San Mateo County Grand Jury
• 2018-2019
Crystal Springs Regional Trail – Where Do We Go from Here?
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 15 findings
F1
A completed CSRT is envisioned in the Parks Department’s San Mateo County 2001 Trails Plan and later in its April 2019 Ohlone-Portola Heritage Trail Feasibility Study (Heritage Trail Study) as a continuous trail extending from San Bruno to Woodside.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The Heritage Trail Study gives the CSRT gap between the Sawyer Camp and Crystal Springs segments a high priority ranking and presents options for completing the CSRT gap which overlaps with the proposed Heritage Trail.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
In the Heritage Trail Study, the Parks Department has requested that multiple alternatives be considered for completing the one-mile gap and integrating with the proposed roundabout at the Highway 92/35 intersection in the “Connect the Coastside” Comprehensive Transportation Management Plan report.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
The Parks Department has not adopted a schedule for further improvements to close the remaining one-mile gap in the CSRT.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
By March 31, 2020, the Parks Department should present a report to the County Board of Supervisors at a public hearing assessing the options for completing the gap between the Sawyer Camp and Crystal Springs segments of the CSRT.
R4
By September 30, 2019, the County Planning Department, the County Parks Department, the County Office of Sustainability and C/CAG should establish a means of coordinating their planning efforts related to the CSRT, including planning related to the intersection of Highways 92 and 35, just east of the reservoirs, as well as closing the CSRT gap and providing additional access and parking along the Trail.
F5
Five percent of the proceeds from SamTrans’ Measure W (2018) must be used for bicycle, pedestrian, and active transportation projects throughout the County. The Measure presents a possible funding source for helping to close the gap or improve trails like the CSRT .
No recommendations for this finding
F6
Usage among County residents in the CSRT has been increasing.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
The entrance of the Sawyer Camp segment at Crystal Springs Road is the most popular access point along the CSRT.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
Currently on sections of the CSRT and along certain adjacent roads, specifically the area of the gap and the section of Highway 35 between Hayne Road and Crystal Springs Road, bicycle riders and pedestrians must travel along roads with little to no shoulder and along roads that are shared with vehicles entering and exiting the freeway.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
There are three access points north of the Sawyer Camp segment entrance at Crystal Springs Road, covering a span of 8.6 miles. The Parks Department currently has no plans to add additional access points along the CSRT, and it has not asked the SFPUC for additional easements to provide such access.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
By March 31, 2020, the Parks Department should present a report to the County Board of Supervisors at a public hearing assessing the options for providing additional access points along the CSRT north of the Crystal Springs Road entrance to the Sawyer Camp segment.
R4
By September 30, 2019, the County Planning Department, the County Parks Department, the County Office of Sustainability and C/CAG should establish a means of coordinating their planning efforts related to the CSRT, including planning related to the intersection of Highways 92 and 35, just east of the reservoirs, as well as closing the CSRT gap and providing additional access and parking along the Trail.
F10
The Parks Department originally envisioned having more trail entrances, which would more evenly distribute users and reduce parking requirements at individual locations. However, these multiple access points have not been implemented.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
Based on the parking design goals set forth in the San Mateo County 2001 Trails Plan, there is inadequate parking along the 17.5-mile Trail at almost all entrances and intersections north of Highway 92, not only at the Crystal Springs Road entrance, but also at the Larkspur, Hillcrest, and South of Dam Trail extension entrances as well as at the Millbrae, Trousdale, and eastern Highway 92/35 intersections.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
By March 31, 2020, the Parks Department should present a report to the County Board of Supervisors at a public hearing assessing the options for providing additional off-street parking at all intersections as well as at existing and any proposed new entrances along the CSRT north of Highway 92.
F12
The Parks Department has not asked the SFPUC for easements for additional parking spaces along SFPUC land.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
As of March 2019, the Planning Department has not taken the CSRT into account in planning the redesign of the Highway 92/35 intersection proposed in its Connect the Coastside report.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
By September 30, 2019, the County Planning Department, the County Parks Department, the County Office of Sustainability and C/CAG should establish a means of coordinating their planning efforts related to the CSRT, including planning related to the intersection of Highways 92 and 35, just east of the reservoirs, as well as closing the CSRT gap and providing additional access and parking along the Trail.
F14
Four separate studies have been undertaken in 2019 that involve or could involve trail improvements relating to the CSRT, particularly in the area of the Highway 92/35 intersection. The studies are: Connect the Coastside (Planning Department.), the Unincorporated San Mateo County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (Office of Sustainability), an update to the San Mateo County Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (C/CAG), and the Heritage Trail Study (Parks Department). The Heritage Trail Study has been finalized and was recommended for acceptance and approval by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors at their June 25, 2019 meeting.
No recommendations for this finding
F15
The CSRT could experience increased use and benefit from additional funding if the Ohlone-Portola Heritage Trail becomes recognized as a state historic trail.
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 19The Grand Jury concludes that now is the time to investigate how to complete the one-mile gap in the Crystal Springs Regional Trail (CSRT) to create a continuous trail separated from traffic from San Bruno to Woodside. Key considerations for why it is opportune to complete the gap are: The County of San Mateo Planning Department is currently considering redesigning a key intersection in the middle of the CSRT gap between the Sawyer Camp and Crystal Springs segments as part of its “Connect the Coastside” Comprehensive Transportation Management Plan. The recently finalized Heritage Trail Study labels the CSRT gap a high priority and suggests multiple alternatives for completing it. Given that the County’s Planning Department, the County’s Office of Sustainability, and C/CAG are initiating studies in 2019 that concern bicycling and pedestrian use near the gap, cooperation and consultation between these groups could best identify solutions for completing the gap and improving the CSRT overall. Measure W funds that were recently made available with its passage in November 2018 make the timing possibly advantageous for helping to fund improvements to the CSRT. In addition to closing the one-mile gap, the Grand Jury recommends that the Parks Department consider installing new access points north of the Crystal Springs Road entrance of the Sawyer Camp segment and additional off-street parking along the CSRT north of Highway 92 to reduce crowding at the popular Crystal Springs Road entrance. The Grand Jury finds in its investigation that the increased use by more than a half a million visitors annually to the CSRT presents an opportunity for the County to focus attention on this highly valued resource within San Mateo County.
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
County of San Mateo
Agency
North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency
Special District