Midcoast Community Council (MCC) Summer 2022 Newsletter Summarizes ALL Midcoast Transportation Projects Including Project Timelines

NEWSLETTER. From the Midcoast Community Council (MCC) Newsletter Summer 2022.

There has been a bit of congestion in the Midcoast with the number of transportation issues on our plate. Here’s a quick summary of the major issues, with links to supporting details for those interested.

Crosswalk Beacon in Moss Beach: Upgraded. Caltrans remedied a dangerous crossing near Virginia Ave. with installation of a flashing beacon, and then remedied a partially obscured view of those beacons by installing additional beacons at a higher elevation on the poles.

Traffic Signs in Montara near Farallone School: Declined. In February, the MCC wrote a letter in support of placing traffic signs at unsigned intersections near the school. Following a study of the intersections, County DPW declined to advance the requests, but will consider 2-way stop signs at two intersections as part of analyses to be considered, for example, under Connect the Coastside. The MCC will discuss this matter further at a future meeting.

The Medio Creek Bridge Replacement (aka the Mirada Road Pedestrian Bridge Replacement): Underway. An improved replacement bridge is underway after winter storm damage to the foundation had increased the scope of the work. The work in the beach area is expected to be complete by October, however, due to a supply shortage of aluminum, the fabrication of the bridge may extend the completion date to later this year or early next year. The bridge has been closed since July 27, 2020.

Mid-block Crossing at Surfers’ Beach: Maybe. There has been discussion of improving safety on Hwy 1 by additional of a crossing adjacent to the beach, rather than requiring surfers to hike over 2000′ to the nearest signed intersection and back in order to cross the road.  In April 2022, the County submitted a letter of support to Caltrans for the mid-block crossing study, which could become part of other Hwy 1 work.

Midcoast Multi-Modal Trail Improvements Project: Underway. This project will enable people to safely commute by bicycle or foot from El Granada to the south end of Miramar and will eventually serve as a connection to the Naomi Patridge trail within Half Moon Bay. The trail will also include a connection to El Granada Elementary School in order to provide a safe route to school for students who live in the Miramar area. Construction is underway and should complete in November.

Hwy 1 Safety Barrier Project: Next Year. This project, expected for action in 2023, will prevent vehicles from plunging off the road south of the Lantos Tunnel. The project is needed because the Caltrans Office of Traffic Safety reported that from October 10, 2017, through September 30, 2020 (the most recent 3 year reporting period), 33 run-off-the-road accidents (including 24 injuries and one fatality) occurred on this segment of State Route 1.

Hwy 1 Variable Message Signs and Traffic Monitoring (aka Hwy 1 Traffic Operational Systems Improvement Project): Ongoing. This project has been repeatedly presented to the MCC and Half Moon Bay, with strong and continued resistance to the location, utility, and appearance of the large message boards. Caltrans has continued to refine the project and bring it forward to the County. The MCC issued a letter opposing the signs after much discussion about the value of monitoring data and related privacy concerns.

Hwy 1 Multi-Asset Roadway Rehabilitation Project: In Design. Caltrans is planning a multi-million project to maintain and upgrade Hwy 1 along several dimensions—rehabilitation of pavement, drainage and culverts, bus stops, bike lanes, guardrails and barriers, and crosswalks. Further, Caltrans proposes to upgrade and install new communication devices, such as closed-circuit television cameras, intersection cameras, and traffic monitoring stations. The proposed project will extend from Marine Blvd. in Moss Beach to Wavecrest Road in HMB. A public meeting was held on July 21st, but the presentation materials have not yet been posted. The initial study and proposed negative declaration is available at the link above. This project will coordinate with County and local stakeholders regarding the potential mid-block Surfer’s Beach crossing.

Moss Beach SR-1 Congestion & Safety Improvements Project: In Design. This project grew out of a 2009 Hwy 1 Safety and Mobility Improvement Study.  In 2012, San Mateo County received $1.5 million in county-wide transportation funds to design and permit these congestion and safety projects. In 2022, the project will study alternatives to improve traffic in Moss Beach from 16th St. to Cypress Ave. which may include: new controlled intersections (either single- or multi-lane roundabouts or traffic signals) at 16th St., California Ave., and Cypress Ave.; dedicated turn lanes; high-visibility crosswalks; new sidewalk on the west side of SR-1 from California Ave. to Cypress Ave.; bus stop improvements for SamTrans Route 17; Class 2 bike lanes; and Class 1 multi-use path on the east side of SR-1.

Roundabout at Frenchman’s Creek?: Maybe. Half Moon Bay representatives (Nisbet and Rarbach) report that Rep. Jackie Speier has obtained $2 million for the City to study a roundabout or other traffic controls (e.g. middle turn lane) at the Frenchman’s Creek intersection on Hwy 1. Per the Connect The Coastside study, roundabouts cost between $5 and 7.5 million, so further funding would be required to implement that alternative. Community reaction has been mixed.

2021 Midcoast Community Council Members

MCC:  [email protected]
P.O. Box 248, Moss Beach, CA 94038

For agendas via email, subscribe to Google Group-MCC-Agendas.

Michelle Weil, Chair – Term Ends: Dec. 2022
Phone: 805-452-7453‬
Email: [email protected]

Claire Toutant, Vice Chair – Term Ends: Dec. 2022
Phone: 650-676-5847‬
Email: [email protected]

Len Erickson, Secretary – Term Ends: Dec. 2022
Phone: 650-400-3175
Email: [email protected]

Dave Olson, Treasurer – Term Ends: Dec. 2022
Phone: 650-387-3618
Email: [email protected]

Gregg Dieguez, Member – Term Ends: Dec. 2024
Phone: 650-544-0714
Email: [email protected]

Jill Grant, Member – Term Ends: Dec. 2024
Phone: 415-940-3392
Email: [email protected]

Dan Haggerty, Member – Term Ends: Dec. 2024
Phone: 650-212-6026
Email : [email protected]

Author: Coastside Buzz

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