City presents Lynn Road Class 4 separated bike lane plan; Caltrans requires concrete barriers at 101 overpass

Senior engineer Masood Razavi told the Traffic and Transportation Advisory Commission on March 26 that the Lynn Road Class 4 bike lane and pedestrian improvements project would convert existing buffered Class 2 bike lanes to Class 4 separated bike lanes along roughly 5.5 miles of Lynn Road from Gainesville Road to Reno Road, and add approximately 8,000 linear feet of sidewalks where gaps exist.

“For this project, the project will enhance mobility for all modes of transportation, particularly pedestrians and cyclists,” Senior Engineer Masood Razavi said, describing work that also would improve access to transit and comply with accessibility requirements.

The project includes two distinct work zones: the segments fully in the city right of way, where staff recommended installing K-71 or K-72 flexible bollards to create a repeatable, economical separation; and the segment that crosses the US-101 overpass, which is in Caltrans’ right of way. Caltrans has design-approval and construction-oversight authority for the overpass. Razavi said Caltrans required concrete (K-rail–type) barriers at the overpass because of limitations on bridge railing height. Work at the overpass also would include upgraded bridge fencing, signal modifications at the southbound ramp, and a shared-use path on the northbound side.

City staff told commissioners the full project budget is approximately $9.8 million, with roughly $8.0 million attributed to construction. Of that construction total, about $5.5 million is already approved through state and federal grants and the grants require roughly $1.0 million in matching funds. Staff said an additional $1.8 million will be needed to complete the sidewalk portion and remains to be secured.

Razavi walked through separation-element options considered and their tradeoffs: flexible delineators (low cost, high maintenance), rumble strips (low cost, but rejected by the Bicycle Advisory Team), K-71/K-72 bollards (flexible, commonly used, economical), fabricated curb segments (not recommended alone), extruded 6-inch curbs (nonstandard at higher speeds), and precast concrete barriers (continuous separation but high cost and access constraints). Staff recommended K-71/K-72 bollards for the city right of way because they provide a durable visual and physical separation that can be deployed consistently across the project length.

Commissioners asked about traffic impacts, signal timing and detection, visibility at night, and construction staging. Staff said the current design does not remove vehicular travel lanes and therefore should not require traffic-signal retiming to accommodate lost through-lane capacity; bollards would stop short of intersections to allow turning movements. Razavi said the proposed K-71/K-72 bollards include reflectors and are flexible plastic sleeves that bend on impact and can be replaced individually.

On the overpass work, Razavi said the city has submitted the Design Engineering Evaluation Report to Caltrans and is awaiting Caltrans’ final approval. Staff estimated design completion in early 2026 and, with council approval and available funding, a construction start in 2027. Staff also said they will continue outreach via the project website, Bicycle Advisory Team meetings and future council meetings.

Several commissioners voiced support for the recommended bollards and for ensuring adequate lighting. “I think going for a little bit more robust bollard delineator. K-72 is a good a good thing,” Chair Callahan said during discussion.

Staff emphasized that construction staging and any required detours will be developed with Caltrans and traffic-control consultants; the city plans to limit detours by using nighttime and weekend work where feasible and to submit traffic control and detour plans to Caltrans for review. Razavi said final construction staging and detour plans are part of upcoming design-phase work and subject to Caltrans review.