Hayward to repave Hayward Boulevard this summer; council presses staff to focus on pedestrian safety and delay lane reconfiguration

Hayward City Council heard a multi-hour work session May 27 on the Hayward Boulevard Feasibility Study that examined restriping and safety improvements for the corridor between Campus Drive and Farm Hill. Staff presented a recommendation to restripe parts of Hayward Boulevard to two travel lanes with buffered bike lanes and added pedestrian crossing improvements, but council members and many residents urged caution because of traffic, emergency-evacuation and an upcoming school on Campus Drive. Council did not adopt a final lane reconfiguration; staff said the roadway is scheduled for repaving this summer and that limited striping changes tied to repaving will proceed while consultants design pedestrian-safety upgrades for later implementation.

The study, presented by Hugh Louch, deputy public works director, proposed “to restripe Hayward Boulevard between campus and Farm Hill to 2 lanes” and add bicycle lanes and crossing improvements where space allows. Louch told council the feasibility work focused on actions that could be implemented practicably during a repaving project…