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San Carlos approves midterm Holly Street bike/ped improvements; council picks faster, lower-cost option
Summary
Council approved Resolution 2025-90 adopting Alternative 1 for midterm Holly Street bicycle/pedestrian improvements (Industrial Road to Twin Dolphin). Alternative 1 emphasizes quicker, targeted safety work—flashing beacons, curb extensions and selected separated bike lanes—with estimated cost $3–4 million and an implementation timeline of 1–2 years.
The City Council on Aug. 25 approved a midterm package of bicycle and pedestrian safety upgrades along Holly Street, selecting the consultant-recommended Alternative 1 and authorizing staff to pursue funding.
What the council approved The project area stretches from Industrial Road to Twin Dolphin and traverses three agencies’ jurisdictions (San Carlos, Caltrans for the US-101 interchange, and Redwood Shores to the east). Consultants evaluated three midterm alternatives: - Alternative 1 (approved): targeted, curb-side and spot improvements (concrete islands, advanced pedestrian beacons at on/off ramps, high-visibility crosswalks, targeted separated bikeways). Estimated cost: $3–4 million; estimated delivery: 1–2 years (fastest path given Caltrans coordination limits). - Alternative 2: continuous separated bikeways and traffic/bike signals; more robust but adds Caltrans review timelines and cost (est. $6–8M; multi-year approvals). - Alternative 3: center-running separated bikeway with concrete barriers (most protective and transformative but highest cost and longest review timeframe).
Why the council chose Alternative 1 Consultants and staff told the council that targeted work can be permitted and built more quickly and gives immediate safety benefits while the city continues to pursue the long-term separated overcrossing project. Allison Mills (Tool Design Group) told the council that Alternative 1 can be built most quickly because it avoids lane reductions and the longer Caltrans approval processes that traffic-signal and center-running designs would trigger.
Council action and funding Councilmember Dugan moved and the council adopted Resolution 2025-90 approving Alternative 1. Staff indicated they will apply to the county-level transportation authority (SMCTA) for funding; if successful, awards could be announced as soon as December 2025 for that midterm package. Staff emphasized continuing to pursue long-term overcrossing grants and engineer-level coordination with Caltrans.
Context and public input The midterm push followed a high-profile cycling fatality in 2024 and subsequent public listening sessions calling for quicker interim safety steps. Community meetings in July 2025 and an online survey showed broad support for faster, lower-cost fixes while some advocacy groups requested more protective (but slower) center-running options.
Next steps Staff will seek project funding (SMCTA) and refine design details. Council asked staff to include education and enforcement campaigns to reinforce new crossing treatments and to track measurable safety outcomes after installation.
