & queueing due to receiving block capacity.
Recommendation
San Rafael City Council 11
March 1, 2021
Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign a Letter to the
Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District Summarizing
City Comments on the San Rafael Transit Center Draft EIR
Questions
San Rafael City Council
March 1, 2021
San Rafael City Council
March 1, 2021
Background-Description of Alternatives
Option 1
Move Whistlestop Alternative
San Rafael City Council
October 4, 2021
Background-Description of Alternatives
Option 2
Adapt Whistlestop Alternative
San Rafael City Council
October 4, 2021
Background-Description of Alternatives
Option 3
4th Street Gateway Alternative
San Rafael City Council
October 4, 2021
Background-Description of Alternatives
Option 4
Under the Freeway
Alternative
San Rafael City Council
October 4, 2021