The purpose of the Grand Boulevard Initiative Complete Streets Program is to develop the El Camino Real corridor as a multimodal boulevard that is safe and efficient for all users (pedestrians, bicycles, transit, and automobiles of all ages and abilities).
The Complete Streets Program builds upon the streetscape design guidelines in the Grand Boulevard Initiative Multimodal Transportation Corridor Plan (2010). (Click here to access the Multimodal Transportation Corridor Plan). The Corridor Plan explores the potential for pedestrian, bicycle, automobile, and transit design options along the El Camino Real corridor (State Route 82). The Corridor Planβs Street Design Guidelines and Street Design Prototypes provide a collection of strategies and design typologies to implement the Grand Boulevard Initiative Vision within the context of a State highway and in a manner that best suits the needs and desires of local jurisdictions.
TIGER II Planning Grant Complete Streets Project β Designing El Camino Real as a Complete Street
Grand Boulevard Initiative was awarded a U.S. Department of Transportation TIGER II Planning Grant to fund four Complete Streets case study segments on the El Camino Real corridor in San Mateo County. The Project is a partnership between the San Mateo County Transit District, City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is leading a similar effort in Santa Clara County through its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) work on El Camino Real.
The Project goal is to design model segments on the El Camino Real corridor that integrate the roadway with sustainable development, encourage pedestrian and transit activity, and promote future investor confidence. The segments will provide guidance for future El Camino Real improvements and future replication across the nation. The Project will test the Complete Streets designs process, emphasizing issues and challenges relevant to multimodal design; develop Design Exceptions for Caltrans review and consideration for approval; and identify the approved/denied design elements, how they might be resolved, and lessons learned as to how the design process can be improved.
Through a competitive application process, the following four case studies were selected based on their opportunity for Complete Streets design and transferability to other portions of the El Camino Real corridor.
- Daly City β Parkview Avenue to School Street (map)
- South San Francisco β McLellan Drive to Westborough Boulevard/Chestnut Avenue (map)
- San Bruno β San Bruno Avenue to Taylor Avenue (map)
- San Carlos β Arroyo Avenue to Brittan Avenue (map)
Each case study will incorporate the following Complete Streets elements.
- Pedestrian Improvements: high-visibility crosswalks, median refuges, sidewalk corner extensions, sidewalk widening
- Bicycle Accommodation
- Transit Access Improvements: improved intersection crossings and bus stop access, sidewalk bulbouts at bus stops
- Median Improvements: widen medians, median landscaping (trees and shrubs)
- Landscaping: street trees, median landscaping (trees and shrubs), vegetated areas adjacent to the sidewalks
- Green Infrastructure: canopy tree shading, water efficient landscaping, vegetated stormwater management planter strips, pervious pavement, solar reflective surfaces, energy efficient lighting
The Daly City, South San Francisco, and San Bruno case studies will be developed to a 25% design level under the TIGER II grant. The San Carlos case study will be developed to a 65% design level.
The TIGER II Complete Streets project is expected to be complete in Summer 2013.
