What Does the Poplar Avenue Interchange Mean For Burlingame?

When San Mateo officials asked Burlingame City Council members what they thoughts of constructing a southbound off-ramp from Highway 101 onto Peninsula Avenue they were met with a unified, resounding no.

However, this puts the council at odds with the Burlingame Chamber of Commerce, which San Mateo Public Works Engineer Gary Heap said sent a letter asking that this option remain under consideration, even though San Mateo officials had taken it off the table.

“We’ve been waiting a lifetime trying to get an exit off the 101 onto Peninsula,” said Kent Putnam of Putnam Auto. “It affects us and all of our customers.”

Heap visited the City Council to gather feedback on proposed changes to the Poplar Avenue/Highway 101 interchange. In its current construction, it creates traffic hazards, as southbound drivers zoom off the highway with no traffic light or stop sign and traffic backs up on Poplar Avenue and Amphlett Boulevard as drivers wait to use the southbound on-ramp.

To solve this problem, San Mateo employees narrowed down possibilities to two solutions: one placing a median down Poplar Avenue from Highway 101 through Idaho Street with a westbound left-hand turn lane and another closing the southbound off-ramp altogether. A third option, closing both ramps and moving them to Peninsula Avenue, had been taken off the table, but the Burlingame Chamber of Commerce urged it be replaced, citing benefits to businesses, especially to the car dealerships in the area.

However, councilmembers disagreed these benefits justified the ramp, which Councilmember Cathy Baylock said would turn residential streets into feeder streets.

Councilmembers similarly disliked the option closing the Poplar off-ramp.

“If you close off the Poplar off-ramp, where does someone getting off go?” said Mayor Jerry Deal. “I suspect anyone going south would not go all the way down to Third Avenue and backtrack. They would end of getting off at Broadway.”

The Councilmembers’ consensus was the best option was the first option of placing a median on Poplar Avenue, a suggestion Heap will take back to San Mateo for consideration.

What do you think of the options? Which is the best? Do you agree with the City Council?