COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

January 26, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

February 13, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Brian C. Lee, Acting Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Improvements on the Unincorporated Section of Westborough Boulevard from Junipero Serra Boulevard to West Orange Avenue

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Public Works to proceed with the design of the installation of a metal beam guardrail barrier from the west end of an existing metal barrier near West Orange Avenue, westerly towards a landscaped island near Junipero Serra Boulevard, and to proceed with the advertisement for bids for the construction.

Vision Alignment

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety of all.

Goal(s): Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors.

The installation of the metal beam guardrail barrier will improve the traffic safety condition of this section of Westborough Boulevard for the benefit of the public.

Background

Previous Board Action

Directed the Department of Public Works to install an approximately 1,000 foot-long section of metal beam barrier on the median on the unincorporated section of Westborough Boulevard near West Orange Avenue in 2003.

History

The above-mentioned unincorporated section of Westborough Boulevard is part of a major collector that traverses east to west across South San Francisco connecting to Highways 280 and 1. The speed limit for this section of road is 45 mile per hour. However, due to the steep, hilly terrain and absence of any traffic lights and intersections, many motorists travel down this section at speeds much faster than the speed limit.

Among the accidents that have occurred on Westborough Boulevard, two (2) crossover collisions attributable to excessive speed, one in 1998, and the other in 2006, resulted in fatalities. The aforementioned metal beam barrier constructed in 2003 provides a barrier along a curve near the bottom of this section of road.

Discussion

The Mayor of the City of South San Francisco (SSF), Joseph Fernekes, wrote a letter dated August 15, 2006 to the Board of Supervisors President Supervisor Jerry Hill. The letter addressed a fatality that occurred on August 9, 2006, as a result of a crossover accident on the unincorporated section of Westborough Boulevard, and requesting that a metal beam barrier be installed on the median island to the west of the current guardrail.

In response to the letter, the San Mateo Department of Public Works evaluated and reported on several options that could improve the traffic safety on this section of Westborough Boulevard, including the installation of cable barrier at the median, the creation of a wider median by closing one east bound lane, and the installation of metal beam barrier at the median. After evaluating traffic volumes, Public Works recommended the closing of one eastbound lane, which would result in the widening of the median by 13.5 feet. San Mateo County responded to the City of South San Francisco offering to eliminate this lane and to construct a curb along the edge of the active lane in order to effectively widen the median area.

After the SSF City Council reviewed the County’s proposal, Barry Nagel, City Manager of South San Francisco, indicated that the City Council did not agree to the County proposal and that it unanimously supported the installation of a metal beam guardrail and requested San Mateo County Public Works to proceed with the installation. It also indicated the City Council’s desire to improve the aesthetic quality of the guardrail, perhaps with paint.

Description of options considered:

1)

The cable barrier option would be installed at the existing 4 foot-wide median consisting of flexible steel cables stretched between metal posts. However, this option usually requires a median of at least 24 feet in order for it to be effective. The cost of this work is estimated to be $140,000.

2)

The wider median option consists of closing and converting the inside lane in the eastbound direction into a median consisting of 8” asphalt concrete berm backfilled with permeable material for drainage. This would provide an approximately 17 foot-wide safety zone between the eastbound and westbound traffic. However, the reduction from two (2) lanes to one (1) lane may adversely affect the traffic flow through this section of roadway. The cost of widening the median, as described above, is estimated at $90,000.

3)

The option of the installation of a metal beam guardrail barrier connecting the existing west end of the existing barrier up to the landscaped median near Junipero Serra Boulevard was also evaluated. The guardrail would be installed at the existing 4 foot-wide median, providing an additional 2 feet
8 inches of vertical physical barrier between the opposing traffic. This option would prevent vehicles from crossing over the median and causing head-on collisions. The cost of the metal beam guardrail is estimated to be $230,000. We do not recommend painting of the guardrail, as the existing guardrail on the eastern end is made of galvanized steel, which provides visible safety advantage over the aesthetic value of paint finish. We proposed to match the same finish as the existing guardrail. The plan and specifications could be completed by March 2007, and advertised immediately thereafter. A construction contract could be presented to your Board for approval by
April 2007, and installation could be completed by June 2007.

A resolution has been approved as to form by County Counsel.

Fiscal Impact

The estimated cost of construction for the metal beam guardrail barrier is $230,000. The City of South San Francisco has offered to contribute a 17 percent (17%) cost share towards the construction, as the City estimates that 17 percent (17%) of this section of road is within its jurisdiction. This would result in the following estimated funding distribution:

San Mateo County

$191,000

City of South San Francisco

$ 39,000

Road Funds are available to finance this work.

Currently scheduled Road Fund projects equivalent in value to the cost of the guardrail installation would have to be adjusted for this year’s budget for this work to be financed.

There is no impact to the General Fund.