City Council Meeting
April 14, 2026
Paseo Padre Parkway Improvement Project
Street Design Options in the Areas of Covington Drive and Olive Avenue Existing Signal
Flashing Beacon in Fall 2026
Proposed Intersection
Improvement
Neighborhood Context and Top Safety Concerns
New Community Center
Main Library
Fremont Community Center
- Originally built in 1960
Lake Elizabeth
Covington
Olive
• Excessive Speeding
• Unsafe Pedestrian Crossings
• Difficult Access from Side
Streets and Driveways
Mento
Data on Traffic Crashes and Travel Speed
• Area has a concentration of traffic crashes at the Covington and Olive Intersections and curves
• Since 2022, most crashes involve “vehicles to vehicle” collisions with property damage (most common), minor
injury (5 crashes), severe injury (2 crashes), no fatalities; one additional severe injury crash involved a 14-year-old bicyclist
• Traffic speeds in corridor are “high” with about 180 (2%) vehicles daily traveling more than 10 mph over the speed limit of 35 mph. About 15% of vehicles travel 40 mph or faster
Covington Drive Design Options
Traffic Signal - $1.5 million Roundabout - $2.5 million 49%
Preference from
Community Survey
51%
Traffic Operations at Covington Drive
Notes:
• Average delay or “wait time” of 60 seconds or more is considered significant • Videos of traffic flow simulation model for signal and roundabout options are posted on the project web page Olive Avenue Design Options
24%
40%
36%
1. Traffic Signal - $1.5 million
2. Roundabout - $2.5 million 3. Improve Visibility/ Reduce Lanes/ Beacon – $0.5 million Preference from
Community Survey
Olive Avenue Design Option 3
3. Improve Visibility/ Reduce Lanes/ Beacon – $0.5 million Traffic Operations at Olive Avenue
Notes:
• Olive Avenue intersection doesn’t meet technical “warrant” for a traffic signal • Video of traffic flow simulation model for signal and roundabout options is posted on the project web page General Comparison
of Traffic Signals and Roundabouts
Traffic Signal Roundabout
Safety 78% lower crash rate than a traffic signal for fatal and severe injuries, due to lower speed operations and “crash angle” (no broadside or head-on crashes)
Operations Better overall traffic flow for up to 20,000 daily vehicles Cost (Initial
Construction)
Lower cost,
$1.5 million
$2.5 million
Cost (Operations) $10,000 per
year
No ongoing signal electricity and maintenance cost
Aesthetics Often used at “gateway” locations with landscaping and public art Familiarity High Low but gaining popularity
Other Favored by state/ federal policies and professional practice; are better than traffic signals for locations with unique intersection angles Staff Perspectives and Advice
Safety improvements in the Paseo Padre Parkway corridor are needed with “speed management” considered the highest priority
Staff considers the “best value” set of improvements to be:
• Traffic signal at Covington ($1.5 million); visibility improvements at Olive ($0.5 million); and reduction to two lanes from Olive to Dorne (best for speed management) • $2 million total improvement cost aligns with available project funding Acknowledge that other citywide locations also have traffic safety improvement needs and have been identified for potential funding from other sources
• Scott Creek/Zinfandel/Hetch-Hetchy Trail (seeking federal grant); Peralta/Dusterberry (seeking federal grant); Paseo Padre/Commerce/Coyote Hills (part of a development plan) Acknowledge benefits of roundabouts along with their higher construction cost and support further consideration at locations with unique street alignment and/or considered “special locations” • Mission/Pine (Ohlone College and Mission San Jose gateway); Peralta/Mowry (unique alignment); Peralta/Dusterberry (unique alignment)
Recommended Actions (1 of 2)
Covington Drive Intersection:
❑ Traffic signal ($1.5 million)
❑ Roundabout ($2.5 million)
Olive Avenue intersection:
❑ Visibility improvement, flashing beacon, reduce to two lanes ($0.5 million) ❑ Traffic signal ($1.5 million)
❑ Roundabout ($2.5 million)
Through lanes along Paseo Padre corridor from Olive Avenue to Dorne Place:
❑ 2 lanes, one lane in each direction
❑ 4 lanes, two lanes in each direction
Provide direction on preferred street design along Paseo Padre Parkway Recommended Actions (2 of 2)
Provide Input on Relative Funding Priority
❑ Paseo Padre Parkway Improvements (and potential phasing) ❑ Other Locations, e.g., Scott Creek/Zinfandel (at Hetch Hetchy Trail); Peralta/Dusterberry; Paseo Padre/Commerce (at Coyote Hills)
Provide Input on Considering Roundabouts at Other Locations ❑ Examples: Mission/Pine (Ohlone College); Peralta/Mowry; Peralta/Dusterberry