At its monthly meeting today, the San Mateo County Transit District Board of Directors approved nearly $2 million for projects that support the vision of the Grand Boulevard initiative: to revitalize the roadway, including improved aesthetics, pedestrian access, transit use and quality of life along El Camino Real.

The awards went to five cities in San Mateo County for capital improvements on El Camino Real:

Top-of-the-Hill, Daly City - $700,000 was awarded to improve pedestrian access and safety, and to construct a pedestrian transit plaza. In Daly City, El Camino Real is called Mission Street.

Victoria Crossing, Millbrae - $438,000 was awarded to create a new signalized intersection to improve pedestrian safety at Victoria Ave. and El Camino Real.

San Carlos - $297,620 was awarded to improve pedestrian safety and aesthetics of the intersection of San Carlos Avenue and El Camino Real, where a significant transit oriented development project is planned.

San Mateo - $282,000 was awarded to implement improvements on El Camino Real between 28th and 37th avenues. This includes a “themed” intersection and new sidewalks to improve the pedestrian environment and traffic flow, in conjunction with long-range plans for a transit-oriented development on the Bay Meadows property.

San Bruno - $282,000 was awarded to build landscaped medians on El Camino at several locations between Noor and Sylvan avenues, including areas near the Shops at Tanforan, and downtown San Bruno. Additionally 28 pedestrian signals and four pedestrian activated warning lights will be installed.

The District solicited project proposals for projects that support the Grand Boulevard vision, from cities and counties with frontage on El Camino Real. The funding comes to the District from the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users law, or SAFETEA-LU, which authorizes federal funding transportation programs between 2005-2009. Additional funding comes from a federal earmark called “Project #1492- El Camino Real Grand Boulevard initiative in San Mateo County.”

The Grand Boulevard Initiative is led by the District and is a collaborative effort of 19 cities, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, along with local and regional agencies. The initiative brings together, for the first time, all the agencies responsible for the condition, use and performance of the roadway. The effort also includes representatives of the business community, environmentalists, labor, and advocates for housing, transit, bicyclists, economic development and smart growth. The goal is to improve the performance, safety and aesthetics of El Camino Real, with project limits starting at the northern Daly City limit, and ending near the San Jose Diridon Caltrain Station.

For additional information about the Grand Boulevard Initiative, visit www.grandboulevard.net