US 101/SR 92
Direct Connector
Update
May 2026
2 AGENDA
• Project Overview
• Ongoing Public Participation
Activities & Feedback
• Current Property Analysis
• 101/92 + Hillsdale Ramps
Improvements
• Next Steps
Purpose:
• Receive comments on the Direct
Connector status
• Seek feedback on proposed outreach
strategy for the 101/92 + Hillsdale ramp
modifications
3 Project Overview
101/92 interchange improvements in 1988 Measure
A, 2004 Measure A, and 2018 Regional Measure 3
Direct Connector Project Goals
• Improve travel time reliability
• Encourage carpooling and transit use
• Provide drivers an option to avoid stop-and-go traffic Owner + Environmental Lead Caltrans Project Sponsors SMCTA & C/CAG
Image not to scale. For illustrative purposes only.
3 2016 Preliminary Planning Study
Recommendations:
• Short-Term Area Improvements
• Direct Connector
4 Current Schedule
4 • Circulate Draft Environmental Document in Spring 2027 • Select Preferred Alternative in Fall 2027
• Final Environmental Document in Summer 2028
Future Years
DETAILED DESIGN*
CONSTRUCTION*
5 Ongoing Public Participation Activities
• Neighborhood Meet & Greets (May and July 2025)
• Quarterly Project e-Newsletter (500+ subscribers)
• Monthly Office Hours
• Social Media
• City Council Briefings
• Wheel Talk Podcast
• Business Stakeholder Presentations
• Upcoming:
• Transit Agencies & Shuttle Operators
Neighborhood Meet & Greet at Washington Park
Office Hours at Apple Fritter
5 6
City & Community Feedback to Date
7 No Build Alternative:
No changes to the
interchange
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
• 0 properties • 0 houses
• 0 parks
• Portions of existing utility easement, the area
between property owner rear fences and the
freeway sound wall
• Portions of two residential yards along Norton
Street (cumulatively ~320 sf)
• 0 properties
Current Property Analysis
7 SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING:
• Caltrans Design Exception Approval
• Utility Easement Reconfiguration
8 • Potential drainage
upgrades
• Aligns with Draft
Storm Drain Master
Plan
Potential Changes to the Utility Easement
(Alternatives 1 & 2 only)
Existing Utility Easement
Existing Residential Fenceline
Potential R/W Acquisition
Image not to scale
For illustrative purposes only
9 101/92 & Hillsdale Ramps - Background
• Public concerns with northbound 101
merge/weave
• Preliminary design for Area Improvements
in 2021
• Scoping meeting for Direct Connector in
2024
• Committed to assessing design
solutions with the Direct Connector
Project
Weekday Afternoon on Northbound 101 – Vehicles Merging onto 101 and From 101 to 92
Direct Connector Project Limits
10 Regional & Local Issues
• Above average crashes (170 crashes) over the past decade on northbound 101 segment
• Substantial cut-through traffic on Hillsdale Blvd
5% of freeway
traffic
15% of freeway
traffic
Evening cut-through traffic
Crashes on 101, 2014-2025
11 Concept for Hillsdale Ramps
• Previous alternatives
had significant R/W
impacts, high costs,
not locally supported
eliminated
• New concept with no
R/W impacts
Increase aux lane
length by ~750 ft
Remove northbound
diagonal on-ramp
Add dedicated
right-turn lane
Add dedicated
left-turn lane
Reconfigure
loop on-ramp
Northbound 101
12 Hillsdale Ramps - Preliminary Evaluation
• Lengthening the merge/weave area
to reduce crashes on 101
• Substantial reduction in freeway
congestion
• 45% increase in speeds
• Shorter peaks
• Shorter queues
• Eliminating free right turn on
Hillsdale makes it safer for people
walking and biking
After
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
25 40 55 7010
Traffic Speed (mph)
Before
Ralston Ave
Hillsdale Blvd
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
SR-92
2030 Freeway Speeds: Northbound 101
13 Hillsdale Ramps – Ongoing Evaluation
• More analysis needed as part of the 101/92
Direct Connector
• Opportunity for project phasing
• Consider more comprehensive Hillsdale
corridor study
Hillsdale Blvd
Local Intersections to be Analyzed
14 101/92 - Hillsdale Ramp Outreach Strategy
APPROACH
Webpage, Multilingual Fact Sheet, and
FAQs
Digital Newsletter and Social Media
In-Person, Pop-ups/Meet & Greets,
Neighborhood Association presentations
Recurring Office Hours
Leverage City channels
TARGET AUDIENCES
General Public
Project Neighbors
Vulnerable Road Users
Commuters & Large Employers
SCHEDULE
Late 2026 – Scoping
Early 2027 – Technical
Analysis Results
Late 2027 – Select
Preferred Alternative
15 Next Steps
• Continue environmental studies and engineering reports • Continue “office hours” and digital newsletter
• Conduct community engagement in late 2026 for Hillsdale ramps improvements
• Provide City Council updates and feedback in early 2027
101 Corridor Connect City Council item on June 1
16 Questions
For the Hillsdale ramp concept
Are there specific stakeholders we should engage?
Are there other engagement techniques that would be
particularly effective for your community?