Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study El Camino Real Complete Streets Study
City Council
April 16, 2025
Study Recommendations
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study 1 Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Overview
• Background
• Review of Alternatives
• Public Outreach
• Traffic Analysis
• Other Factors
• Staff Recommendation
• Next Steps
2 Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Background
3 3
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Conceptual Design Process
4 • Phase 1 Community
Input
• Existing Conditions
Analysis
Initial
Concepts
•Goals & Objectives
• Evaluation Ranking
Screening • Phase 2 Community
Feedback
Design
Alternatives
•Advance thru
Caltrans process
• More detailed
design/engineering
Preferred
Designs
Design
Alternatives
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Project Need
• ECR through Atherton lacks
dedicated pedestrian and bicycle
facilities
• Last gap for pedestrians on
Peninsula
• Safety - Speeding is a factor
• Opportunity to leverage outside
resources
• Help Guide Vision of State
Highway
5 Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Project Goals
Improved Safety and Quality of Life
Improved Connectivity
Enhanced Equity and Access
Expand Travel Options
6 Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Local and Regional Priority
7 2014 Atherton Bicycle and
Pedestrian Master Plan
• ECR backbone of bicycle/pedestrian
system.
• Selby Lane to Fifth Ave: Class I trail,
active transportation investments
• Atherton Ave to Encinal Ave: Class I trail,
crosswalk enhancements at Watkins/
Isabella
• Feasibility study to evaluate “travel lane
reduction and Class I trail…with
recommended approach to environmental
and Caltrans approval including likely
phasing.”
Local
• Menlo Park El Camino Real Corridor
Study
• San Mateo County C/CAG
Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian
Plan
• Countywide Transportation Plan
• Reimagine SamTrans initiative
• Grand Boulevard Initiative
Regional
• MTC Active Transportation Network
State
• Caltrans SHOPP Project #1W130
• Caltrans District 4 Bike Plan (Top Tier
Class I and IV)
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Phase 1 - Survey
8 8.52 8.21
3.88 2.42
1.84 1.81 1.48 1.5 1.3 1.02
0.5 0.51
0 1
2 3
4 5
6 7
8 9
Overall Ranking Score
Top Priorities for Travel on El Camino Real
Total : 320 surveys completed
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Safety and Speed
9 ● Speeds on ECR: 38 mph (critical
speed), 35 mph (avg speed)
● Average 6-10 mph over speed limit
from Selby to Atherton./Fair Oaks
● Countywide High Injury Network
73 Crashes
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Alternatives
10 10
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Balancing Trade-Offs
• Limited right-of-way
• Sidewalks require 4-6 feet minimum, bike lanes 5-8 feet, buffers 3+ feet • Pave shoulders?
• Reduce traffic lane widths?
• Minimize impacts to properties along ECR
• Minimize traffic diversion and parking impacts
• Seamless transition from Redwood City to Menlo Park
11 Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Common Elements
12 • All design concepts incorporate common elements and features:
• Enhanced pedestrian/bicycle crossings at key intersections (e.g., high visibility crosswalks, hybrid beacons, refuges) • Better lighting
• Improved bus stops access
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Design Concept #1: Added Sidewalks and Striped Bike Lanes • Add continuous sidewalks on both sides of the street to improve pedestrian safety.
• Sidewalks (narrowed by bus stop and utility poles).
• Painted Class 2 bike lane on both sides of the street. • No vehicle lanes are removed.
MED
HIGH
LOW
MED*
HIGH Cyclist
Safety
LOW Pedestrian
Safety
Maintains
Street Parking
Retains
Travel Speed
Addresses
Flood Impacts
Minimize Traffic
Diversion to
Local Streets
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Design Concept #2: Wider Sidewalks & Buffered/Protected Bike Lanes
Convert 2 Vehicle Lanes
• Convert the outer vehicle lane in each direction
• Wider sidewalks on both sides.
• Separated bike lane on both sides of the street
• Cyclists buffered from traffic by a 3-foot wide median that could include a physical barrier..
HIGH
LOW*
Cyclist
Safety
HIGH Pedestrian
Safety
Maintains
Street Parking
Retains
Travel Speed
Addresses
Flood Impacts
MED
MED
MED
Minimize Traffic
Diversion to
Local Streets
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study MED
MEDHIGH
Design Concept #3: Wider Sidewalks & Partial Buffered/Protected Bike Lanes
Convert 1 Vehicle Lane
LOW*
MEDHIGH
Cyclist
Safety
MED Pedestrian
Safety
Maintains
Street Parking
Addresses
Flood Impacts
Retains
Travel Speed
• Wider sidewalks on both sides of the street.
