A Sixth Route Enters Redwood City’s Transportation Plan

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Broadway joined Redwood City’s transportation priorities after the City Council voted 6–0 on Oct. 5, to add the corridor as a sixth project for the San Mateo Countywide Transportation Plan.

Council members said the addition responded to community interest in safer bicycle connections and could help position the project for future regional funding.

The existing list included the four-track Caltrain station and grade separations, Bay Road Complete Streets, James Avenue Safe Routes to School, Veterans Boulevard Complete Streets and Vision Zero corridor improvements. Broadway was added without replacing Bay Road.

Councilmember Isabella Chu asked the city to prioritize Broadway, pointing to feedback from the Walk Bike Thrive process.

“The only time that our community has had a choice presented to them a head-to-head of a protected bike lane on Bay versus a protected bike lane on Broadway, they upvoted Broadway by a ratio of about four to one,” she said, adding that Broadway had not been presented as an option in that comparison.

Staff said Bay Road was further along in planning, while Broadway would need to start at an earlier stage. Redwood City Program Director Jeff Lacap told the Council that projects not included in the local priority list could still qualify under broader funding categories.

He also said the project list helped identify local priorities and prepare for future regional funding decisions, but did not guarantee money for any project.

Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos supported adding Broadway and suggested a future study session on the city’s broader approach to transportation priorities.