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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 San Rafael City Council 4 October 4, 2021 General Comments on the DEIR In some cased the DEIR relies on incorrect or outdated assumptions •Ridership Assumptions •General Plan 2020 v. General plan 2040 •Range of Alternatives not adequate In some cases the DEIR omits analysis and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 •DEIR relies on outdated transit ridership data from 2017.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