• Separated bike lane on both sides of the street in wider sections of the corridor. • Cyclists buffered from traffic by a 3-foot wide median that could include a physical barrier.
• Bikeway transitions to a striped bike lane in narrower sections • Center median shifted in some places to accommodate the conversion of one lane.
MED
Minimize Traffic
Diversion to
Local Streets
striped bike
lanes in
constrained
areas
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Technical Evaluation of Design Concepts
16 • Concept #1
• Least disruptive to vehicle traffic, least protective of bikes and pedestrians
• Concept #2
• Most protective of bikes/peds, reduces vehicle
speeds
• Concept #3
• Middle ground on safety, speeds
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Public Input
Phase 2
17 17
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Public Engagement (Phase 2)
18 Engagement Tactics:
• Online survey (Almost 500 respondents,
55% Atherton residents))
• 2 Focused Listening Sessions
• 3 Pop up events
• 2 CBO Meetings
• Article in the “Athertonian”
• Social Media posts
• Letters to businesses along ECR
• Presentations to committees/councils
• Technical Working Group
• Virtual Community Meeting (40+
attendees)
Phase 2 Objectives
• Present 3 Design Alternatives
• Gauge how well alternatives meet
needs of residents and people
travelling along ECR?
• Gauge what people like/dislike
about each option?
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Pop Up Events
19 1. Atherton Public Library
2. Menlo College Campus
3. North Fair Oaks Food Distribution Event
What we heard:
• Strong focus on safety concerns, lack of sidewalks, and infrastructure (flooding)
• Desire to balance travel modes on ECR.
• Emphasized importance of separating modes to reduce
conflicts and improve safety.
• Preference for improvements that do not reduce vehicle lanes – congestion.
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Survey Results
20 All Respondents (493) Atherton Respondents (265)
Avg Score
Does Not
Meet Needs
(Score:1)
Does Meet
Needs
(Score: 5)
Avg Score
Does Not
Meet Needs
(Score:1)
Does Meet
Needs (Score:
5)
Concept 1 2.99 27% 29% 3.47 21% 42%
Concept 2 3.01 32% 30% 2.19 51% 13%
Concept 3 2.54 31% 9% 2.08 28% 19%
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Summary of Public Input
21 • Strongest Support for Concept #2
• 3.03 avg score
• High enthusiasm, high skepticism
• Strong Support for Concept #1
• 2.99 avg score
• High enthusiasm, high skepticism
• Less Enthusiasm for Concept #3
• 2.54 avg score
• Middling enthusiasm
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Traffic Analysis
22 22
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Traffic Analysis
23 The project team analyzed changes in travel time and average arterial speed at peak AM and PM hours for each concept.
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Traffic Analysis
24 The project team analyzed changes in Level of Service (LOS) and delays at peak AM and PM hours for each concept.
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Other Factors
25 25
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Other Factors
26 • Desire for connectivity and continuity with other facilities and planned improvements
• Grand Boulevard Initiative
• Caltrans Comprehensive Multi-Modal Corridor Plan
• Caltrans Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans
• Caltrans – State Highway Operation and Protection
Program (SHOPP) project in Redwood City
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Caltrans SHOPP project – Redwood City
27 Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Caltrans SHOPP project – Redwood City
28 Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Caltrans SHOPP project – Redwood City
29 Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study We Are Early in the Caltrans Process
30 Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Recommendations
31 31
Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Staff Recommendation
• Advance Concepts #1 and #2 to next Caltrans phase (PID) • Caltrans will want multiple concepts evaluated
• Focus design specifics on direction from this planning process • Engage in GBI and Caltrans CMCP processes
• Support transportation studies and improvements along ECR corridor
• Pursue funding opportunities for further development and analysis of alternatives and/or localized improvements to ECR
• SMCTA Call for Projects (Highway Program $175m), release 6/5/25 32 Town of Atherton | El Camino Real Complete Streets Study Next Steps
33 • Finalizes Report - estimated mid-May
• Continue coordination with neighbors/Grand Boulevard
Initiative/Caltrans CMCP
• Incorporation of preferred alternative(s) into the Grand Boulevard vision and Project Initiation Documents (PID)
• Support regional efforts in pursuing funding to facilitate development of Project Approval and Environmental
Documentation (PA&ED)
• Pursue funding for Selby Lane/ECR intersection
improvements