There are two important dates in the coming week regarding major plans for San Mateo County transportation. Read on for how you can participate.

101 Managed Lanes – Environmental Scoping

San Mateo County is working on major plans to address congestion on 101 with managed lanes.  Ideally the solutions would encourage more transit and carpooling to get cars off the road.

The environmental review process is starting this week with a public scoping meeting on Thursday, October 27, 6pm-8pm, at San Mateo City Hall, 330 West 20th Avenue, San Mateo.  Come if you can, or submit comments by the deadline of Friday, November 18. Here is a writeup of the recent 101 Solutions Forum with some suggestions for comments.

• Total Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions for the corridor
• Vehicle Miles Travelled and GHG emissions per capita for the corridor
• Induced demand – change in vehicle trips on the corridor associated with each scenario
• Toxic emissions affecting low-income communities along the corridor for each scenario
• Mitigation of VMT provided by transportation demand management
• Mitigation of VMT/GHG provided by additional bus service including express bus options
• Mitigation of VMT/GHG provided by additional Caltrain capacity with electrification, and Caltrain Modernization Phase 2

San Mateo County Transportation Plan 2040

Also coming up soon on October 31 is the deadline to give written feedback for the San Mateo County Transportation Plan 2040, which will shape policies – and spending priorities – for the coming decades, including critical opportunities to increase Caltrain capacity. Here is a survey that can be used to provide feedback.   Read this blog post, share your thoughts in comments, and please send comments to San Mateo County before the Halloween deadline.

Here are some suggested comments to get started:

• Create quantitative goals for reduced Vehicle Miles Travelled/Greenhouse Gas Emissions per capita, reduced drivealone mode share, and increasing transit and active transportation mode share
• Use VMT/GHG reduction as a goal in setting budget
• Update Caltrain section to include the “Caltrain Modernization Phase 2” with longer platforms and longer trains
• Add funding to continue San Mateo County’s successful Caltrain grade separation program
• Include strategic goals to improve regional connections to the East Bay at SF-Oakland, San Mateo, and Dumbarton crossings
• Set a Vision Zero goal and policies to eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries
• Incentives and accountability for mode shift policies, including public reporting, and reduced parking subsidies
• Stronger goals for regional, multi-agency, multi-modal transit/transportation integration
• Quantitative goals for land use, adding housing closer to jobs and improving jobs/housing fit