Just Released: Economic & Housing Opportunities Assessment (ECHO) Phase II

The ECHOII report provides potential strategies and tools for GBI communities to overcome barriers to infil development in the El Camino Real Corridor. The overarching strategies include:

• Plan for Vibrant Activity Nodes
• Align Land Use Regulations with Market and Physical Conditions
• Coordinate Public and Private Investment to Create Walkable Places and Support Desired Development

The strategies and tools suggested in this report are based on thorough analysis of case studies in four cities that are representative of common conditions and challenges along the Corridor. 

Click here to learn more and read the ECHOII Report

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Corridor Guidance - TIGER II Complete Streets Final Report Now Available!

California State Route 82, El Camino Real/Mission Street, is seen by local communities as a barrier to livability and walkability, rather than a community asset. The TIGER II Complete Streets Project, funded by a US Department of Transportation TIGER II Planning Grant, seeks to overcome this situation by facilitating the re-design of the roadway to integrate sustainable development and encourage pedestrians, transit, and investment in the El Camino Real Corridor.

Check out the TIGER II Complete Streets Final Report to learn about the process for transforming an urban State Highway into a complete/sustainable street and for guidance on future streetscape designs in the El Camino Real Corridor and other urban transportation corridors across the nation.

Click here for more information and to download a copy of the Final Report. ​

NEW!! 2013 Grand Boulevard Progress Report

The 2013 Grand Boulevard Initiative Progress Report showcases the success of the member organizations towards achieving the Grand Boulevard Vision. The document summarizes Grand Boulevard studies and highlights exceptional projects and plans in each Corridor jurisdiction. A foldout insert to the document contains an infographic that tells the story of the history, present, and future of the El Camino Real Corridor. Click the links below to view the full document and infographic.

2013 Grand Boulevard Initiative Progress Report (PDF)

Changing Corridor Infographic (PDF)  
Changing Corridor Infographic (GIF) 

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Bus Rapid Transit Phasing Plan Study Underway

SamTrans is exploring new options to improve transit service for those that live, work, or play along the El Camino Real corridor.  Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) can provide faster bus service that could reduce travel times by up to 30 percent, over local bus routes by employing skip stop service, traffic signal improvements, and other operational enhancements.  This type of “development-oriented transit” would expand transportation options and complement the GBI’s efforts.

SamTrans has kicked-off a BRT Phasing Plan Study that will identify the optimal features for a BRT type service for the 26-mile El Camino Real corridor from Daly City in the north to the Palo Alto Transit Center in the south.  The study will look at what low-cost operational improvements can provide faster bus service in the next 2-3 years while also analyzing the value of more capital-intensive improvements like dedicated bus lanes and improved transit stations in the long-term.

This feasibility study will involve substantial outreach to the public and private sector, including the GBI Task Force and local governments along the corridor, as well as public workshops in the fall of 2013.

Additional information can be found online here: 
SamTrans El Camino BRT Phasing Plan​

Lessons Learned in Corridor-Wide Planning

The Grand Boulevard Initiative was featured at the California American Planning Association 2013 Conference in Visalia, CA. The session addressed the value and success of regional and inter-jurisdictional planning, focusing on lessons learned and recommendations from three distinct Complete Streets, Economic & Housing, and Infrastructure Financing projects funded by a federal TIGER II Planning Grant.

 Click here to see the informative presentation!​