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SamTrans launches Central El Camino multimodal study; San Mateo staff briefed on goals, funding and Caltrans coordination
Summary
SamTrans and partner cities, including San Mateo, told the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission on July 9 that a grant‑funded multimodal study of Central El Camino Real will analyze safety and mobility tradeoffs and produce alternatives for Caltrans review; the study cost is about $700,000 and a preferred alternative is expected in 2026.
"We are here from staff."
SamTrans representatives briefed the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission on July 9 about the Central El Camino Real multimodal plan, a county‑level study that covers El Camino Real through San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos and part of Redwood City. SamTrans staff said the project is funded through a Metropolitan Transportation Commission grant and district funds and is intended to develop a corridor‑wide vision addressing safety, bus reliability and first/last‑mile access.
SamTrans project manager Cassie Hall said the study will inventory existing conditions, solicit community input, develop alternatives and recommend a preferred alternative by spring 2026. "This is an informational item. We're just bringing this to you early in the project development," Hall said, noting that the work will feed a coordinated Caltrans process for corridor changes on the state‑owned route.
Scope, funding and goals SamTrans staff said the Central El Camino plan was funded after a 2022 grant application and that the current contract and outreach work began in February 2025. The initial study cost is about $700,000, combining the MTC grant with local match. Staff listed key goals: develop a cohesive corridor vision that reflects local context, improve safety and mobility for pedestrians, cyclists and transit users, and define alternatives that are technically feasible and ready for Caltrans’ project development processes.
Caltrans jurisdiction and implementation challenges Commissioners raised jurisdictional and implementation questions: El Camino Real is a State Route (SamTrans staff said it is State Route 92 in portions), and most lane and cross‑section changes on the corridor require Caltrans review and environmental approvals. SamTrans said it is pursuing a countywide, corridorwide Caltrans process to reduce duplication and cost; the agency’s aim is to produce alternatives and design concepts that cities can opt into rather than requiring each jurisdiction to fund a separate multimillion‑dollar Caltrans study.
Public outreach and next steps SamTrans reported a first round of pop‑up events, multilingual listening sessions and an online mapping tool that remains open through July 18. The next phase of the study will refine alternatives and tradeoffs and return to communities for input in early 2026; SamTrans expects to present the Grand Boulevard Initiative action plan and Central El Camino alternatives to councils and relevant commissions in late summer and fall.
Why this matters El Camino Real is a principal corridor for transit and local travel in San Mateo County; SamTrans said the study aims to improve safety for pedestrians and bus riders and to create design options that cities and Caltrans can carry forward into the formal environmental and project delivery process.
Sources: Presentation by SamTrans staff Cassie Hall (major corridors manager/project lead) and Chelsea Chang (government and community affairs officer).
