Imagine a Highway 101 fast lane between Redwood City and San Bruno. It could happen sooner than you think.
The California Transportation Commission on Thursday recommended a total of $253.2 million in state funding to lessen congestion on Highway 101 in San Mateo County by creating express lanes in both directions between Redwood City and San Bruno. The lanes are expected to open to vehicles in summer of 2021.
The project is a collaboration between the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, Caltrans and the City and County Association of Governments of San Mateo County. The express lanes would be in each direction between Whipple Avenue in Redwood City and Interstate 380 in San Bruno. The express lanes would connect to the HOV lanes that already exist south of Whipple and extend into Santa Clara County.
The transportation authority has been working closely with the Bay Area Council, San Mateo County Economic Development Association, and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group for years on solutions to unprecedented traffic congestion on Highway 101. And the award of state funding recommended Thursday is a vital part of the investment needed to fully fund the project.
Congested Corridors Program and the Local Partnerships Competitive Program is providing the funding. Both programs were established by Senate Bill 1 signed into law last year.
Assembly Speaker Pro Tem, Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) was instrumental in passing SB 1 and helped ensure that new state funding included in the legislation would be eligible to fund Highway 101 improvements. Mullin also chaired a working group of private and public sector organizations interested in reducing congestion on Hwy 101, and as a result of that effort, private sector employers interested in reducing regional traffic congestion committed $50 million toward the Highway 101 project.
”This is a major accomplishment for the region and the product of a truly unique collaboration between public agencies and the private sector,” said Mullin.
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is working concurrently to convert these HOV lanes to express lanes. Together, the projects would create a new system of continuing express lanes that will encourage the use of public transit, carpools, and other shared ride options, while also creating a new revenue stream for additional transportation enhancements from individuals willing to pay a fee to drive in the new lanes.
“The fact that CTC staff is recommending such a large state funding grant is terrific news, as it brings us one step closer to relieving traffic in Silicon Valley,” said Silicon Valley Leadership Group Senior Director of Transportation Policy Chris O’Connor. “Now it is up to voters in the nine-county Bay Area to maintain this momentum and make this project a reality by funding the next piece of this project through the passage of Regional Measure 3 in June.”
The Managed Lanes Project is expected to enter the design phase after the environmental review is completed this summer.
