Last Monday, the City Council received a presentation on refined street designs and key findings from the traffic operations and parking demand studies as part of the Downtown Specific Plan + Streetscape Master Plan. Community groups, local business owners, families and residents were represented in several meetings and workshops over the past several months to finalize a plan to make downtown San Carlos into a beautiful community hub in 2025
The Future of Downtown San Carlos
The proposed design changes included widening sidewalks, protected bike lanes, improved outdoor dining spaces, multi-purpose pavilions, urban greening, and amenities such as outdoor seating, event spaces, public art, drinking fountains, charging stations and EV stations. Certain routes were create to enhance connectivity between Downtown, Caltrain, and East San Carlos for all modes of travel. These changes are expected to boost downtown vitality and vibrancy, improve the shopping and dining experience, enhance pedestrian safety and experience, create safer bike routes, attract more visitors, provide more space for events and gatherings, and encourage people to spend more time in downtown San Carlos.
Streets Renovation Gallery (click on image or navigation bars below to view all images)
The refined Downtown Plan entailed fully or partially closing some sections of Laurel Street, as well as narrowing down certain roads, and these changes had mixed reactions from residents and local businesses. Studies on the effects of the Downtown Plan on traffic congestion and parking availability were initiated, with results as follows:
Traffic
The plan calls for decreasing the number of vehicle travel lanes in 600, 800 blocks of Laurel Street, San Carlos Avenue, Arroyo Avenue, Brittan Avenue, and El Camino Real. This will slow down traffic and create longer queues, but studies suggest that the changes would be minimal and will still be manageable. Improved connections between downtown, Caltrain, and the East Side, along with Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs, are expected to increase transit use, walking, and biking, reducing the traffic impact.
Parking
A total of 47 parking spaces (40 in 600 and 800 blocks of Laurel Street, and 7 on San Carlos Avenue) need to be removed for sidewalk expansion, bike lanes, and outdoor dining. Available parking is still sufficient, with many unoccupied spaces on nearby streets and in at the Wheeler Plaza Garage. Parking management strategies such as the use of small shuttle vehicles (ie. Golf Carts) and e-bikes will be considered as part of the Downtown Specific Plan.
Storm Water
Part of the street modifications includes expanded systems to handle storm water which has been a problem for the area during our super heavy rain years.
It is an exciting time for San Carlos as we embark on modernizing and converting downtown to a more pedestrian friendly zone for its residents and visitors. Stay tuned.
Traffic Patterns Gallery (click on image or navigation bars below to view all images)
Parking Gallery (click on image or navigation bars below to view all images)
Resources
City of San Carlos, September 23 2024 Meeting Packet
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Mark Martinho and Vivienne Kelvin are the hosts of San Carlos Life and have been residents of San Carlos for years. While running San Carlos Life together with an awesome team, Mark and Viv are also in the business of real estate. They are co-owners of Vabrato Real Estate, a luxury real estate brokerage serving the City of Good Living, and the whole of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
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