CITY OF SAN MATEO
City Council Special Meeting
April 7, 2025
5:30 PM
City Hall Council Chamber
Entrance is on O’Farrell Street
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Robert Newsom Jr.
Adam Loraine
Nicole Fernandez
Danielle Cwirko-Godycki
Lisa Diaz Nash
AGENDA
THIS MEETING CAN BE ATTENDED IN PERSON OR REMOTE BY JOINING ZOOM – SEE CODES BELOW.
PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED BOTH IN PERSON AND REMOTELY .
SEE END OF AGENDA FOR OPTIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING.
To join via Zoom – click here:
A
pril 7, 2025
To join via telephone: (408) 638-0968
Webinar ID: 881 1228 6474 Passcode: 453075
CALL TO ORDER
Roll Call
AB 2449 Requests and Consideration for Meeting Participation by Teleconference due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances
STUDY SESSION
The public will have an opportunity to comment during the consideration of this item.
1. US 101 / SR 92 Direct Connector — Update
Receive a status update and informational presentation about the US-101/SR-92 Direct Connector project.
CEQA: This informational update is not a project subject to CEQA, because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5).)
ADJOURNMENT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGENDAS:
Agendas and material are posted on the City’s website on the Friday preceding each Council Meeting and can be viewed on the City's website at
www.cityofsanmateo.org
. Any supplemental material distributed to the Council after the posting of the agenda will be made part of the official record.
WATCHING A MEETING ON TV:
City Council meetings are broadcast live on Comcast/channel 27, Wave/channel 26, or AT&T/channel 99.
For transmission problems during the broadcast, please call (650) 522-7099. For all other broadcast comments, call (650) 522-7040, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
WATCHING A MEETING ON A COMPUTER:
There are three ways to stream.
1) Public Meeting Portal
www.cityofsanmateo.org/publicmeetings
2) City YouTube channel and stream it on YouTube:
http://youtube.com/CityofSanMateo
3) Watch TV live stream:
https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/193/Channel-San-Mateo-Live-Stream
PUBLIC COMMENTS/REQUEST TO SPEAK
Prior to the Meeting
Send comments to:
[email protected]
until 4 p.m. the day of the meeting.
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During the meeting
By Zoom:
Click the link at the top of the agenda and you’ll be added to the meeting. All attendees are muted by default. When the item of interest is open for consideration, select the “Raise Your Hand” icon and you will be called on at the appropriate time.
By telephone:
Call (408) 638-0968 and enter the conference ID found at the top of the meeting agenda. When the item of interest is open for consideration, select *9 to raise your hand. When called upon, press *6 to unmute, state your name and provide your comments.
In Person:
At the meeting complete a “Request to Speak” form, submit a request at the speaker kiosk or scan the QR code.
ACCESSIBILITY:
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, those with disabilities requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting may contact the City Clerk’s Office at (650) 522-7040 or [email protected]
. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will
enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
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Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 1 Section Name: STUDY SESSION Account Number: 10-4661 File ID: 25-9784 TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Public Works Department
MEETING DATE: April 07, 2025
SUBJECT:
US 101 / SR 92 Direct Connector — Update
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive a status update and informational presentation about the US-101/SR-92 Direct Connector project.
BACKGROUND:
City Council will receive an update from San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA) staff on the progress of the environmental phase for the US 101/SR 92 Direct Connector Project (Project) and consider the proposed public participation approach. The project is co-sponsored by the SMCTA and City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG). If approved and funded following completion of the environmental phase, the Project would add a new connection between the US 101 Express Lanes and State Route 92 (“Direct Connector”) to reduce congestion and to relieve cut-through traffic on local streets in the cities of San Mateo and Foster City. Drivers using the Direct Connector would be able to remain in the center lanes on US 101 and use a new elevated median ramp to get to SR 92 without having to merge and weave across multiple freeway lanes or use local streets to make the connection from one freeway to the other. Doing so is also anticipated to reduce congestion in the vicinity of the interchange, further supporting the decrease in cut-through traffic.
The new connector would be operated as a “managed lane” to encourage more carpooling and to support future transit service.
History & Planning
Improvements to the US 101/SR 92 interchange were prioritized by San Mateo County voters as part of the 1988 Measure A Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP) and as a “Key Congested Area” in the 2004 Measure A TEP. In 2018, voters throughout the Bay Area continued to prioritize interchange improvements with the passage of Regional Measure 3 (RM3) that dedicates funding from increased toll bridge revenue to improve areas such as the US 101/SR 92 interchange.
In 2016, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA) conducted a Preliminary Planning Study (PPS) with cooperation from C/CAG and the cities of San Mateo and Foster City to evaluate alternatives to address the congestion and safety concerns for the interchange. The PPS recommendations included both short-term and long-term alternatives.
