Broadway Interchange Remodel Years in the Making

At a public meeting Wednesday, the proposed Broadway Interchange Project was introduced to the community. The undertaking could drastically change Interstate 101 access for Burlingame residents within the next few years.

The current four-lane Broadway interchange is the "oldest interchange in the County of San Mateo… built in 1949," San Mateo County Transit Authority Director, Joe Hurley, said in the meeting. Residents also consider it one of the most dangerous interchanges, with cars from many directions converging and crossing over each other at certain points, often forced to cross lanes of traffic quickly. 

Proposed structural improvements include two-lane on and off ramps to Interstate 101 and a cross bridge spanning the interstate with four lanes westbound to Broadway Avenue and three lanes eastbound towards Old Bayshore Highway.

The cross bridge section would have bike lanes and a ten-foot pedestrian walkway, though the existing pedestrian crossing will be retained and improved.

Hurley says that benefits of the project include improved traffic conditions, simplified traffic routes and updated seismic and structural roadway standards.   

A recent study said that the proposed Broadway interchange would improve traffic congestion up until the year 2035.

According to the study, none of the eight intersections in the roadway would impose more than 55-second waits on drivers, which is below the current traffic light times.  

Though the project will temporarily close parts of the Bay Trail during construction, all present bike and pedestrian walkways will be restored.

More bike and pedestrian trails will be added to the area as a result of the project as well, including a paved path into Bayside Park from Airport Boulevard.

As the operator and owner of Interstate 101, Caltrans will play an integral part in the Broadway Interchange Project, alongside the San Mateo County Transit Authority, the project sponsor, and the City of Burlingame.            

Hurley said this partnership is essential to the $74.5 million project, which began as early as 1980 when the first studies of the interchange determined that road traffic was over capacity.

Improvements to the Broadway interchange were placed on Burlingame's expenditure plan following a half cent sales tax increase created by Measure A in 1988, said Hurley.  

Additionally funding is expected through local tax funds, future funds from the State Transportation  Improvement Program and funds from future federal allocations.

Studies of the Broadway interchange and surrounding areas were conducted following 1988, leading to a project study report in November of 2005 and a draft environmental report in August of this year.

One of the contributing authors to the environmental report, Lynn McIntyre, said that a number of factors were assessed, including impacts to surrounding wetland areas and wildlife species, as well as noise impacts to residents and neighboring business.

"The project has the potential to affect some marginal habitat for special status species, including California red legged frog and green sturgeon," McIntyre said.

Special status, by McIntyre's definition, indicates that a species is protected either by state or federal laws.

McIntyre said that the impact on these species would be minimal, if at all.

Using a projection date of 2035, the environmental assessment findings show that the proposed interchange will not increase traffic noise levels.

Residents who attended Wednesday's public meeting were encouraged to leave comments on the assessment with the present court reporter.

Comments on the report and proposed Broadway Interchange Project will continue to be accepted online or by mail until Sept. 29 at 5:00 p.m.

Following review of all comments, the project is expected to enter a design phase, which is estimated to be complete in 2012.

Construction is estimated to start in 2014, with a 2016 completion target.