An early-stage effort to extend the Highway 101 express lanes north of Interstate 380 is facing a slight delay, with the current phase expected to be completed in 2027.
The current express lanes, which opened about three years ago, stretches 22 miles on Highway 101 from the Santa Clara County line to Interstate 380. Starting around 2020, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority began conducting research on expanding the project north of the interstate, either by converting an existing lane into an express lane or constructing a brand-new one.
The initiative is in the environmental and preliminary design phase, which began in 2020 and is a multiyear effort now expected to be completed in summer 2027, though earlier plans hoped to complete the current stage by this year.
“Almost all of the technical and environmental studies are complete at this point. We are still finalizing the traffic analysis, but we have made progress,” said Director of Project Delivery Jessica Manzi during a board meeting March 5. “We do anticipate traffic studies being complete in May of this year so that we can plan to circulate the draft environmental document at the end of this year and complete the document and project report in the summer of 2027.”
Many transit advocates have opposed the plan, especially a version that would widen the highway by constructing a new lane. And the board is facing more pressure to get data illustrating that the current express lanes have in fact reduced congestion, as the agency has touted less traffic and more carpooling and transit use as primary goals of the initiative.
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Board Member Carlos Romero said he still supports finalizing the early-stage study process, though wouldn't support moving further along on the project until there is a clearer sense of whether the current express lanes are actually decreasing congestion.
"I would hope that we could have additional information, additional analysis on the performance side of the 101 managed lanes that could inform whether or not we're moving these metrics on vehicle miles traveled and on [greenhouse gas emissions]," he said. “I think that is part of what should be in our calculus when we think about moving forward on this project."
The current phase has an $10 million expected cost, and previous estimates on the total construction costs for the express lanes expansion could range from $250 million to $350 million. The current timeline estimates that the project could complete construction by 2032 if the plan moves ahead.
The board is expected to receive a formal performance evaluation of the existing express lanes in April, and another update on the express lane project will go before the board by the end of this year.
I don’t know if Kalshi or Polymarket has any odds on this project moving forward but I’m 100% sure this project will move forward regardless of whichever plan is proposed and regardless of any traffic study. Why? Because it’s another union transportation labor giveaway to the tune of another $350 million in taxpayer funds, regardless of whether the make-work project makes any difference to global warming (it won’t). As usual, it’s a loss for taxpayers but that doesn’t matter, as long as ever-increasing union transportation salaries, pensions, and benefits are paid. Don’t worry. You’ll see more transportation tax proposals, again and again asking to transfer more of your hard earned money to union workers.
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I don’t know if Kalshi or Polymarket has any odds on this project moving forward but I’m 100% sure this project will move forward regardless of whichever plan is proposed and regardless of any traffic study. Why? Because it’s another union transportation labor giveaway to the tune of another $350 million in taxpayer funds, regardless of whether the make-work project makes any difference to global warming (it won’t). As usual, it’s a loss for taxpayers but that doesn’t matter, as long as ever-increasing union transportation salaries, pensions, and benefits are paid. Don’t worry. You’ll see more transportation tax proposals, again and again asking to transfer more of your hard earned money to union workers.
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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.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.