US 101/SR 92
Direct Connector
Update
April 2025
i
2 OVERVIEW
Agenda
• Background
• Near-Term Area Improvements
• Direct Connector Alternatives
• Progress + Process
• Public Participation Approach
Discussion
• Next Steps
Meeting Purpose:
• Provide an overview of the
US 101/SR 92 Direct Connector Project
• Update the City Council on progress to date
• Seek input on the public participation plan
i
3 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
• Caltrans Project Initiation Process
• Co-sponsored by San Mateo & Foster
City
• Community meeting for the Area
Improvements in May 2021
3 Near-Term Area Improvements Overview
• Safety and operational improvements
at four locations
• Reduce unsafe movements
• Improve local access to US 101
• Total Project cost: $51.6 million
• $23 million Measure A
• $22 million Regional Measure 3
• $5.6 million State TIP
• $1 million Federal Earmark
4 Owner + Construction Lead Caltrans
Project Funders TA & C/CAG
Area Improvements Construction
• Within Caltrans right-of-way
• Minimize noise and light disruption during sensitive
hours
• Work impacting travel lanes focused overnight
• Schedule
• Breaking ground – Summer 2025
• Duration – Approx. 2 years
• Public Information
• Caltrans Project Webpage
• Roadway/Traffic Signage & Digital Communications
• Caltrans Public Information Officer: Jeneane Crawford (510.390.3252, [email protected])
5 6
Direct Connector Project Overview
Provides a dedicated managed lane
connection between SR 92 and 101 Express
Lanes to:
• Improve travel time reliability for lane users
• Encourage carpooling and transit use
• Improve operational efficiency
No Build & Three Build Alternatives
Owner + Environmental Lead Caltrans
Project Funders TA & C/CAG
Managing the Project TA
Image not to scale. For illustrative purposes only.
7 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
8 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
• Improves access for residents heading west
on 92 from 101
• Reduces backup around 101/92 for residents
exiting northbound 101 at Kehoe or 3
rd Ave
Images not to scale. For illustrative purposes only.
9 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
10 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
11 Right-of-Way (ROW) Process
Project
Initiation
Identified
maximum
number of
properties
that could be
impacted by
any
alternative
Environmental Studies &
Project Approval
Design & Right-of-
Way (IF project
advances)
• Sent scoping meeting notice to
properties in project area
• Sent project information to property
owners and offered to meet
• Refining designs to minimize potential
property impacts
• Updating list of potential property
impacts
• Will notify property owners that have
potential impacts of public hearing,
draft environmental impact report
• Refine design to minimize
property impacts
• Site visits
• Finalize list of impacted
properties
• Generate legal descriptions
• Notify property owners about
process and rights
• Appraise property
• Send offer letters
• Negotiate purchase
• Purchase property and transfer
ownership
We are here
12 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 phases
Ongoing Public Participation
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
13 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 Board
consider funding for
future phases
14 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 2025)
• Project Neighbor “Office Hours”
• 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
15 Public Participation Tools
• Project Webpage:
www.smcta.com/101-92DC
• Multilingual Fact Sheet
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Promotional Materials
• Meeting invitations (mailed)
• Newspaper Ads
• E-blasts
• Social media posts
16 Next Steps
• Continue environmental studies and engineering reports • Conduct project neighbor “office hours” in April 2025 • Finalize focused topics for discussion through Summer 2026 • City Council update in Fall 2026 to initiate Phase 2 Outreach 17 Questions?
• Are there specific stakeholders that the Project team should engage?
• Are there engagement techniques that would be particularly effective for your community?