OUR WORLD HAS CHANGED
POST-PANDEMIC CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
• Is population growing?
• Are households changing?
• Are preferences evolving?
• Is economy growing?
• Are work habits changing?
• Have space needs changed?
• Has shopping changed?
• Are public realm needs different?
• How do we get around?
• How to promote (re-) investment?
• How to finance infrastructure & amenities? Developers / Owners
Year-Over-Year % Change in CA Population
CA Households by Age of Primary Resident (2020 and 2060)
Internet Sales as % of Total
THE TRANSPORTATION STORY
Overall, transit ridership is down
Varies by: region metro area (location and size) trip purpose (commute vs. other) WFH percentage transit mode (rail, bus, ferry)
National Transit Use Patterns
Bus Systems are doing better than BART and Caltrain
SF-OAK Bay Bridge
Peak of 4.1M crossings in Aug 2019
Low of 1.7M crossings in Aug 2021
Peak for past three years is 3.8M
Case Study – City of San Carlos
APA California 2024 Conference
Sunday, September 29, 2024
Downtown San Carlos
Citywide Population
30, 145
Downtown
85 acres; 14 blocks (6 blocks in the core)
Existing
• 557 units
• 1,108 population
• 930,000 sq. ft. commercial
• 2,009 jobs
Total Projected to 2045
• 2122 units
• 4223 population
• 1,350,820 sq. ft. commercial
• 2,917 jobs
From Pandemic to Possibilities
May – Council discussed possible street closures
June – Council approved temporary street closure and removing parking spaces [CEQA Exemptions: 15301 and 15269; Vehicle Code 21101(e)]
July – water barriers installed, “covid” parklets commenced
City Council establishes a pedestrian mall on the 700 block of Laurel Street [Pedestrian Mall Law of 1960]
Directive to Transform Downtown in a Post Covid Context
“The City of San Carlos will work with residents, property owners, business owners, committees, commissions, the Chamber of Commerce, and all other interested members of the community to develop a plan to understand and ensure that the downtown meets the needs of the community and businesses now and into the future.”
Vision and Guiding Principles
Downtown San Carlos is…..
• Heart of San Carlos
• Place for celebration and gathering
• Diverse and authentic experiences
• Inclusive place
• Inviting spaces for all users
• Sustainable district
• Supports ecological and community health & well-being
REPURPOSED AND REDESIGNED STREET NETWORK
City Council endorsement
September 23, 2024
What happens to Traffic and Circulation?
Examined 30 intersections
Existing Conditions
Future Conditions (4 scenarios)
Parking Demand & Occupancy Study
INVENTORY: WHAT WE HAVE TO GIVE UP:
3,109 spaces
47 spaces (2% of total, 6 % of on-street)
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM TRAFFIC AND PARKING STUDIES
TRAFFIC OUTCOMES
• Traffic adapts.
• Near-term traffic forecast shows little change.
• Long-term traffic forecast shows slower traffic and queues due to local and regional growth (yet manageable).
• Growth in downtown will incrementally add to the travel times and queues.
PARKING OUTCOMES
• Despite current parking congestion and future demand, available spaces
• Streetscape changes have minimal impact on future parking availability
• 83 - 102 empty on-street spaces within 1 block of the downtown core
• +144 - 212 empty Wheeler Garage spaces
WHAT CAN HELP?
• Strong TDM programs will lead to increases in transit, walking, and bicycling and lessen the effects of increased traffic.
WHY IT’S WORTH IT
Real connections between Downtown, Caltrain, and East San Carlos, with wider sidewalks and meaningful bike facilities.
• + another 51 - 73 spaces within the Plan area
WHAT CAN HELP?
• Parking management strategies (underway).
WHY IT’S WORTH IT
More sidewalk space, better bike lanes, more outdoor dining space, etc.
BIG CHANGES UNDERWAY
DESIGN CHANGES:
• Two new public plazas
• Significantly widened sidewalks (20’)
• Protected bike lanes
• Outdoor dining space
• Urban greenery/ tree groves and rain gardens
• Other amenities such as outdoor seating, festival space, pavilions, public art, drinking fountains, bicycle parking, EV car charging stations, public restrooms
• Improved connection between Downtown, Caltrain, and East San Carlos for all modes of travel
DESIGN OUTCOMES:
• Added downtown vitality, vibrancy
• Improved shopping and dining experience
• Enhanced pedestrian and bicyclist experience
• Increase in visitors
• More space for downtown programming, and activities
• Resulting in people spending more time in downtown San Carlos
Looking ahead in 2025
Celebrating the City Centennial….
