Foothill Expressway Improvements Between El Monte … · Foothill Expressway Improvements between El Monte and San Antonio Location Potential Improvement San Antonio to El Monte (Tier

Foothill Expressway Improvements between El Monte and San Antonio

Foothill Expressway ImprovementsBetween El Monte and San Antonio

June 29, 2017 - Los Altos Community Meeting


Agenda

• Introduction

• Project Background

• Visit Stations: Provide Input and Ask Questions

• Reconvene: Input Summary and Additional Comments

• Next Steps


Expressway Plan 2040

Foothill Expressway Improvements between El Monte and San AntonioFoothill Expressway Improvements between El Monte and San Antonio

County Expressway System• Designed to supplement freeways and relieve local streets

• 8 expressways for total of 62 miles

• Nearly 1.5 million vehicles a day

• 55 percent of residents use a County expressway almost everyday

Expressway Plan 2040Long‐term plan for improvement and maintenance of Expressway System


Expressway Plan 2040Los Altos Participation

• Policy Advisory Board: Councilmember Jeannie Bruins

• Technical Working Group: Susanna Chan

• County/VTA BPAC: Wes Brinsfield

• Community: – Expressway Plan 2040 Open House in Los Altos on January 16, 2014

– Foothill Expressway Community Meeting in Los Altos on May 5, 2014 and October 21, 2014

– Additional community outreach planned for release of draft plan document in Fall 2017

EXPRESSWAY PLAN 2040

Foothill Expressway Overview

• 7.3 miles long

• 4 lanes wide

• 11 signalized intersection

• 1 freeway connection: I-280

• 94,000 vehicle trips daily

• Primarily residential land uses

• Downtown Los Altos

• Key school crossing areas

• Very popular bicycle facility



Location Potential ImprovementSan Antonio to El Monte

(Tier 1)Widen from 4 to 6 lanes by extending right turn lanes and make intersection improvements at El Monte and San Antonio (MEASURE B)

I‐280 Interchange to Homestead(Tier 1)

Add signal at the southbound I‐280 off‐ramp intersection and intersection improvements at northbound I‐280 off‐ramp, including pedestrian crossing enhancements, potential Stevens Creek Trail and northbound auxiliary lane on Foothill to Homestead (MEASURE B)

Magdalena/Springer(Tier 2)

Intersection operational improvements

Arastradero(Tier 3)

Grade separation (eliminate signal) and improve bike/pedaccess to high school

Various Intersections Pedestrian and bicycle crossing enhancements

Along Expressway Bicycle travel improvements

Expressway Plan 2040Foothill Expressway Improvements


PROJECT BACKGROUND


Project VicinitySan An

tonio Rd

Foothill Expwy:north‐southEl Monte:east‐west


Existing Conditions

Foothill Expressw

ay

El Monte Ave

AM peak – heavy demand on eastbound left turn

PM peak –heavy demand on southbound right turn

Free running right turns can be challenging for pedestrian crossings

Westbound traffic backup blocking Covington


Existing Conditions2013

2025

During the peak traffic conditions, back ups occur on Foothill Expressway beyond San Antonio to the north and El Monte to the south.


Project Scope

• Add auxiliary lanes between El Monte Avenue and San Antonio Road

• 2nd westbound through at El Monte

• 3 design alternatives developed focused on intersection improvements

Design Funding: City of Los Altos

Construction Funding: VTA’s 2016 Measure B Sales Tax


Project FeaturesCommon for all three alternatives

Auxiliary lanes on Foothill in both directions 8‐foot shoulders

2 through lanes on El Monte

Bike slot

Pedestrian sensors


Alternative 1(Northbound Foothill Focus)

At El Monte

All corners squared (no free‐running right turns with pork chops)

Three left turn lanes

At San Antonio

Dual right turn lanes


Alternative 2(Southbound Foothill Focus)

Two right turn lanes

3 Squared corners

Three through lanes on approach

At El Monte At San Antonio


Alternative 3(Combined Alt 1 and 2)

At El Monte At San Antonio

All corners squared

Three left turn lanes

Two right turn lanes

Dual right turn lanes

Three through lanes on approach


Pros and Cons for All AlternativesPros: Auxiliary lanes address traffic back-ups on Foothill

in AM & PM Squaring northwest Foothill/El Monte corner improves

pedestrian access through sound wall Adding 500 feet of 2nd through westbound El Monte lane

will assist Covington left-turns onto El Monte Adds bike slot for northbound Foothill at San Antonio Pedestrian sensors at El Monte


Pros and Cons for All Alternatives

Cons: Squaring off corners might increase delays for right turning

traffic

Narrowing the median will require removing the trees in the median


Pros of Alternatives 1 & 2Alternative 1 Alternative 2

• Square corners enhance pedestrian crossing

• Less back‐up for northbound Foothill Expressway

• Triple left turns at El Monte serve 2025 traffic conditions

• Square corners enhance pedestrian crossing

• Three southbound through lanes on Foothill at San Antonio increases throughput at intersection

• Double southbound right turn lanes at El Monte serves2025 traffic conditions


Cons of Alternatives 1 & 2Alternative 1 Alternative 2

• Truck turn challenges with triple left turn on eastbound El Monte

• Tree removal with northbound double right turn lanes at San Antonio

• Truck turn challenges with southbound double right turn at El Monte

• Does not square southeastcorner right turn at El Monte

• Third through lane on southbound approach at San Antonio could create weaving issues (creates right turn trap lane)


VISIT STATIONS

Stations 1 & 2: Conceptual Design Alternatives 1, 2 & 3

Station 3: Feedback on Existing Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossing at El Monte

Mix and MatchDesign features shown on each of the alternatives can be mixed and matched to come up with the preferred concept


INPUT SUMMARY


Next Steps

Conceptual Design Alternatives – Summer 2017

Final Design – Early 2018

Construction - Summer 2018

Community Engagement (throughout the project) Public Meetings – Fall 2017


Community InputWebsite: www.countyroads.org

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THANK YOU

Documents

Foothill Expressway Improvements Between El Monte … · Foothill Expressway Improvements between El Monte and San Antonio Location Potential Improvement San Antonio to El Monte (Tier