Bike lanes, warning signs OK’d for San Carlos interchange 

The city has sought to make changes to the overpass for more than a decade, but after bicyclist Andrea Vallebueno was struck by a car and died in November, improvements have remained front of mind for the city. 

A pedestrian and bicyclist overcrossing on Highway 101 is the ultimate goal, and previous plans for one were once close to breaking ground, but were ultimately halted because funds were allocated elsewhere. 

In the interim and before San Carlos can acquire the funding for the overcrossing, the city is moving forward with the first option for midterm improvements, including a mix of separated bikeways and bike lanes on Holly Street, which maintains the existing driving lane configuration. Flashing beacons will also be added at highway on- and off-ramps.

Several community engagement opportunities were held throughout the design process and community members were largely in agreement that the new changes would benefit bikers and pedestrians in the city, staff said. 

“The key takeaways being — what can we do now, instead of waiting for this long-term solution,” Assistant Public Works Director Tracy Scramaglia said. 

This proposal is estimated to take one to two years to complete, and cost $3 million to $4 million. Staff will be applying to the San Mateo County Transit Authority to secure the funding, which could be obtained as early as December. 

The midterm improvements will be put into place in addition to immediate improvements that have been made at the intersection by Caltrans, which has jurisdiction around the intersection itself. Since July, new signs and high-visibility crosswalks have been added to the intersection. 

As the city preps for the long-awaited, major safety improvements — including both the separated overpass and changing the four-leaf clover-style intersection to a two-lead clover — the midterm improvements are a positive next step, Councilmember John Dugan said. 

“I’m just proud of how San Carlos has reacted here, really reaching out into the community, really being creative, really getting our relationship with the [Transportation Authority] back on track, really driving in solution mode to make a dangerous situation better,” he said.