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Hi Neighbors, As we head into the weekend, please mark your calendars and plan to attend Monday Nights' City Council, Special Session.
When: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Where: 330 W. 20th Ave
Date of Meeting: Monday April 7, 2025
The purpose of the Special session is for the Transit Authority to share more about the proposed 101/92 widening project. The widening project has several phases.
As it stands, the Transit Authority is in Phase I, Environmental Impact having spent 1.5 million to date, with 12.2 million set aside for further data collection and review. Phase II encompases alternative routes along the 92 (to the tune of 51 million) and adding Connectors which threaten the taking of a "sliver up to entire acquisitions of property" in Fiesta Gardens (Portsmouth Way), and Parkside (Adams Street, Washington Park, Kehoe). The report is vague in its nature, and requires much more time for the public to process, ask questions, and seek to understand. I know many have written letters to me, the Council, and other agencies expressing concerns (6,216 letters sent to date), but, if we want to change the direction of this project, then as they say, "the best defense is a great offense"... and we ask you to SHOW UP! AND SHOW OUT! Be vocal, share your questions, concerns, and remind folks why you are the taxpayer, and set the direction of projects and priorities.
The meeting flow is fairly straight forward, 90 mins, presentation, followed by public comment, and ending with Council questions.
I kindly ask that you tell your neighbors, bring a friend to the meeting, SHOW UP! Volume, and Mass get results. If you speak, consider asking your City Council reps to send a letter to C/CAG and the TA opposing the project.
Thank you!
Danielle
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PROJECT PLANS
https://www.smcta.com/media/33239
Pages 13-18 connector options
Pages 29-38 Eminent domain / right of way
TALKING POINTS FOR 92/101 INTERCHANGE (Provided by @Michal Lim from SPNA)
1. The problem starts in the East Bay. There are too many commuters using the bridge to get to places
on the Peninsula. This is the source of the problem. The Bay Area has one of the worst super commuter
problems in the U.S. (90 minutes +, 10-15% of population drives to the Bay Area every day.)
https://www.sfgate.com/traffic/article/Bay-Area-commute-San-Francisco-traffic-12861808.php
2. There is no public transport mid-bay to alleviate some of the traffic. No transit as of COVID? Could
buses or ferries help to decrease the number of commuters?
3 Studies have shown that the expansion of roadways only adds more traffic. They do not alleviate
traffic. Eventually delays return to previous levels with more cars. The TA just admitted that happened on
101 (Redwood City up to San Bruno on 280). Data showed delays were no better than before.
https://www.ucdavis.edu/magazine/does-widening-highways-ease-traffic-congestion#:~:text=People%20
may%20shift%20the%20routes,the%20cycle%20of%20traffic%20continues.
4. Express toll lanes cater to those that have the money to pay. Like water finding the easiest
path, drivers will avoid the congestion and toll lanes by going through the neighborhoods (cut through
traffic). Waze, crashes, re-routed traffic off highway into Foster City. (Crystal Springs Road, Parrott Drive,
Alameda de las Pulgas, Hillsdale Blvd., Delaware, 19th Avenue, Fashion Island Blvd, Saratoga Drive,
Norfolk Avenue, 3rd Avenue, Downtown, Foster City Blvd. and all side streets)
5. This plan only benefits the wealthy—San Mateo taxpayers will pay for it. There is already an under-
current dissatisfaction with the wealthy by middle and working class people. The burden of cost will be
on those with less money. This could feed into a very volatile situation = No public transit.
6. Shoreview/Parkside are equity priority neighborhoods and yet the state wants to disadvantage us
again. Pollution will hit these communities adjacent to the freeway.Do they consider us the path of least
resistance?
7. The state plans are quite vague so that the citizens cannot evaluate all the intricacies of the state plan.
Is this done on purpose to reduce resistance from the citizens?
8. The state of California, via legislation, is forcing cities to build more housing YET this project would
take out 33 homes and a park. It also impacts homes on Portsmouth Way with Southbound 101. Will the
state subtract the number of houses taken over by eminent domain from the total of new houses San
Mateo needs?
9. Real estate values will go down (less money the state will have to pay for taking over properties?)
Developers are hoping to build housing and retail units on land adjacent to the interchange. These
developers will lose value on their properties, too.
10. There are many houses that have passed from one generation to another. They are
precious to the inhabitants because they represent a solid foothold in the community. This brings stability
to the neighborhood. Does the state want to contribute to the instability of households with all the related
negative consequences?
**11. Is this the best use of San Mateo taxpayer money? It’s a hunger game for money. The increase in
road usage creates added wear and tear on our surface streets. Those new potholes, etc. increase local
costs.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
San Mateo City Hall, 330 W. 20th Ave.,San Mateo, California, United States
