What is the Central El Camino Real Multimodal Plan (Central El Camino Plan)?
Originally designed as a state highway for high-speed auto travel, El Camino Real (El Camino) now faces challenges in providing a safe and efficient trip for the many people using it for multiple modes of travel every day. As the main roadway that connects San Mateo County, El Camino needs essential improvements to better connect people to key downtowns, businesses, schools, transit stations, and other destinations.
Final Plan
- Central El Camino Real Multimodal Plan
- Appendix A: Community Engagement Reports
- Appendix B: Placemaking Action Plan
- Appendix C: Alternatives and Evaluation
- Appendix D: Existing Conditions
- Appendix E: San Mateo Business Survey and Parking Study
Phase 2 Engagement Recap
Thank you to everyone who participated in Phase 2 of engagement for this project and provided input on potential alternatives for improving transportation access, mobility, and safety on El Camino Real in San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, and Redwood City!
Key corridor-wide themes that the project team heard include:
- Concerns about congestion along El Camino Real at cross-streets leading to US-101
- Need for separated bike facilities along the corridor to improve safety and access
- Need for increased visibility and other safety measures at pedestrian crossings
- Desire for more bus stop amenities, such as benches and shelters, along with higher bus frequencies and better infrastructure
- Desire for more trees along the corridor to provide shade and improve comfortability for pedestrians
Next Steps
The final Plan will be presented at the following City Council meetings. For more information on the City Council meetings, please visit each of their respective websites linked below:
- Belmont
- Tuesday, September 8, 6:00PM
- One Twin Pines Lane, Belmont, CA 94002
- San Carlos
- Monday, September 14, 7:00PM
- 600 Elm Street, San Carlos, CA 94070
- San Mateo
- Tuesday, September 22, 7:00PM
- 330 West 20th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403
- Redwood City (consent item)
- Monday, September 28, 6:00PM
- 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA 94063
After City Council presentations, the alternatives will be advanced into the Caltrans Project Development Process. The Project Initiation Document (PID) is the first step in the process to identify the additional analysis, engagement, and resources needed. In 2027-2028, more community outreach will be conducted to identify a final, preferred alternative as part of the Project Approvals and Environmental Document (PA&ED).
About the Project
Led by SamTrans and the cities of San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, and Redwood City, the Central El Camino Real Multimodal Plan is a planning project that will improve transportation and safety along an eight and a half-mile stretch of El Camino.
Fact sheet Hoja informativa 情况介绍 информационный бюллетень
This project is funded by SamTrans and a Transit Performance Initiative (TPI) grant awarded by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).
Contact
For questions, please contact grandboulevard@samtrans.com or 1-800-660-4287.
Project Goals
The Plan aims to transform El Camino into a safe, inviting, connected, and transit-oriented boulevard.
Project goals:
- Create a cohesive, locally defined vision that improves the walking, biking, rolling, driving, and transit experience on El Camino in San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, and Redwood City
- Enhance safety for all users traveling on El Camino, addressing major safety issues as part of the county's High-Injury Network
- Identify a transportation improvement option that meets both the regional and local needs for El Camino
Project Area
The Plan focuses on El Camino in the cities of San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, and a small portion of Redwood City.
Connection to other Planning Efforts
The Central El Camino Plan builds on local and countywide efforts and the Grand Boulevard Initiative (GBI), to create a clear vision of the corridor that meets both local and countywide needs for all types of transportation.
The design alternatives that will be identified as part of the Central El Camino Plan will be used to start the Caltrans project development process. The first step of this process, called a Project Initiation Document (PID), is a critical step in getting future funding from the state. The Grand Boulevard Initiative (GBI) will help cities along El Camino through this PID process.
Project Timeline
| Phase 1: Corridor Gaps & Needs | Phase 2: Corridor Alternatives & Trade-offs | Phase 3: Preferred Alternative and Corridor Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
Timeframe | Spring 2025 | Winter 2025 | Summer 2026 |
Goal | Build community awareness and analyze current conditions | Present on corridor improvement alternatives and highlight trade-offs for community and stakeholder input | Select preferred alternative, to be implemented and begin Caltrans process |
Project Resources
Previous Engagement
Interactive Map
Review comments submitted to the interactive map during the first phase of engagement.