US 101/SR 92
Direct Connector
Update
May 2025
2 Recent Findings
• Prior planning study property impact assessment is outdated
CURRENT PROJECT ALTERNATIVES DO NOT REQUIRE
PURCHASING HOUSES OR PARKS
• Pending…
• Confirmation of utility requirements
• Caltrans approval of safety assessment and designs
• Noise impact analysis and soundwall needs
3 Environmental Review Process
Potential
Impacts &
Mitigations
Engineering
Studies
Public
Review &
Comment
Draft
Environmental
Impact Report
Preferred
Alternative
(Final
Environmental
Impact Report)
Preliminary
Engineering
Minimize environmental harm and maximize benefits for the public.
Environmental
Studies
4 OVERVIEW
Agenda
• Background
• Short-Term Area Improvements
• Direct Connector Alternatives
• Progress + Process
• Public Participation Approach
• Next Steps
Meeting Purpose:
• Provide an overview of the
US 101/SR 92 Direct Connector Project
• Update the City Council on progress to date
• Review the public participation plan
5 Background
• Voters prioritized 101/92
interchange improvements
• 1988 and 2004 Measure A
• 2018 Regional Measure 3
• 2016 Preliminary Planning
Study
• Caltrans, San Mateo, and Foster
City involvement
• Recommendations: (1) Near-term
Area Improvements and (2)
Longer-term Direct Connector
5 Short-Term Area Improvements Overview
Safety and operational improvements
at four locations:
1. Add more space to the loop connector to
accommodate trucks.
2. Extend the outside lane to provide more
space for all 5 lanes to merge into three.
3. Realign the Fashion Island Boulevard off-
ramp from the eastbound 92 connector
ramp to the westbound 92 connector
ramp.
4. Add more space to the Hillsdale off-ramp
for cars getting off the freeway, upgrade
the northbound on-ramp to meet current
standards and enhance pedestrian
crossing, and extend the third eastbound
lane on the Hillsdale overcrossing.
6 Short-Term Area Improvements Construction
• Within Caltrans Right-of-Way
• Minimize noise and light disruption
• Work impacting travel lanes during the night
• Schedule
• Breaking ground – April 2025
• Duration – Approx. 3 years
• Public Information
• Caltrans Project Webpage
• Roadway/Traffic Signage & Digital Communications
• Caltrans Public Information Officer: Jeneane Crawford (510.390.3252, [email protected])
7 8
Direct Connector Project Overview
Provides a dedicated managed lane
connection between SR 92 and 101 Express
Lanes
• Improve travel time reliability for lane users
• Encourage carpooling and transit use
• Improve operational efficiency
• 2019 - Project initiated by San Mateo &
Foster City
• 2021 - Cities requested TA & C/CAG lead
subsequent phases
Image not to scale. For illustrative purposes only.
9 Project Initiation
(completed 2021)
Environmental Review
(2023-2027)
Subject to Approval & Funding Availability
Detailed Design
(2 years)*
Construction
(2 years)*
Project Development Status
We are here
*If approved and funded
10 Build Alternative 1
Images not to scale. For illustrative purposes only.
• Benefits westbound, morning commuters • Encourages drivers to stay on westbound 92 instead of using city streets to enter
101
Direct connection from westbound 92 to both directions of 101 Express Lanes
11 Direct connection from the 101 Express Lanes to eastbound 92 Build Alternative 3
• Benefits eastbound, evening commuters • Encourages drivers to stay on 101 instead of city streets to get to 92
• Reduces backup for residents exiting 101 at
Hillsdale, southbound 101 at Fashion Island,
and heading eastbound 92
Images not to scale. For illustrative purposes only.
12 Build Alternative 2
Reversible lane direct connection between 92 and 101 Express Lanes Images not to scale. For illustrative purposes only.
• During morning commute hours, connects
westbound 92 to 101 Express Lanes
• During evening commute hours, connects 101
Express Lanes to eastbound 92
• Combined benefits of Alternatives 1 & 3
13 Build Alternative 1:
Westbound SR 92 to
101 Express Lanes
Build Alternative 2:
Reversible lane between 92 and 101
Express Lanes
Build Alternative 3:
Eastbound from the
101 Express Lanes to SR 92
• Portions of some residential yards along Norton Street (~320sf total) • Portions of existing utility easement, the area between property owner rear fences and the freeway sound wall
• 0 parks
• 0 houses
• 0 properties
Revised R/W Assessment Summary
Subject to Change Pending:
• Confirmation of Utility Requirements
• Caltrans Safety Assessment & Design Exception Approval • Noise Impact Analysis and Soundwall Needs
14 Environmental Review Schedule
Spring 2024
• Public Scoping
Period
Summer 2024 –
Summer 2026
Fall 2026
• Release Draft
EIR for Public
Review &
Comment
Early 2027
• Select
Preferred
Alternative
Summer 2027
• Final EIR & Project
Approval
• Boards decision on
future phasesOngoing Public Engagement
We are here
Preliminary Engineering
• Aerial Survey
• Structural Advanced Planning
Studies
• Hydrology
• Geometric Layouts
• Traffic Operations Analysis
• Right-of-Way
Environmental Studies
• Aesthetics & Visual Resources
• Air Quality
• Biological Resources
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Noise
• Transportation
• Community Impacts
Summer 2024 – Summer 2026
EIR – Environmental Impact Report
15 Preferred Alternative Selection Process
Preferred
Alternative
Recommendation
Community
Feedback
City
Input
Cost +
Schedule +
Funding
Technical
Feasibility
Environ-
mental
Analysis
Project
Benefits
TA & C/CAG Boards
Project Development
Team (Caltrans and Sponsor staff)
Caltrans
TA & C/CAG Boards
consider funding for
future phases
16 Public Participation Goals and Activities
Phase 1
Explain Process & Early Input
(Pre-DEIR Release)
Summer 2024 - Summer 2026
Phase 2
Project Benefits & Impacts
(Draft EIR Release)
Fall 2026 - Early 2027
Phase 3
Preferred Alternative & Next
Steps (Final EIR)
Early 2027- Summer 2027
• Scoping Meeting (completed)
• TA and C/CAG Board Updates
• City Staff Coordination & Council
Meetings (April + May 2025)
• Project Neighbor Virtual “Office
Hours” (scheduled upon
request)
• Neighborhood Meet & Greet
• Focused Topic Discussions
• TA and C/CAG Board Updates
• City Staff Coordination & Council
Meetings (Fall 2026)
• Draft EIR Circulation/Public
Comment Period
• Community Meetings (up to 5)
• Public Hearing
• TA & C/CAG Board
Updates/Items
• City Staff Coordination & Council
Meetings(Summer 2027)
• Public Communications (final
documents available, promote
completion of phase, inform
public of future activities)
• TA & C/CAG Board consider
funding for future phases
17 Public Participation Tools
• Project Webpage:
www.smcta.com/101-92DC
• Multilingual Fact Sheet
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Promotional Materials
• Meeting invitations (mailed)
• Neighborhood Flyers
• Newspaper Ads
• E-blasts
• Social media posts
18 Next Steps
• Continue environmental studies and engineering reports • Finalize focused topics for discussion through Summer 2026 • City Council update in Fall 2026 to initiate Phase 2 Outreach 19 Questions/Comments?
General Project Email: [email protected]
Government & Community
Relations:
Amy Linehan
[email protected]
(650) 508-7855
Project Manager:
Carolyn Mamaradlo
[email protected]
(650) 622-7897