The Town Hall of Redwood City voted on Monday, November 28, to form its own Transit District, which will allow for the transformation of the Sequoia station and make way for the redevelopment of the 1970s shopping center with a four-track train station, 1,100 housing units and offices.
“It takes vision, but it can be done!” said Redwood City Mayor Giselle Hale, who tweeted that “this is another step in helping us achieve our RHNA housing goal of 4,588 units. These homes will literally be right next to the best regional transportation.”
The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) is mandated by California Housing Law as part of the periodic process of updating local housing elements of the General Plan. RHNA quantifies the housing need within each jurisdiction during specific planning periods.
The plan calls for grade separations, a new station and four-track rail service, as well as improvements to pedestrian and bicycle safety, “so everyone can enjoy all the benefits of transit!” Hale said.
The local official noted that the plan has been in the works since 2019 and thanked staff, SamTrans and partners who helped to finally achieve the goal just two weeks before Hale leaves the Council.
Notably, the approved amendments to the General Plan, Downtown Precise Plan and the associated Transit District environmental review include redevelopment of land on the Transit Center and Sequoia Station properties, additional space for a four-track station and associated circulation improvements with potential grade separations to ensure adequate connections for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.
The City recently completed outreach sessions on the potential future look of the planned new Transit Center – train station and bus depot – including ground floor activation, open gathering space, placemaking, and landscaping.
Redwood City has 6 at-grade railroad crossings where railroad tracks meet vehicular roads. The railroad crossings at Woodside Road and Jefferson Avenue were previously separated. Gate arms are lowered at regular intervals to allow trains to pass through the city unhindered, temporarily stopping people crossing the tracks.
Increased train service typically increases the amount of time people are stopped at the crossing, which can lead to more congestion. To improve circulation in the city due to rail activity and allow for increased train service, additional grade separations are needed. These separations must be carefully planned to balance the needs within the community and ensure that road connectivity and safety are maximized.
By adding more rail tracks, the city has the opportunity to design a new station, expand amenities such as bike parking, convenient pick-up and drop-off areas, and create safe connections between the bus station, Caltrain platforms, and downtown.
The transit center's grand design could support downtown vitality, create a gathering place for the community, welcome visitors, and improve travel to and from Redwood City.
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