Millbrae seeks MTC reallocation for Murchison Drive bike and pedestrian improvements; council approves resolution

The Millbrae City Council on Sept. 9 adopted a resolution requesting that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission reallocate fiscal‑year Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 pedestrian and bicycle funds to a joint Murchison Drive project with the City of Burlingame.

City Engineer Ahmad Haya explained Burlingame had originally been awarded TDA Article 3 funds for related bicycle lanes; Burlingame later adjusted its project list and the County association (C/CAG) recommended reassigning $100,000 to Millbrae to keep the improvement moving. The reallocation request was reviewed and recommended by C/CAG technical committees earlier this year, staff said.

The Murchison Drive scope runs from Sequoia Avenue to El Camino Real and includes a combination of buffered and conventional bike lanes and pedestrian crossing improvements. The preferred cross‑section in preliminary designs places the parking lane to the curb, a buffered bike lane, and a travel lane toward the centerline. The corridor includes two schools — Mills High School and Spring Valley Elementary — and staff said the project would improve safe routes to school.

Haya said Burlingame will lead project design and that the cities are drafting a memorandum of understanding to divide design, construction management and long‑term maintenance responsibilities; costs after grant contributions are expected to be split between the cities but the final MOU and cost split will be returned to council for approval. CCAG is scheduled to take the funding reallocation to its board in October for recommendation to MTC.

Councilmembers asked about traffic and parking impacts; staff said the preferred design aims to minimize parking loss within Millbrae and that the design incorporates pedestrian safety measures. The council voted 5‑0 to request the reallocation and move the project forward.