San Carlos, CA – July 10, 2009 –  Interested members of the public are invited to attend the meeting of the San Carlos Transportation and Circulation Commission on Tuesday, July 21st.  The focus of the meeting will be a Study Session to Develop Alternatives for Access to and from Highway 101 in San Carlos.  The City of San Carlos is undertaking this "alternatives analysis" as part of its strategic plan goal to maintain and enhance infrastructure and facilities.  

The objective of the analysis is to develop a comprehensive set of changes to the street and traffic system in the area bounded by Highway 101, El Camino Real, Holly Street and Taylor Avenue in San Carlos that will improve current and future access to and from Highway 101.  The alternatives analysis will address all modes of travel, including pedestrian and bicycle travel as well as motorized vehicles.  

According to Chairperson Margaret Pye, "The Commission invites your ideas regarding this important aspect of traveling in and around San Carlos.  Please attend the meeting and share your thoughts."  

Participants at the meeting will hear about the ideas which have already been suggested and will have the opportunity to contribute their own ideas. 

The current project proposal calls for widening Holly Street at Industrial Road and modifying the interchange of Holly Street and US 101 to add capacity.  In addition to this approach, a number of other ideas will also be discussed.

Some of the more creative and “out of the box” ideas that have been suggested to improve traffic circulation in the study area by San Carlos residents in the immediate area include:

• Converting Holly Street and East San Carlos Avenue to one-way streets (illustration below)
• Eliminating the traffic signal on Holly Street at Old County Road
• Constructing a modern roundabout at the intersection of Holly Street and Industrial Road
• Closing Holly Street at Industrial Road by creating a one-way flow on Terminal Way and Taylor Way
• Eliminating truck traffic on Holly Street between Industrial Road and Old County Road
• Adding signs to encourage use of routes other than Holly Street to access US 101

After the meeting, all of the ideas discussed at the meeting will be analyzed by the consultant for the project, Mark Thomas and Company, and ranked in terms of feasibility and cost.  These alternatives will ultimately be presented to the City Council for their review and consideration.

The alternative analysis meeting begins at 7:00 pm in City Council Chambers, San Carlos City Hall, 600 Elm Street, San Carlos on July 21, 2009.  You are invited to come at 6:30 pm if you would like to view a map of the area being studied and post your comments on traffic flow problems. 




Converting Holly Street and East San Carlos Avenue to one-way streets (illustration above)