In part one of this new series, I have been asking myself whether an automobile link is possible between the two communities via a road connection. Even though the distance is roughly 1,100 feet, I interviewed the Planning Managers for both Redwood City and Foster City (which I will cover in part 3), in which they told me that the cost would be roughly $25,000,000, and it may be difficult to secure the necessary permits to build that bridge. Despite such challenges though, I am looking at developing this bridge as an opportunity, not just to address the congestion concerns along US-101, but also provide SamTrans with an option to develop a more robust and well-connected bus service between the two communities and beyond. In Part 2, I will cover how this bridge can become an instrument to developing a stronger transportation network at the local level -- the regional context will be handled later on.
Examining the level of service SamTrans provides to Foster City from Hillsdale Mall in neighboring San Mateo, I notice that Routes 251 and 256 provide semi-adequate service to a community that is highly suburban in nature, with wavy roads, low-floored multi-family homes, and spread out commercial centers. Both routes operate through the same neighborhoods in Foster City, but the order those are served are different:
Route |
Routing |
Service Hours |
251 |
Hillsdale Caltrain - Foster City Elementary School - US Post Office - Foster City Civic Center - Beach Park Plaza - Martin Cove Shopping Center - Metro Center - Bridgepointe Shopping Center - Hillsdale Caltrain |
Weekdays: From 11:30am to 5:30pm - every 2 hours, with supplemental service during school days From 5:30pm to 8:15pm - every 60 minutes Saturdays: every 2 hours from 8:30am to 7:30pm |
256 |
Hillsdale Caltrain - Bridgepointe Shopping Center - Metro Center - Foster City Civic Center - Beach Park Plaza - Martin Cove Shopping Center - US Post Office - Foster City Elementary School - Hillsdale Caltrain |
Weekdays: From 6:30am to 11:30am - every 60 minutes From 11:30am to 5:30pm - every 2 hours Saturdays: every 2 hours from 7:30am to 8:30pm |
As you notice, there is no bus service provided to Foster City on Sundays or holidays, making it a transit desert when some people need to access commercial areas like Costco, Bridgepointe Shopping Center, and more from San Mateo.
Historically, Foster City also had direct service to San Francisco, also operated by SamTrans, called Route FX. It operated weekday peak periods only, with morning trips to San Francisco's Financial District, afternoons to Foster City. It was subsequently discontinued in 2009, citing low ridership. The FX was succeeded by a shorter shuttle service, called Route 359. The 359 operated between Foster City and Millbrae BART/Caltrain station during peak periods, in which those were timed to BART and Caltrain services (mornings to Millbrae, afternoons to Foster City). It was, however, short lived and was subsequently replaced by a free shuttle operate by commute.org, a service provided by San Mateo County, operating with similar schedules to the 359.
Historically, Foster City also had direct service to San Francisco, also operated by SamTrans, called Route FX. It operated weekday peak periods only, with morning trips to San Francisco's Financial District, afternoons to Foster City. It was subsequently discontinued in 2009, citing low ridership. The FX was succeeded by a shorter shuttle service, called Route 359. The 359 operated between Foster City and Millbrae BART/Caltrain station during peak periods, in which those were timed to BART and Caltrain services (mornings to Millbrae, afternoons to Foster City). It was, however, short lived and was subsequently replaced by a free shuttle operate by commute.org, a service provided by San Mateo County, operating with similar schedules to the 359.
Through my interview with Curtis Banks, Community Development Manager for Foster City, I have discovered that the community has been developing well, despite the absence of the bridge. Mr. Banks even told me that it was a "good thing that connector was not built" since, in his opinion, it would have further contributed to the congestion problem now contained along US-101 and CA-92. However, he notes that despite the missing connection, Foster City has seen fast-paced growth through the years with more multi-family developments, large businesses like Visa and Gilead headquartered in the island community, and all the while, congestion remains surprisingly light. Mr. Banks also commented on SamTrans' lack of Sunday and holiday service in Foster City, saying that it would be best to ask the agency if they foresee sufficient ridership to justify such service since at the moment, the ridership base is quite low. |
Indeed, while the bridge concept can be challenging, I highly believe it will "complete the missing link" between Foster City and Redwood Shores, such that it will provide a much faster commute for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers to use Edgewater Boulevard as an alternate to US-101. Aaron Atkins of the Community Development Department of Redwood City, however, disagrees with that sentiment, noting the $25 million price tag, consultations with the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), and filing environmental impact reports and statements as it crosses a protected habitat along the Belmont Slough. With those challenges in mind, I have to consider alternatives to the idea, including a $10 million pedestrian and bike bridge which will shorten walk and bike commutes between the two communities, or develop an alternative road plan that will link the two with minimal environmental and social impacts.
Ideally, if the bridge was developed and fully constructed, I could then propose at least four new routes to SamTrans which can provide additional transit service to both Foster City and Redwood City, with additional services linking San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, and San Francisco. With the gap of around 1,100 feet, the bridge would then give SamTrans an opportunity to develop a more robust transit service between those communities, such that it will not be confined to using just Hillsdale Caltrain for its Foster City services (despite the fact that Route 250 comes close to the city from San Mateo). My route ideas are presented below:
Local transit services within Foster City, Redwood Shores, and environs:
Alternate ideas can be made for all routes, such that Route 251 can operate as Hillsdale Caltrain to Continentals & Lyall in Belmont via Redwood Shores, while maintaining the alignment of Route 291. | Route FX, a commuter service from San Francisco, will follow the same alignment when it was discontinued in 2010. However, in this rendition, it will be further extended to serve Redwood Shores directly via the new bridge, bypassing US-101 when it gets congested during the rush hours. This connection will provide a viable alternative for residents traveling between San Francisco, Foster City, and Redwood Shores by providing a one-seat service along the congested corridor. Alternative routes can be had by operating via Bayshore Blvd and Potrero Avenue in San Francisco (similar to Route 292), allowing more pickups and dropoffs along both corridors. |
In the next segment, I will look at the recommendations made by Foster City and Redwood City to determine how best to design a pedestrian and bike bridge that will complement their trail network. In addition, I will explain further my observations made from the interviews I conducted lately and explore alternatives to the bridge idea in terms of providing better transit options to both communities.