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<br />Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates Inc. | 1-1 <br /> <br />1 INTRODUCTION <br />PROJECT CONTEXT <br />Since its inception in 2001, the LINKS shuttle service has served businesses within West San <br />Leandro and has provided a vital transportation link between its service area (Figure 1) and the <br />San Leandro BART Station. The service has demonstrated its value to the community through the <br />overwhelmingly positive feedback from riders (90% responded that shuttle service was good to <br />excellent), high ridership productivity, and general ridership growth over the past decade. The <br />service is funded through a variety of sources including local and regional grants. A large portion <br />of funds (45% over the past three years) come from a business improvement district (BID) that is <br />formed by businesses within one-quarter mile of the existing shuttle alignment. <br />As of January 2014, several important factors are present that warrant investigation of potential <br />shuttle modifications. These include: <br /> BID Re-establishment: The current BID expires at the end of the 2013-2014 Fiscal <br />Year (June 30, 2014). Assuming that the BID will be renewed and a strong interest to <br />continue the LINKS service exists, the timing is right to suggest service modification and <br />potential expansion during this renewal period. <br /> Strong interest in enhancing the LINKS service: Based on a recent presentation at <br />a San Leandro City Council Next Generation Workplace District Work Session, “LINKS <br />Improvement” was listed as the highest ranked priority among 17 other topic areas. T his <br />reflects a major interest in enhancing the LINKS service beyond what it provides today. <br /> New growth and development in West San Leandro: A recent influx of new <br />businesses, findings from the West San Leandro Next-Gen Workplace District Study, the <br />opening of the Kaiser Permanente Hospital Complex, and a general economic recovery <br />warrant revisiting the existing LINKS alignment to determine if it is the right service for <br />the district. Changes in employment types and concentration of activities could suggest <br />service alignment changes or need for increased shuttle frequencies and capacity. <br /> National trend in transit-ridership growth: Numerous studies and federal <br />transportation reports have continued to show a trend of younger workers driving less <br />and preferring other modes such as transit and biking for commuting. This trend is <br />evident in the Bay Area and is further bolstered by transportation alternatives such as <br />bikesharing and carsharing, which have been shown to reduce personal car ownership. To <br />cater to this generation of workers, there is an expectation of effective transportation <br />alternatives that reduce the need to rely on a personal vehicle.