Traffic and trails on the Midcoast: What would you do? Workshops June 25-30

Renowned walkable communities expert, author and photographer Dan Burden is helping Midcoast residents of San Mateo County take a fresh look at Highway 1 from Princeton by the Sea to the City of Half Moon Bay. In a concentrated and fun series of public planning events, Dan and a professional design team organized by the Local Government Commission, a Sacramento-based nonprofit, will translate citizen input into a new vision – a vision that will create an environment that is safer and friendlier for children and adults to walk, bike and ride the bus, and that will reinforce the qualities that define the area’s natural beauty and historic neighborhoods.

Download the flyer in English or Spanish.

With Highway 1 serving as the only continuous north-south route for Midcoast residents, tourists and travelers to and from the Bay Area, residents have few if any safe transportation options to reach schools, parks, and other destinations. High speeds and high traffic volumes bisect the Midcoast with few safe points for pedestrians to cross Highway 1. Bicyclists traveling along Highway 1 are also faced with a safety issue, as there are no clear bike lanes or adequate shoulders along the roadway. Portions of separate paths and trails exist for recreation and commuting, but much work needs to be done to plan and create a viable alternative transportation network to improve safety, calm traffic, reduce congestion, and build stronger connections between the communities of the Midcoast.

Using a Caltrans community planning grant, the County of San Mateo and the Local Government Commission are conducting a community design "charrette," a visually engaging, interactive series of public workshops, meetings and design sessions between the public and a skilled design team to create a shared vision or a plan. Activities will focus on identifying issues and design solutions for better driving, walking, biking and transit conditions, creating off-street path and trail connections, and providing stronger linkages between the communities.

At the Thursday night kickoff meeting, Dan will deliver a visually-rich and entertaining presentation with illustrative photos from his work and travels around the country. It will be followed by a group brainstorming and prioritizing session.

The Saturday events will start with a walking tour to review walking, biking, transit and driving conditions from the point of view of people of all ages and abilities. A presentation will follow, training participants on techniques the community can use to address issues raised at the Thursday kickoff event and walking tour. Working in small groups, participants will draw their design solutions on large maps of the Midcoast area.

Following the Saturday session, the charrette team will prepare design concepts with computer images to represent the vision for improvements identified through the activities. Tuesday evening, June 30, the charrette team leaders will present the design concepts. Participants are invited to provide additional input before the concepts are developed into a final plan.

Complementary food and beverages will be provided at all events. Businesses, property owners, residents and their families are encouraged to participate in this visioning effort. Spanish interpretation will be available.

El Granada Elementary School, 400 Santiago Street, Multipurpose Room 

• Thursday June 25, 7 - 9 p.m.: Community Kick-off Meeting
• Saturday, June 27, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Community Design Workshop
• Tuesday, June 30, 7 - 9 p.m.: Concept Plan Presentation