The short-term “Area Improvements” focus on modifications with relatively low implementation costs. This alternative advanced as the Area Improvements Project in partnership with the cities and received Caltrans approval in 2021. A public meeting was held during the development of these modifications and received over 40 questions/comments. Construction of the Area Improvements Project is scheduled to take place from May 2025 through May 2027.
The long-term improvements advanced separately as the Direct Connector Project that is currently in the environmental review phase. Advancing to final design and construction is subject to input from the cities, support from the SMCTA and
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C/CAG boards, Caltrans approval, and funding availability. To fully fund the approximately $200 million in estimated construction costs, additional federal and state funding would likely be needed to leverage the regional and county funding programmed for the Project.
Environmental Analysis
Caltrans, as the owner and operator of the interchange, is the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The SMCTA is serving as the implementing agency and has procured a consultant team to perform the preliminary engineering and environmental technical studies.
Multiple alternatives are being studied, including:
No-Build Alternative: Status quo, no Direct Connector project constructed Build Alternative 1: Direct Connector from Westbound SR 92 to the US 101 Express Lanes Build Alternative 2: Reversible Direct Connector Between the US 101 Express Lanes and SR 92 Build Alternative 3: Direct Connector from the US 101 Express Lanes to Eastbound SR 92 The Direct Connector Project is anticipated to require an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under CEQA and an Environmental Assessment (EA) under NEPA based on the complexity of alternatives and the size of the Project footprint.
Preliminary engineering for the geometric layouts, structures, and drainage have been initiated. Technical studies for air quality, biological resources, noise, sea level rise, and water quality are also underway.
Once the studies are complete, the findings and any potential impacts of each alternative will be evaluated as part of the Draft EIR (DEIR) that will be circulated for public review and comment anticipated by Fall 2026. The selection of a preferred alternative will be informed by a variety of factors including community feedback, city input, technical feasibility, and project benefits. A staff recommendation will be considered by the Board of Directors for the SMCTA and C/CAG (Boards).
Then, the Project Development Team, comprised of Caltrans and project sponsor staff, will make a recommendation to Caltrans for ultimate approval. The selection of the preferred alternative and completion of the environmental phase is anticipated by Summer 2027. Funding to advance the preferred alternative to the design and construction phase would be subject to approval from the SMCTA and C/CAG Boards.
Public Participation Approach
Community feedback and city input are key factors in selecting the preferred alternative and will play an important role in the process. This process should be guided by a comprehensive public participation approach. The proposed approach is structured into three phases, each focused on key engagement topics that align with progress in design and environmental studies.
The initial public scoping period was completed in May 2024 as the first step in the environmental process. Over 300 comments were received from the public and agencies regarding the Project scope, proposed alternatives, potential environmental impacts and what the draft environmental document should study. San Mateo community members have also raised concerns about potential property impacts that were preliminarily identified as part of prior phase planning work. The scoping and public comments received to date are being considered in the preparation of the public participation approach detailed below.
Phase 1: Project/Process Understanding & Early Input
The first phase is focused on establishing a general understanding of the Project and process; as well as seeking early input to inform the Project design. Since the environmental studies and engineering are still in progress during this period, there is limited information available on the Project’s performance. Therefore, outreach topics will focus on educational messaging on the Project development and right-of-way processes, as well as the Project’s Purpose & Need. There will also be early opportunities for the public to inform Project elements as the preliminary engineering and environmental studies
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are being developed. These focused topics may include potential future transit service, potential ramp intersection modifications, and potential design options. In addition to the public scoping meeting, Phase 1 activities will include “office hours” with community members neighboring the Project area and focused topic discussions.
Phase 2: Project Benefits & Potential Impacts
Phase 2 will coincide with the completion of the technical analysis and the release of the DEIR. Outreach topics will focus on informing the public of potential Project benefits and impacts and promoting the public circulation of the DEIR. Status updates and a preview of the DEIR will be presented to city staff and the City Council in Fall 2026 in preparation for the public circulation period for the DEIR in late 2026. During the circulation period, outreach activities will include holding a public hearing and attending and hosting community meetings to facilitate public review and comment on the DEIR.
Phase 3: Preferred Alternative & Next Steps
In Phase 3, the preferred alternative will be selected, and the final EIR will be published. Project reference materials will be updated to document the final decision. Information will also be provided regarding anticipated milestones for the next phase of the Project and future engagement opportunities.
The Project is currently in Phase 1, and SMCTA staff are seeking feedback to inform ongoing public participation efforts from the SMCTA Board of Directors during their meeting on April 3, 2025, and the San Mateo City Council during their meeting on April 7, 2025.
BUDGET IMPACT:
No budget impacts.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This informational update is not a project subject to CEQA, because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5).)
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
None
STAFF CONTACT
Bethany Lopez, Senior Engineer
[email protected]
(650) 522-7313
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