BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025
SAN MATEO COUNTY CARLOS ROMERO, CHAIR
JULIA MATES, VICE CHAIR
TA Transportation NOELIA CORZO
Authority ANDERS FUNG
RICO E. MEDINA
MARK NAGALES
JACKIE SPEIER
APRIL CHAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
May 29, 2025
Mayor Robert Newsom, Jr. and
Members of the San Mateo City Council
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94403-1338
Subject: US 101/ SR 92 Direct Connector Project - Environmental Review Dear Mayor Newsom, Jr. and City Council Members,
Thank you for your letter regarding the US 101/SR 92 Direct Connector Project dated May 6, 2025. We appreciate your input and the opportunity to address the concerns raised by you and the residents of San Mateo. We hope the following clarifications reaffirm our partnership and assure you that we share your commitment to supporting the long-term economic success of the City of San Mateo and San Mateo County, reducing congestion on county highways, and addressing community needs.
Currently the project is in the Enivronmental Review (EIR) phase which evaluates how a proposed project may affect the local environment and identifies ways to avoid or reduce those impacts. We anticipate Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) complete of the analysis of three alternative designs plus a fourth "no-build" alternative by the fall of 2026.
In response to the concerns outlined in your letter:
The potential use of eminent domain: No project alternatives require acquisition of houses or parks.
We understand your opposition to the use of eminent domain and want to assure you that the current project alternatives will not require the acquisition of any houses or parks. In fact, the 'Alternative 3' design exists entirely within Caltrans property.
For 'Alternatives 1' & 'Z' private property along the western side of Norton Street may be needed within an existing utility easement (the area between rear fences and the freeway soundwall) or from narrow portions of a few residential yards. The project team is conducting a detailed analysis to determine what amount of space may be required for utilities. We are committed to providing options that minimize or avoid potential property impacts. The alternatives and potential impacts are illustrated in the enclosed attachment.
SAN MATEO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
1250 San Carlos Avenue
San Carlos, CA 94070 (650) 508-6200
May 29, 2025
The inclusion of toll lanes in the project with surge pricing: Existing express lane policies continue to evaluate pricing and balance the needs of low-income travelers.
We understand and share your concern about addressing the needs of low-income travelers when evaluating the use of demand-based pricing on our county highway system. Given that the proposed project would connect to existing express lanes which currently use demand- based pricing, the direct connector would be subject to the same tolling program and policies.
The most recent quarterly performance report for the express lanes found that almost 60% of trips cost less than $3. To ensure that all San Mateo County residents benefit from the lanes, the 101 Express Lane's equity program offers qualifying individuals a $200 FasTrak transponder or a $200 Clipper Card. The program has provided more than 8,000 benefits to individuals who earn less than $82,260; 80% of whom choose Clipper cards to use on public transit. Later this year, the program will offer a flexible $200 mobility debit card to help participants fund commutes using public transit, express lanes, e-bikes, and/or scooter share programs.
Potential impacts to bike and pedestrian lanes: The TA is committed to the 19th Ave/Fashion Island bikeway.
We share your commitment to delivering safety improvements for people biking and walking and will integrate the project with the 19th Avenue/Fashion Island Boulevard improvements.
The TA is involved with both projects as the primary funding and implementing agency and will ensure the designs are complementary. The TA and City staff are actively working together to fully fund the 19th/ Fashion Island project by the end of this year and complete the project by 2028.
A lack of clear and consistent communication with residents: The TA is committed to improving community engagement.
The TA strives for an open and transparent engagement process with every capital project we undertake. We are committed to improving our outreach efforts and ensuring that residents are fully informed and have ample opportunity to provide input as the project progresses.
Since the presentation to San Mateo City Council on April 7, 2025, our project team walked door-to-door with project flyers reaching 100+ residents whose property was previously identified as having a potential impact (along Washington, Adams, and Norton streets). We also hosted a neighborhood "meet & greet" for those residents on May 17, 2025, where we answered residents' questions and provided project information and the latest property assessment findings. The project team will continue to provide monthly electronic community updates via email newsletters, and host future focused-topic discussions. Please encourage interested parties to sign up for updates by emailing [email protected].
SAN MATEO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
1250 San Carlos Avenue
San Carlos, CA 94070 (650) 508-6200
May 29, 2025
Cost and environmental impact: The current study phase will formally evaluate cost-benefits of the project and potential next steps.
The TA takes its financial stewardship role in funding major capital projects very seriously. The purpose of Caltrans' environmental review process is to evaluate the benefits and costs of the project. This State-mandated comprehensive assessment will allow all project partners (The Transportation Authority, The City of Foster City, The City of San Mateo, and the City/County Association of Governments) to make an informed decision about whether this project is an ettective and environmentally responsible approach to addressing congestion at this interchange. This information will help inform the TA Board whether or not to provide the local funding required to construct the project.
We value your partnership and look forward to continued collaboration to find solutions that best meet the needs of the local and regional community. sincerely, (
Executive Director
Attachments
Revised R/W Assessment
San Mateo Request Letter
Cc: San Mateo County Transportation Authority Board of Directors
SAN MATEO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
1250 San Carlos Avenue
San Carlos, CA 94070 (650) 508-6200
Revised Right of Way Assessment Summary
Mateo 101 San ' 101 San 101
Mateo (
92 Foster City Foster City Foster City
Build Alternative 1: Build Alternative 2: Build Alternative 3:
Westbound SR 92 to Reversible lane between SR 92 and 101 Eastbound from the 101 Express Lanes Express Lanes 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 • O properties • O parks
• O houses Subject to Change (Pending Further Study):
• Drainage improvements/flood resiliency
• Confirmation of utility requirements
Caltrans Safety Assessment & Design Exception approval
Noise Impact Analysis and soundwall needs
DEPARTMENT OR PUBLIC WORKS / 330 West 20th Avenuc
Brad B. Underwood, P.E., L.S., Director * San Mateo, California 94403-1338 Telephone (650) 522-7300
FAX (650) 5227301
www.cityofsanmatco.org
August 2, 2019
Pamela Kwan, P.E., Project Manager
San Mateo County Transportation Authority
1250 San Carlos Avenue
San Carlos, CA 94070
RE: US-101/SR-92 Interchange Area Improvement and Direct Connector Project Sponsor Dear Ms. Kwan:
The City of San Mateo and the City of Foster City are the project sponsors for the Project Initiation Document (PID) phases of the US-101/SR-92 Interchange Area Improvements Project (short term improvements) and US-101/SR-92 Direct Connector Project (long term improvements).
The City of San Mateo is support of further development of both projects. Due to the regional nature of the proposed improvements, the City requests thai C/CAG and/or the San Mateo County Transportation Authority sponsor subsequent phases of the project for their technical expertise and experience with similar improvements. As the project moves forward, every effort shall be made to minimize additional right-of-way take.
Thank you for your continuing efforts in managing and advancing these projects.
Sincerely,
Brad B. Underwood, P.E.. L.S.
Director of Public Works
City of San Mateo
C: Norman Dorais, City of Foster City
Chron/File