Staff Report - Measure A and W Highway Program 2025 Call For Projects El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project Page 1 of 4
STAFF REPORT
TO: May
or and Members of the City Council
FROM: Brad Donohue, Director of Public Works and Planning Abdulkader Hashem, Principal Project Manager
VIA: Daniel Barros, City Manager
MEETING DATE: August 27, 2025
SUBJECT: Measure A and W Highway Program 2025 Call For Projects
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the following:
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE EL CAMINO REAL BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR THE SAN MATEO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY’S 2025 MEASURE A AND
MEASURE W HIGHWAY PROGRAM CALL FOR PROJECTS PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINE 15306
COUN
CIL ADOPTED VALUES
The City Council approved a master plan that addresses bicycle and pedestrian safety and transportation deficiencies on El Camino Real (ECR) in Colma. The master plan created a vision of how the highway could be reconstructed to accommodate all modes of transportation, a plan that endorses safety and promotes healthy modes of travel along ECR. The approval of the resolution is a continuation of the vision that ECR can be viable for all modes of travel.
BACK
GROUND
In 2021, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA) adopted the Short Range Highway Plan (SRHP) and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to guide investments for the Measure A Highways and Measure W Countywide Highway Congestion categories. The SRHP established the policy framework for these investments, incorporating goals from both measures. In December 2024, the TA Strategic Plan 2025-2029 further updated these policies and evaluation criteria based on stakeholder input.
To be eligible for the Call for Projects, a project must be included in the CIP, listed in either the Measure A or W Expenditure Plans, or be identified on the updated Measure A Supplemental AGENDA ITEM #4
Staff Report - Measure A and W Highway Program 2025 Call For Projects El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project Page 2 of 4 Roadways candidate list, The Colma El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project is on the updated Measure A Supplemental Roadways list, making it eligible for funding.
The SMCTA intends to make available up to $200 million between County Measures A and W including:
• Measure A: Key Congested Areas ($45 million), and Supplemental Roadways ($75 million). • Measure W: This will fund highway and interchange projects ($80 million).
ANALYSIS
Since ECR is a state-owned roadway, all improvements must be approved by Caltrans. The proposed improvements will require various levels of documentation, studies, and reviews to receive Caltrans’s approval at each stage, from project initiation to construction. The Project Study Report-Project Development Support (PSR-PDS) phase was completed and approved by Caltrans in February 2025. The next phase, Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED), is currently in development and is expected to be finished in December 2025.
Following the PA&ED approval, the project will move into the Plan, Specifications and Estimate (PS&E) and Right of Way (ROW) stage of the project.
The key requirements for the PS&E approval include Geometric Design, Safety and Accessibility, Utilities and Right of Way, Drainage and Stormwater, Traffic Control, and Engineer’s Estimate. A Caltrans Liaison Engineer is assigned to the Project to provide oversight for both PA&ED and PS&E phases for the project. To obtain Caltrans ROW approval, the project must complete several steps, including securing all necessary permits and certifying that all requirements have been met. This work involves preparing ROW plans, relocating utilities, appraising property, and making payments for real property as needed. Projects that involve work within Caltrans' ROW will also require a CalTrans encroachment permit.
Town of Colma staff will apply for Measure A and W Highway Program 2025 funding to complete the PS&E phase for Segments A and C of the El Camino Real Project, and funding to acquire ROW where needed along the project boundaries. This application will be submitted to the SMCTA by September 12, 2025. The estimated funding needed for PS&E and ROW is $17,000,000. Our application seeks $15,300,000, and the required $1,700,000 local match (10%) will be shared between the Town of Colma and the City of South San Francisco.
A City Council resolution is required to apply for Measure A and Measure W Highway Program 2025 funding. The resolution must show support for the El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project and authorize the submission of the application for both the PS&E and ROW phases.
