El Camino Real Corridor Plan

The first phase of amendments will be to the Mixed-Use Live/Work (MULW) zoning district, including a general plan amendment for consistency. These amendments will incorporate the community benefits program associated with increased building height and density, more flexibility in allowed uses (both permitted and conditional), and simplified standards for live/work units. Environmental analysis for this amendment is available here. Opportunities for public input will be provided, including public hearings before the Planning Commission (on June 4, 2019) and City Council.

Status:  

The Planning Commission considered the draft MULW amendments on June 4th and continued the matter to a future hearing date to allow staff to respond to its comments. Once the Planning Commission has finalized its recommendations, it will forward a recommendation to the City Council, who will take final action on the amendments.

Meetings:

• June 4, 2019 - Planning Commission (reviewed and continued review)
  [agenda and materials, presentation] 

Materials:

• Draft Amendments
• Draft Community Benefits Program
• Map of MULW & MULW-S zoning districts

The second phase of amendments will be a comprehensive update to the Corridor zoning districts that addresses the community benefits program, activity centers, parking requirements, and neighborhood transitions. Opportunities for public input will be provided, including public hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council.

Bike & Ped Safety Improvement Study: El Camino Real between Maple & Charter Streets

Overview:

$350,000 in Caltrans grant funding for the development of a case study on behalf of the  Grand Boulevard Initiative to develop 30% conceptual design drawings for pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements on El Camino Real (between Charter and Maple streets), building off of the approved El Camino Real Corridor Plan.  Case study areas in Redwood City and Palo Alto were chosen based on their high opportunity to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and access on El Camino Real. You can find out more through the study's Frequently Asked Questions.

Status:

The yearlong study was completed in February of 2019, which resulted in conceptual design drawings for bike and pedestrian safety improvements on El Camino Real between Charter and Maple streets, including protected bike lanes, crosswalks, street crossings, and bus stops. Additional community feedback will be sought in future phases, however the study helps the City seek grant funding and identify next steps for making the vision become a reality. See the final report for more information about the study and next steps.

Past Meetings:  

• March 5, 2019 - Planning Commission (presentation on the conceptual design drawings and final report)
  [agenda and materials, presentation]

• February 25, 2019 - City Council (presentation on the conceptual design drawings and final report)
  [agenda and materials, presentation]

• August 14, 2018 - Complete Streets Advisory Committee (status update & draft conceptual plans)
  [agenda and materials, presentation]

Materials:

1. Bike & Ped Safety Improvement Study - Final Report  

2. Conceptual design drawings 

3. Visuals of conceptual designs  

4. Pop-Up Protected Bike Lane - Community Event Flyer and Event Photos

5. Community Outreach Summary of Results 

6. Existing Conditions for the Study Segment (2018)
   
   • Appendix A: Existing Conditions Graphics (2018)
   • Appendix B: Proposed Street Typology & Bicycle Backbone Network Figures, RWCmoves (draft plan October 2017)
   • Appendix C: El Camino Real Corridor Plan Existing Conditions Memo: Land Uses, Streetscape, & Public Realm (2016)
   • Appendix D: El Camino Real Corridor Plan Existing Conditions Memo: Transportation (2016)

Other Short-Term Actions

• Signal Timing. Evaluate signal timing to improve traffic flow.

The City will be working with Caltrans to adjust signal timing later this year.

• Implementation Metrics. Establish metrics (as appropriate) to evaluate and iterate Plan implementation.

The City will begin drafting metrics later this year.

Overview

What is the Corridor Plan?

The El Camino Real Corridor Plan is a policy document that provides a comprehensive land use, transportation, and streetscape approach consistent with the General Plan’s principles. The Plan includes visions, goals, and strategies for street improvements to make the Corridor safer and more desirable to walk along and cross, and policies supporting community benefits, small businesses, and a range of housing choices along the Corridor. It also includes an implementation section with financing strategies and the steps that the City, or other agencies, would have to take to execute the Plan. The Corridor Plan is organized into four main topics, as briefly described below:

1. Mobility addresses the various ways people travel around the Corridor
2. Economic Vitality addresses ways to support existing Corridor businesses
3. Housing addresses ways to provide housing for a range of income levels, support existing neighborhoods, and improve services for residents
4. Place-Making addresses ways to improve the Corridor’s aesthetics and identity 

Unlike a precise plan that provides a high level of detail and supersedes the zoning code, the Corridor Plan is a guiding document with recommended actions to be further analyzed and processed after plan adoption.  Implementation actions are the key to executing the Corridor Plan. These actions are organized by timeframe and directly correspond to the strategies listed in the plan.  Factors that impact the timeframe include feasibility, funding, and level of City control over implementation.  As El Camino Real is within Caltrans’ jurisdiction, all actions affecting the right-of-way require review and approval by Caltrans.  

Background

From 2016 through 2017, the community participated in a series of workshops, hearings, and online forums.  These discussions helped shape the vison for the Corridor Plan, which was adopted by the City Council on December 4, 2017.  

For archives and additional information go here.

To view the City’s major transportation projects, see Redwood City’s Transportation Storymap.

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