Commission approves South Rollins streetscape plan with quick-build medians and a new traffic circle

The Burlingame Traffic Safety and Parking Commission on July 9 approved the South Rollins streetscape and traffic-calming project, which relies mainly on quick-build treatments including rubberized medians, bulb-outs, a mountable traffic circle at Oak Grove and new high-visibility crosswalks.

Staff said the corridor is part of the city’s Vision Zero network and that the city secured project funding (described in the staff report) from local transportation measures. The presentation described three quick-build treatment types—median islands, tapered curb extensions and bulb-outs—together with hardened centerline markings, reflective delineators and selective removal of about five on-street parking spaces where safety required it.

Staff emphasized that treatments are designed to be mountable so emergency vehicles can traverse them and that the median and curb elements include reflective materials. Commissioners asked for clarifications on the shape and continuity of islands, whether the center island could be landscaped in the future, and sight-line concerns at Humboldt; staff said they would follow up on design details and jurisdictional issues where Rollins intersects other agencies’ streets.

Public comment included a local resident who said daylighting and removing a few parking spaces would improve sight lines near feeder streets and schools. Commissioner Brown moved to pass the project as presented; Vice Chair Johnson seconded and the motion passed 5–0. Staff said construction will begin as soon as the city’s project manager returns and implementation milestones are set.

Next steps: staff will finalize construction scheduling, confirm mountable curb dimensions for emergency access, and pursue any additional design refinements requested by commissioners before work begins.