San Carlos council approves Crestview Drive quick‑build pilot to curb speeding and add bike lanes

San Carlos — After more than two hours of technical explanation, public comment and council debate, the San Carlos City Council voted 4–1 on May 11 to approve a quick‑build pilot to slow speeds and improve crossing safety on Crestview Drive.

The concept—developed with Kimley‑Horn consultants and city staff—would reallocate lanes on the 2.2‑mile corridor, narrow travel lanes, install buffered bike lanes, add marked pedestrian crossings with rapid‑flashing beacons at key locations, and install a single‑lane pilot roundabout at Crestview and Edmunds, a location where the city has recorded a serious collision in recent years.

Why it matters: Staff said the corridor experiences elevated speeds (85th‑percentile speeds recorded in places as high as the low‑40s mph) and a concentration of collisions. Consultants said a road‑diet and additional crossings would reduce speeds, shorten pedestrian crossing distances and create a safer environment for e‑bikes and school users without materially worsening traffic operations.

What the plan includes: The pilot package narrows some travel lanes, provides buffered bike lanes, installs painted bulbouts, adds flexible delineators and advanced flashing beacons at crossings near schools and transit stops, and places smaller traffic calming circles in the northern segment. The design is “quick‑build,” meaning paint, delineators and temporary elements can be adjusted after real‑world evaluation.

Public response and council concerns: About three dozen residents spoke during the Crestview discussion. Supporters said the pilot will address persistent speeding and protect walkers, transit riders and children. Neighbors and some council members raised concerns about roundabouts and small traffic circles on steep grades, sight distance for drivers turning from side streets, the vulnerability of painted (unprotected) bike lanes to vehicles drift and dooring, and whether temporary measures would be sufficient to change high‑speed behavior.

Council direction and next steps: Council approved the pilot concept but asked staff to return with further study and alternatives for the proposed traffic circle at Los Vientos Way (several council members and residents preferred a hardened crosswalk or other calming there). Staff will finalize design, prepare plan specifications and coordinate installation alongside the city’s pavement rehabilitation program; an 18‑month evaluation period was proposed to collect speed and collision metrics and adjust the pilot as needed.

Quote: “This project responds to community needs by delivering safer, slower streets without significantly impacting traffic operations,” consultant Vanessa Pierce told the council during the presentation.

Vote: The motion to approve the Crestview Drive pilot concept passed on roll call 4–1 (Yes: Leighton, McDall, Vice Mayor Rack, Mayor Venitesh; No: Council Member Dugan). The council specified follow‑up study of the Los Vientos location before permanent hardware is installed.