San Mateo to scope lane connector plan

The project looks to increase travel time reliability for express lane users, increase carpool lane transit, and improve traffic flow for the interchange, Carolyn Mamaradlo, senior project manager for the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, said. 

The lane connector is also proposed to “reduce congestion and to relieve cut-through traffic on local streets in the cities of San Mateo and Foster City” according to the City Council’s staff report, though project opponents believe adding the lane will do nothing to reduce traffic. 

At the San Mateo County Transit Authority Community Advisory Committee’s meeting April 1, residents and committee members voiced opposition to the lane connector. 

“This is doomed to fail,” Committee member Giuliano Carlini said. “We continue to waste money on projects that we know are not going to improve congestion. We need to shut down projects like this and spend money on projects that will relieve congestion.” 

San Mateo Councilmember Danielle Cwirko-Godycki has called for support in doing just this, inviting opponents of the widening project to send in letters of opposition or to attend Monday’s meeting. 

“I hope that the eastside community and other San Mateans come out and share their perspective on the project,” Cwirko-Godycki said. “It’s going to have a citywide impact and I think people are concerned and don’t have a lot of clarity.” 

Communication with residents has been a focus of concern with the ongoing project proposal. If approved, the project could affect up to 33 residences, possibly displacing families. 

The long-term improvement is currently in the environmental review phase. Multiple project alternatives are being studied in preliminary engineering and environmental technical studies, including a no-build option. 

Once the draft EIR is released, likely for fall 2026, the public will have the ability to review and comment on the proposed project and its alternatives. During this phase, likely the end of 2026 or early 2027, there will be a 45-day public comment period when residents will have the opportunity to really influence the direction the project will take, Amy Linehan, SMCTA government and community affairs officer, said. 

“Any energy that anyone has, good, bad, otherwise, this is where they need to spend it,” Linehan said. “This is where they need to go on the record, tell Caltrans, tell the TA, tell [the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County] what they really think and what alternatives they want Caltrans to approve.”  

For Mike Swire, a member of the advisory committee, continuing the studies at all is not worthwhile. 

“I think this is the worst project we’ve heard about,” Swire said at the meeting April 1. “I don’t see a reason to keep spending millions of dollars every year in the hopes of this magical data is going to suggest that this is going to make congestion better.” 

As a resident in the nearby area of the potential project zone, while the project could have relieving impacts on pollution from stop-and-go traffic, committee member Rich Hedges said the inescapable concern remains on the 33 homes that could be affected. 

“We as a project team and agency share those concerns,” Mamaradlo said. “We are committed to minimizing avoiding any type of property impacts that may be a result of this project if it moves forward.”

During public comment, Karen Cutler spoke to her concerns living in a home that would likely be affected. Cutler and her family have lived in her home on Adams Street for multiple generations, and said she has felt left out of the conversations with Caltrans. 

“Injuring vulnerable families that can ill afford to acquire new housing within San Mateo and disrupting, and possibly ruining, our lives, it should not be allowed,” Cutler said. “To be collateral damage for an expensive $200 million project that will not cure our traffic congestion problem seems cruel and unnecessary.”

Near-term area improvements focused on modifications with “relatively low implementation costs” in the nearby zone of concern will break ground this summer, and last for approximately two years, costing approximately $51.6 million. It includes modifications and widening in four areas from westbound 92 to southbound 101, northbound 101 at Hillsdale Boulevard exit ramp, the 101 connector ramp to eastbound 92 and the southbound 101 to Fashion Island Boulevard exit ramp.

Funding for the longer-term lane connector project would be reliant upon competitive state and federal funding sources to cover the costs, Mamaradlo said. 

“Spending upwards of $200 million when there are other important projects that can be funded, like street safety, alternative commuter options, I’d like to understand what else has been explored before making such a heavy impact to the city,” Cwirko-Godycki said. 

The San Mateo City Council study session on the project will be 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, at City Hall, 330 W. 20th Ave.