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3 <br /> Mr. Lynch asked what was t he grade outcome under a worst case scenario, and <br />Mr. Tolbert said the data is not adequate to make that decision. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati asked if Mr. Tolbert felt it was his duty to advise the University on <br />where to locate the garage, and Mr. Tolbert said he was never asked. <br /> <br /> Responding to questions from Mr. Cox, Mr. Tolbert said he first heard of the <br />plans for the garage in February of 2001, and heard about the number of spaces in the <br />garage in November of 2001. <br /> <br /> Mr. Richards asked Mr. Tolbert if this project was brought to the City would he <br />request a study before a site plan or after construction was done, and Mr. Tolbert said a <br />study would be done prior to any construction. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said she feels that is the only rational way to plan. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox asked i f it is customary to determine the number of cars for a garage and <br />then determine how to manage them, or conduct a study to show the reasonable number <br />of spaces. <br /> <br /> Mr. Bill Lynch, traffic consultant for the City, said the goal is typically to <br />examine traff ic operations, trip generation, and then grow the background numbers. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said it is his understanding that there is inadequate information to <br />make that determine, and Mr. Bill Lynch said that is correct. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox asked if the project could gro w incrementally to see what is an <br />acceptable scale, and Mr. Bill Lynch said yes, you could either scale back the size of the <br />garage, or mitigate the traffic concerns. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Lynch, Mr. Bill Lynch said he cannot <br />comment on the i mpact of the proposed garage on pedestrian crossings. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he finds it strange that the University modeled the garage as a <br />park and ride lot, and asked if there is a legitimate argument for that, but Mr. Bill Lynch <br />said he cannot comment on tha t. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox asked if a traffic study generally anticipates planned development in the <br />adjacent or immediate area, and Mr. Bill Lynch said you would want to consider all <br />known development if it is to be constructed before the garage will open. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tolber t noted that the University has a consultant for the South Lawn study, <br />but City staff think the University needs to look at all development on a bigger scale. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati asked if traffic synchronization is considered a traffic mitigation <br />tool, and Mr. Bill Lynch said it could be. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati asked what other mitigation techniques are usual within the industry, <br />and Mr. Bill Lynch said primarily synchronization, but since he did not perform the <br />analysis, he has no feel for what could be done. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox noted that the City has received a copy of a letter from the Chief <br />Facilities Officer at the University of Virginia to DEQ saying that the University is <br />willing to do another study at their own expense. Mr. Cox said that because of the <br />significant impact s of the garage, Council hopes that the University will work <br />collaboratively with the City on a study and partner with the City in defining the scope of <br />the study and select a mutually agreeable consultant. Mr. Cox said he feels this would <br />reinstill some confidence in the University. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said it only makes sense that the study be completed prior to <br />construction beginning. She said she recognizes that the University is committed to the <br />construction schedule, but feels the study is warranted. <br /> <br />