Detailed Description of the Project
The El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement project aims to enhance safety, provide multimodal accessibility, improve connectivity and access to public transportation, and support economic growth by providing continuous sidewalks and dedicated bicycle lanes along approximately 1.5 miles of El Camino Real/State Route (SR) 82 between Albert M Teglia Boulevard in the Town of Colma and Hickey Boulevard in the City of South San Francisco. The project is divided into three segments: Segment A from Albert M. Teglia Boulevard to Mission Staff Report - Measure A and W Highway Program 2025 Call For Projects El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project Page 3 of 4 Road, Segment B from Mission Road to Arlington Drive in the Town of Colma, and Segment C from Arlington Drive to Hickey Boulevard in the City of South San Francisco. The requested Measure A and W Highway Program 2025 funds will be allocated for the preparation of the PS&E for Segments A and C, and the ROW of the entire corridor (Segments A, B, and C).
Design of Segment B is already funded by the Measure A and W Pedestrian and Bicycle Program 2022 (Cycle 6).
The Town of Colma and the City of South San Francisco are being awarded MTC Active Transportation Design Technical Assistance grants, $300,000 each. Colma will use its funding for the design of Segment A of the El Camino Real Project, and South San Francisco will use its grant for Segment C. Both grants will serve as the local match (10%) for the Measure A and W Highway Program 2025 Funds.
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated cost of the preparation of the PS&E for the El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project (Segments A & C) is estimated to be in the range of $8,000,000, and the estimated cost of the ROW for the entire corridor (Segments A, B & C) is estimated to be in the range of $9,000,000 as follows:
Phase Segment A
(Colma)
Segment B
(Colma)
Segment C
(SSF)
Total
PS&E $5,350,000 - $2,650,000 $8,000,000
ROW $5,680,000 $470,000 $2,850,000 $9,000,000
Total $11,030,000 $470,000 $5,500,000 $17,000,000
If the Measure A and W Highway Program 2025 is accepted and funded, the Town’s estimated funding plan for the PS&E phase and ROW phase will be as follows:
• Measure A and W Highway Program 2025 Grant: $ 15,300,000 • Colma’s Commitment ($850,000 Colma Local Match, and
$300,000 MTC Design Technical Assistance Grant): $ 1,150,000
• SSF’s Local Match Commitment $ 550,000
Estimated Project Total: $ 17,000,000
Should the SMCTA Board award Measure A and W Highway Program 2025 funds to the El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project, the SMCTA will require that the Town of Colma commence work on the PS&E phase and ROW phase within one year of TA Board action, which is anticipated in December 2025. Action on this item will have no fiscal impact for FY 2025-26 and the 10% local match dollars in the amount of $1,150,000 can be included during the Capital Improvement Program budget discussions for FY 2026-27.
The Town of Colma is the project's sponsor and implementing agency. Should the project receive the funds, a funding agreement will be established with the City of South San Francisco (SSF) to ensure the Town of Colma is reimbursed for SSF's local match contribution.
Staff Report - Measure A and W Highway Program 2025 Call For Projects El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project Page 4 of 4
SUSTAINABLE IMPACT
This resolution in support of the El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project is consistent with the Town’s sustainability goals and Complete Streets and Green Streets Program goals.
ENVIRONMENTAL
The City Council’s action in adopting the resolution is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15306 as information collection. The resolution will authorize information gathering for bike and pedestrian improvements along El Camino Real. Adoption of the resolution will not commit the Town to a course of action nor will it approve any actual physical improvements along El Camino Real. Instead, any improvements will only be considered for potential approval after CEQA review has been conducted.
ALTERNATIVES
The City Council could choose not to accept the Measure A and W Highway Program 2025 Call for Projects. Doing so is not recommended, however, because the Town would lose this funding opportunity to assist with the implementation of El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project.
