REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Staff Comments to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority on the Draft Environmental Impact Report of the El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit Project
Report
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has completed the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) of a San Jose to Palo Alto Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Sunnyvale via El Camino Real. This project is the result of a VTA Countywide evaluation of potential BRT corridors that found the El Camino Real corridor to be a high priority for development. VTA retained a consulting firm, and over the last few years, analyzed civil engineering requirements, traffic impacts, urban design considerations, operations and ridership, compatibility with local plans and policies, and pedestrian and bicycle concerns. The VTA has also conducted public outreach, including a Sunnyvale Council study session on November 11, 2014.
The VTA studied multiple alternatives for BRT service on El Camino Real including dedicated bus-only lanes and mixed-flow lanes (the bus shares the lane with motor vehicles). The bus-only lane alternative reduces El Camino Real to four lanes while the mixed-flow alternative maintains the current six travel lanes. Throughout the process staff has given guidance to the VTA on consistency with related City policies and commented on design guidelines and technical studies. The DEIR considered seven alternatives; these alternatives are shown in Figure ES-3 of the Executive Summary (Attachment 1). Two project scenarios have been studied, a near term (2018) and a long term (2040).
EXISTING POLICY
Legislative Advocacy Position 1.1 (1) Monitor the El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit project conceptual engineering and environmental analysis to ensure that the City's interests are addressed.
The Land Use and Transportation Element of the General Plan contains goals and policies that are generally applicable to bus transit but not spe...
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