Almost $200 million has been allocated to numerous roadway infrastructure projects throughout San Mateo County, many of which are meant to not just alleviate traffic congestion but also improve non-vehicle infrastructure, such as bike lanes and crosswalks.
The funds were allocated by the San Mateo County Transportation Authoring and come from Measure A and Measure W, sales taxes dedicated to transportation. Patrick Gilster, TA director of planning and fund management, said the program funds are starting to address not just large highway corridors but also local road needs.
“This is the largest single call for projects the Transportation Authority has ever done,” Gilster said, adding that the scale of the funding levels are “very exciting.”
The $189 million in funding will go toward over a dozen projects throughout the county, ranging from improvements on El Camino Real to Old Bayshore Highway in Burlingame.
The board also directed staff to pursue $3 million in Regional Measure 3 funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the Fashion Island/19th Avenue project in San Mateo. The city has highlighted the corridor, between Pacific and Mariners Island boulevards, as a high priority for pedestrian, cycling and congestion improvements. The project would construct Class IV, or protected, lanes between Pacific Boulevard west of Delaware Street and Mariners Island Boulevard east of the Marina Lagoon. To address vehicle congestion, the city also proposes lengthening the left turn lane at the Fashion Island Boulevard and Norfolk Street intersection by about 400 feet. There would also be traffic signal modifications and a reconfiguration of lanes on the Seal Slough bridge.
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“This is a roadway that’s the only east-west roadway we have in San Mateo,” said Rich Hedges, a San Mateo resident and former councilmember, during the meeting Jan. 8. “It’s very impacted and dangerous, not only for cars and pedestrians, but for bicyclists.”
The funding will also go toward the Highway 101 and Holly Street Interchange in San Carlos, which will receive conditional construction funds pending grant applications.
San Carlos Assistant City Manager Nil Blackburn said the interchange project is one of the city’s top priorities.
“This is a sizable project which is anticipated to bring about tremendous benefits for our region, particularly with respect to improving traffic circulation, alleviating congestion around the interchange, but perhaps even more importantly, to improve safety for all modes of transportation," Blackburn said during the TA meeting.
The TA board unanimously approved the funding package.
Also, these projects address two recent fatalities on San Mateo County Streets. The Holly Street project follows the death of 31-year-old Andrea Vallebueno who was a killed by a driver while. biking on Holly across 101.
The 19th Avenue/Fashion Island project in San Mateo follows the death of local resident/pedestrian Mark Kremer.
Thank you to SMCTA and the Cities of SM and SC for improving safety infrastructure in the wake of these tragedies.
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Also, these projects address two recent fatalities on San Mateo County Streets. The Holly Street project follows the death of 31-year-old Andrea Vallebueno who was a killed by a driver while. biking on Holly across 101.
The 19th Avenue/Fashion Island project in San Mateo follows the death of local resident/pedestrian Mark Kremer.
Thank you to SMCTA and the Cities of SM and SC for improving safety infrastructure in the wake of these tragedies.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
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Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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