CONCLUSION
Staff is requesting that City Council adopt a resolution supporting the El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement project and authorizing the submittal of an application for the San Mateo County Transportation Authority’s Measure A and Measure W Highway Program 2025 to fund the PS&E phase and the ROW phase of the Project.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Resolution
Reso 2025-XX_ Measure A and Measure W Highway Program 2025 Call For Projects Page 1 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF COLMA
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE EL CAMINO REAL BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR THE SAN MATEO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY’S 2025 MEASURE A AND
MEASURE W HIGHWAY PROGRAM CALL FOR PROJECTS PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINE 15306
The City Council of the Town of Colma does hereby resolve as follows:
1. Background
(a) T he El Camino Real corridor in Colma includes narrow and missing sidewalks, long and infrequent crosswalks, absence of bicycle facilities, and high travel speeds, and (b) The Town of Colma developed the El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project, which aims to improve safety and mobility for people who walk and bike along El Camino Real and to increase access to public transportation, and (c) T
he El Camino real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement project (“Project”) is divided into three segments: Segment A from Albert M. Teglia Boulevard to Mission Road, Segment B from Mission Road to Arlington Drive in the Town of Colma, and Segment C from Arlington Drive to Hickey Boulevard in the City of South San Francisco. (d) The Town is currently implementing the Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) phase of the Project, and
(e) The PA&ED approval will advance the Project to the Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) phase for Segments A and C , and Right of Way (ROW) phase for the entire corridor (Segments A, B and C), and
(f) It will cost $17,000,000 to implement the project scope, including the PS&E and ROW.
(g) The Town of Colma wishes to sponsor the submittal of an application for Measure A and Measure W 2025 Highway Program funds for the development of the El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project, for PS&E and ROW phases, and (h) T he Town of Colma seeks $15,300,000 for both PS&E and ROW phases, and
ATTACHMENT A
Reso 2025-XX_ Measure A and Measure W Highway Program 2025 Call For Projects Page 2 of 3 j) The San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA) issued a Call for Projects for the 2025 Measure A and Measure W Highway Program funds on July 11, 2025, and
2. Findings
(a) The SMCTA requires applicants for the 2025 Measure A and Measure W Highway Program funds to submit a resolution in support of the Project and application, in this case for $15,300,000 in SMCTA Measure A and Measure W Highway Program funds for PS&E and ROW phases, and
(b) The SMCTA also requires applicants to submit a resolution committing to begin work within one year of an award and to the completion of the requested scope of work for the Project, in this case PS&E and ROW phases, including the commitment of matching funds in the amount of $1,700,000 needed for implementation; and
(c) If the SMCTA Board awards Measure A and Measure W Highway Program funds to the Project, the SMCTA will require that the applicant certify that any fund awarded by the SMCTA will be used to supplement existing funds for program activities, and will not replace existing funds or resources; and
(d) If funds are awarded, the SMCTA also requires applicants to authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign a supplemental agreement and any amendments of the SMCTA’s Primary Grant Agreement with the SMCTA for SMCTA Measures A and W Highway Program funding for the Project and to take any other actions necessary to give effect to this resolution and execute applicable amendments.
3. Order
The City Council of the Town of Colma hereby:
(a) Directs staff to submit an application to the SMCTA for Measure A and Measure W Highway Program funds for $15,300,000 for the Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) phase for Segments A and C, and Right of Way (ROW) phase for the entire corridor (Segments A, B and C).
Reso 2025-XX_ Measure A and Measure W Highway Program 2025 Call For Projects Page 3 of 3 (b) Authorizes the City Manager, or designee, to execute a supplemental agreement and any amendments of the SMCTA’s Primary Grant Agreement with the SMCTA for the Town of Colma to encumber SMCTA Measures A and Measure W Highway Program funds. (c) Commits to the completing the Project, including contributing $1, 700,000 of matching funds needed for the requested Project’s scope of work implementation, if the requested SMCTA funds are awarded.
(d) Certifies that any funds awarded by the SMCTA will be used to supplement existing funds for program activities, and will not replace existing funds or resources. (e) Authorizes the City Manager, or designee, to take any other actions necessary to give effect to this resolution and execute applicable amendments.
Certification of Adoption
I certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2025-__ was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the Town of Colma, California, held on August 27, 2025 by the following vote:
Name Voting Present, Not Voting Absent
Aye No Abstain Not Participating
Ken Gonzalez, Mayor
Carrie Slaughter
Helen Fisicaro
Joanne F. del Rosario
Thomas Walsh
Voting Tally
Dated ______________________ ___________________________________ Ken Gonzalez, Mayor
ATTEST: ____________________________
Michelle Estabillo, City Clerk