AGENDA ITEM # 24 City of Palo Alto and fm Communi Sate August 9, 2007 WANE -9 P 3 29 DART SECRETS, Mr. Dean Chu, Chairperson RD SECRETARY Board of Directors Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority 3331 North First Street San Jose, CA 95134-1906 Re: VTA Comprehensive Operations Analysis Plan Dear Mr, Chu ‘On August 6, 2007, the City Council discussed the VIA Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA) Plan with particular regard to existing and proposed bus service levels in Palo Alto and voted unanimously to oppose the plan as currently proposed. The Council ‘cannot support or endorse a plan that further reduces VTA resources in Palo Alto and establishes new community bus routes without undertaking a comprehensive transit analysis similar to the community planning process undertaken by VTA in Los Gatos and South County. ‘The Council understands and supports the Board’s goals of transforming the bus service ‘model into one that creates greater ridership and better serves our economy and ‘community. We also support the use of smaller community buses and limiting the use of large buses to peak periods. We acknowledge and appreciate that VTA staff partially responded to Palo Alto and community concems regarding the original COA proposals for Lines 35 and 88, but the changes still are not sufficient 1o address Palo Alto's grave concerns. The City is concemed that the changes proposed in the VTA plan further erode transit service to Palo Alto residents and workers (see attached staff report). Further, the proposed plan would severely impede Palo Aito’s comprehensive strategy to a walkable Community with access to transit along key corridors, at neighborhood centers and employment districts, Given Palo Alto's high employment density (second only to San Francisco) and its commitment to a pedestrian, bike and transit network that connects to schools, jobs, shopping districts and transit hubs, itis reasonable to expect a thorough community bus service study of this City's transit use to determine the appropriate level of VTA transit resources in Palo Alto. In other words, we welcome the change to more efficient and community-friendly community buses, but must insist on the opportunity to re-deploy the savings to improve transit service in our community. Our school-age commuters, seniors, and many hospital employees and visitors are among those who will suffer from a service reduction.‘The Council acknowledges General Manager Michael! Burns’ offer to immediately begin a comprehensive transit analysis of the entire transit network in Palo Alto in the coming year, including VTA and Palo Alto shuttle sexvices. The City is willing to assign staff to assist the VTA in that analysis to ensure its completion within the next year. ‘Until a ‘comprehensive transit analysis of the area has been completed, however, the City remains strongly opposed to the proposed VTA service reductions to Palo Alto. It makes no sense. to implement changes in January 2008 and then again 4-6 months later. Palo Alto looks forward to participating in further discussions regarding the analysis at the earliest possible time, Sincerely, (Qk . )RIKO KISHIMOTO : fayor : ce: City Council Michael Burns, VTA General Manager Jim Lawson, VTA Community Relations Manager Kevin Connolly, VTA Transportation Planning Manager