Poplar Avenue, US101 to Humboldt, Traffic Improvements Small Group Reports Community Workshop May 20, 2010 Group 1 Facilitated by Ken Chin, PUBLIC WORKS Latino population Schools SEMIs/Commercial Burlingame Neighborhood interest of safety/traffic/access (access = freeway and neighborhood) No additional input shared. None of the existing 3 options (3 2009 options) Only block Idaho (modified 1) Block traffic (force traffic to Burlingame) (mod option 1) 101 off ramp traffic signal (mod option 1) No left turn off ramp and no left turn NB Amphlett Speed enforcement Grade separation Amphlett
SM County Courthouse Army Reserve Armory. Group 2 Facilitated by Andy Wong, PUBLIC WORKS Along Poplar and Humboldt Any SM high school projects Former Shen Motors site CalWater Redevelopment Stanbridge School Group generally interested in further study of all of the options presented, but would like additional review on emergency vehicle Flashing beacons at Poplar/US 101 ramps Make Poplar one way eastbound from Delaware to US 101 Close US 101 off ramp Remove/restrict parking on Poplar Relocate school bus facility to reduce queuing on Humboldt 2
Group 3 Facilitated by Stephen Scott, Planning School district (buses) Adult school Bike coalition Armory Folks east of freeway (golf course, marina, county park) Burlingame north of freeway Serving folks east of freeway Improvements should not cause more traffic on N. Humboldt Like the idea of closing off ramp Like the idea of eliminating left turn Closing Idaho for left hand turns Closing off ramp will overload 3 rd Avenue Closing off ramp will affect a lot of folks needing to go west to ECR, the Park, Hillsborough, etc Tunnel Amphlett traffic under Poplar 3
Group 4 Facilitated by Tricia Toomey, PUBLIC WORKS SM High Owners (not just residents) of nearby apartment buildings SM County Courthouse Neighborhoods West of El Camino who may travel down Poplar to get on the freeway Hillsborough/Burlingame Businesses (trucks) Also, anyone who travels through the area may be a stakeholder (not just limited to property owners). WE should try to include them too, maybe with signage In addition to improving the safety, the City should make it a priority to: Protect property owners o Both in terms of property value as well as quality of life Minimize air/noise pollution Consider pedestrian needs Make Burlingame share in the burden of some of this Group generally interested in further study of each of the options presented, including closing the freeway ramps completely Concerned about options that would divert traffic onto Humboldt Concerned that options which divert traffic onto Humboldt would make it difficult for drivers on College to make a left turn onto Humboldt because of increased traffic Agree with idea to study closing off ramp and leaving on ramp open Install traffic calming devices at Poplar/Idaho intersection and/or on Humboldt Make the Poplar off ramp from US101 longer so cars have more time to slow down, and maybe include rumble strips, increased signage or flashing lights to slow cars Have Amphlett travel over Poplar directly onto US101 (grade separation) Restrict drivers on Idaho to only making right turns onto Poplar, with smaller barricades at intersections only (not running all the way down Poplar) Should install an off ramp only at Oak Grove in Burlingame If a median is installed, make Poplar 4 lanes (2 lanes in each direction), remove parking, and do not allow left turns onto Amphlett, or Idaho. Allow left turns on Humboldt only Group 4 Notes Continued Next Page 4
Group 4, Continued from Previous Page Other Comments Humboldt is already severely impacted by SMUHSD bus depot now busses are entering and existing onto Humboldt 4x per day The City should examine/implement the least drastic measures first Questions When are they going to turn on the metering lights recently installed on the ramps? If Poplar Ramps are closed, how will traffic funnel out into Burlingame or 3 rd Avenue? What will impacts be? What is the status of the pedestrian crossing on Humboldt at College? How much traffic can Poplar really handle? 5
Group 5 Facilitated by Susanna Chan, PUBLIC WORKS Outreach to seniors thru written survey o Metropolitan Apartments, Gateway Commons, Central HOA, Humboldt Square, senior centers in area City staff outreach to all HOAs No negative impact to residential neighborhoods Don t improve Poplar to the detriment of kids /residents safety. Quality of life Temporary implications to close Poplar ramp to actual study of traffic impacts Better signage Slip ramp at Peninsula will this be re opened? No additional input shared. Get Burlingame to explore options regarding additional ramps in their city to handle their own traffic. Rough estimates say 40% of Poplar traffic is from Burlingame. What is the plan for old drive in site in Burlingame? Whatever is build here will affect traffic in San Mateo. Proposed future development on California Drive? Foster City development (Gilead) Completely close Poplar due to all the schools in the area Do not close Poplar; too many accidents at 3 rd & 4 th Avenues identified on maps Best: all way stop signs at College Two lanes onto freeway 6
Identified on Blank Maps (no specific group noted) Highway 101 SB at Poplar close off ramp all together Only leave on ramp access from Poplar to Highway 101 SB Increase length of 101 SB at Poplar off ramp and put in rumble strips & signage to slow traffic East and west Idaho at Poplar right turn only barricades Temporary K rail on Poplar at Amphlett Eliminate Highway 101 SB at Poplar off ramp and make Poplar one way eastbound (from at least west of Humboldt) 7