El Camino Real Corridor Plan
Implementation | Overview | Background | Contact
What's New
The City received an encroachment permit from Caltrans to install buffered bike lanes (northbound) between Maple Street and Jefferson Avenue. The project is planned for construction in summer 2024. Also, the City is working with an engineering consultant company to design and apply for encroachment permit for buffer bike lane with delineators (southbound) between Brewster Avenue and Vera Avenue. The design will be completed in summer 2024 and construction in 2025. Detailed information is available in the StoryMap.
The City is also currently working on the second phase of zoning updates to promote the development of child care facilities close to where people work and live on the Corridor. The City will be processing these in 2024 along with other zoning amendments to facilitate code maintenance and Housing Element implementation.
The City also developed a StoryMap to help view and understand progress made on the Corridor Plan. You can view this by clicking here.
Upcoming Meetings
None are scheduled at this time.
If you would like to receive notifications for future meetings on implementation of the Corridor Plan, please sign-up online by clicking here.
Implementation
On December 4, 2017, the City Council adopted the El Camino Real Corridor Plan. The City will now begin implementing the plan (see Corridor Plan Implementation section and updates below).
If you have any questions about the Plan or next steps, please contact elcaminoplan@redwoodcity.org.
Zoning Code Amendments
The Corridor Plan's implementation section includes a number of actions relating to zoning code amendments, including:
- Mixed-Use Live/Work Zoning Districts (MULW and MULW-S)
- Activity Centers
- Bonus Height Provisions
- Parking
- Neighborhood Transitions
- Child Care Provisions
- Visibility and Solar Access
These amendments will be processed in two phases, as described below.
Phase I: MULW Zoning & General Plan Amendment
The first phase of amendments is complete. The City amended the Mixed-Use Live/Work (MULW) zoning district, which is now titled Mixed-Use Transitional (MUT). These amendments incorporated the community benefits program associated with increased building height and density, provided more flexibility in allowed uses (both permitted and conditional), and simplified standards for live/work units. Environmental analysis for this amendment is available here.
Status:
The City Council adopted the MULW amendments on January 27, 2020 and the MUT zoning went into effect on February 26, 2020. The MUT Community Benefits program, adopted by resolution, is available here.
Meetings:
- January 27, 2020 - City Council second reading and adoption of the MULW Zoning and General Plan Amendment
- December 16, 2019 - City Council first reading of proposed MULW Zoning and General Plan Amendment
[agenda and materials, presentation]
- November 5, 2019 - Planning Commission (reviewed & recommendations to the Council)
[agenda and materials, presentation]
- October 1, 2019 - Planning Commission Study Session (reviewed and continued review)
[agenda and materials, presentation]
- June 4, 2019 - Planning Commission (reviewed and continued review)
[agenda and materials, presentation]
Materials:
Phase II: Zoning Updates
The second phase of amendments includes updates to the Corridor zoning districts that addresses the community benefits program, activity centers, parking requirements, and neighborhood transitions. The City will be processing amendments to promote child care provisions in 2024 as part of a larger zoning update. The City will also be working on a comprehensive parking study, beginning in 2024. 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:
-
Pop-Up Protected Bike Lane - Community Event Flyer and Event Photos
- 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. - Complete
- Implementation Metrics. Establish metrics (as appropriate) to evaluate and iterate Plan implementation. - On-going
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:
- Mobility addresses the various ways people travel around the Corridor
- Economic Vitality addresses ways to support existing Corridor businesses
- Housing addresses ways to provide housing for a range of income levels, support existing neighborhoods, and improve services for residents
- 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.
Contact
| Project Planner | |
| Lindy Chan | |
| Principal Planner, City of Redwood City | |
| (650) 780-7237 | |
| lchan@redwoodcity.org |
