Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Drainage Atherton Channel topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Atherton drainage projects: staff seeks design funding for Atherton Channel relining and El Camino pumping
Summary
Staff presented conceptual designs and preliminary cost estimates for the Atherton Channel relining and El Camino Real drainage pumping work, proposing design augmentations and noting potential grant opportunities and coordination needs with agencies including Caltrain and FEMA.
Public Works staff briefed the council on continuing drainage projects including the Atherton Channel relining and a multi-site pumping concept for El Camino Real. Staff said preliminary 30% design work for the Atherton Channel relining indicates construction needs may exceed $4 million and that roughly $2 million is already budgeted; staff proposed a one‑time augmentation to complete the designs and prepare for construction.
Why it matters: channel relining and drainage investments are central to flood mitigation in lower-lying corridors. They also affect adjacent projects such as roadway and bike improvements and can require federal or state grants and permits.
On El Camino Real, staff reported conceptual work that recommends two pumping stations—one near Selby to collect and pump northward toward Redwood City and a second near Isabella to manage the southern reach. Staff said the town has some budgeted design money and recommended using existing program funds for the north end while seeking additional design funding for the south end. Council members and staff discussed opportunities to coordinate drainage work with El Camino safety improvements and to pursue grant funding; staff said FEMA and other federal grant responses remain uncertain and one FEMA grant application remains in limbo.
Staff said final design and permitting will determine construction costs and emphasized the need to sequence design work, tie-in priorities with transportation projects and pursue multiple funding sources. No construction appropriations were made at the May 7 meeting; staff will return with refined cost estimates, updated grant prospects and recommended scheduling.
