In response to the robust economic development currently underway in Foster City, the City Council approved a comprehensive traffic analysis to determine how currently approved and planned projects could impact traffic on City streets and local freeways.

Released this week for public review and comment, the study found that individually none of the projects would result in significant transportation impacts. However, when considered together, the analysis identified five (5) significant impacts to freeways or City intersections using criteria based on California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines. The report also offers recommendations for roadway improvements that would result in better traffic operations throughout the study area and mitigation measures that address 3 of the 5 significant impacts.

The consulting firm of Fehr and Peers Transportation Consultants studied traffic data related to the Mirabella San Francisco Bay/Parkview Plaza on 11 acres owned by the City, redeveloped office space in the Chess Drive area and Gilead Sciences’ proposed expansion project. Data from the recently completed traffic study for the proposed Pilgrim-Triton mixed-use development was also incorporated into the study.

The Planning Commission will hear a presentation from the transportation consultant and discuss the draft report on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers at 620 Foster City Boulevard. The public is invited to hear the presentation and to offer comments. No decisions will be made about the projects studied in the report at this meeting.

A free summary fact sheet about the traffic study and the full report are available for download at www.fostercity.org (link below). Residents are encouraged to take the time to learn the facts about projects being proposed for Foster City by reading the source documents, attending or watching public meetings and asking questions of City staff, Planning Commissioners and City Council Members. You owe it to yourself, your family and the future of Foster City to be informed!

Anyone interested in finding out more about the traffic study, the three projects studied in the report or other development projects in Foster City are encouraged to subscribe to the City’s free listservs. Meeting notices, press releases and other updates are regularly sent to these lists. To subscribe, visit www.fostercity.org/news/Listserv-Subscriber-Page.cfm.  For more information about the traffic study, contact Planning Manager Leslie Carmichael at (650) 286-3236 or lcarmichael@fostercity.org.