Farm Hill Blvd. Right-sizing Project Installed
Farm Hill Boulevard in Redwood City has just received its trial striping: reducing the number of lanes from four to three and adding a center turn late and bicycle lanes in both directions. This project was first proposed back in 2012 after a community meeting, two community open houses, and a City Council meeting but was ultimately voted down due to concerns about impeding vehicle flow. In summer 2013, the city did make some changes, such as adding crosswalks, sharrows, and edge lines. This did little to slow traffic speeds or prevent collisions. Through speed and volume data collection, the city found that 60-90% of people drive faster than the posted speed limit and 2-9% driver faster than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. In 2014, there were eight collisions where speed was a primary collision factor, including one collision with two major injuries.Due to the results of this data collection, City Council took up this issue again in January 2015 and approved a pilot road diet project after hearing from residents of Farm Hill who were very concerned about the safety and livability of their street. Staff put together an evaluation plan informed by a community survey that identified key priorities. This evaluation plan was approved by City Council on June 22. The striping has just been put in place this month and the pilot project will last one year. The evaluation plan will help Council to decide what to do at the end of the year.Reconfiguring Farm Hill Boulevard from four to three lanes will increase safety for users of this road, including seniors, schoolchildren and people who bike. Three lanes also create a shorter distance for people to cross at intersections, which is particularly important for elderly and school age children. Studies have found that road diets lead to reductions in collisions, conflicts, and speeding while improving traffic flow.Redwood City City Council needs to hear what you think of this project, send an email to: farmhillfeedback@redwoodcity.org
