Item No. 8
Town of Atherton
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT – REGULAR AGENDA
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
FROM: ROBERT OVADIA, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
DATE: MAY 20, 2026
SUBJECT: PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND DIRECTION REGARDING THE
SAMTRANS REIMAGINE DUMBARTON STUDY
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Council review and provide feedback to staff regarding the Reimagine Dumbarton Study being conducted by SamTrans and advise if a position letter should be prepared and sent by the Mayor.
BACKGROUND
The Dumbarton rail corridor extends across the San Francisco Bay and connects Redwood City and Union City for the purpose of freight transport. Prior to the completion of the Dumbarton rail bridge and extension in 1910, transcontinental freight destined for San Francisco was unloaded in Oakland and ferried across the Bay, or trains detoured through San Jose and Santa Clara, using the Peninsula Corridor to San Francisco. Freight use of the Dumbarton rail crossing stopped in 1982, and a suspected arson fire destroyed part of the western timber trestle approaching the Dumbarton Rail Bridge in January 1998. Dumbarton rail corridor has been studied multiple times, since rail use was discontinued, with efforts predominantly focused on regional transportation solutions, including the potential for reconstructing a bay crossing.
The current Reimagine Dumbarton project, which began in late 2025, is a new effort to study the Dumbarton Corridor. Per SamTrans’ Fact Sheet and public presentation materials (Attachments 1 and 2, respectively), SamTrans is reimagining the unused Dumbarton freight railroad line to bring fast, reliable, zero emission bus service and improvements for people biking and walking to the communities of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven (Menlo Park), Redwood City, Atherton, and North Fair Oaks. Reimagine Dumbarton will also identify opportunities to use the Dumbarton Corridor to provide access to community destinations, local and regional job centers, and the regional transportation network.
The study effort completed its initial data collection phase, including identification of needs and Reimagine Dumbarton Study
MAY 20, 2026
is currently in the process of developing potential project alternative designs. Following community engagement, SamTrans plans to select a preferred alternative by Fall 2026, at which point, they will continue their public engagement efforts and develop a potential implementation plan.
Samtrans made a presentation to the Transportation, Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee regarding the current efforts to reimagine the Dumbarton Corridor and encouraged public input through their survey efforts.
ANALYSIS
The Dumbarton corridor is underutilized and poses an opportunity to create a community asset that can benefit area residents and visitors if developed through a thoughtful process including an evaluation of access, services and land uses that may benefit or impact local communities.
Potential benefits include: connectivity with Downtown Redwood City and the Redwood City Transit Center; opportunities for community green spaces, gardens, bio-treatment, tree canopy areas, or other similar enhancements. Limited use as an Emergency Services access route and transit connector can be integrated and associated benefits and impacts reviewed thoroughly.
However, the corridor could also result in unintended land use changes based on current state laws, such as Senate Bill 79, which increases state-mandated densities based on proximity to public transit facilities. Depending on the frequency of transit service, the corridor could eventually become a Bus Rapid Transit Route, due to its dedicated right-of-way. Such a designation could change property development rights and patterns converting current single family zoning areas into high-density, multi-family and mixed-use development areas.
Though valuable to link high-density housing to quality active transportation routes and reliable transit, making sure that it is done in a thoughtful, context sensitive manner is important. The corridor also crosses major roadways and must include appropriate safety measures to facilitate active transportation uses and crossings, as well as the management of vehicular crossings and impacts to the existing roadway network.
As shown on the fact sheet, the current proposal appears to include access points and transit stops near University Avenue, Chilco Street, Highway 101, Willow Road, Marsh Road, Fifth Avenue, Middlefield Road, and Woodside Road, with a connector to the Redwood City Transit Hub.
Though close in proximity to the Town of Atherton, the proposed access point and transit stops at Marsh Road, would be virtually inaccessible to Atherton residents. The Lindenwood neighborhood predominantly does not have direct access to either Bay Road or Marsh Road. The street right-ofway along Bay Road and along Marsh Road (from Fair Oaks Avenue to Bay Road) are outside of the Town’s jurisdiction. Both Bay Road and March Road lack requisite infrastructure to support and encourage pedestrians and cyclists in Atherton to access the corridor. Therefore, to maximize the connectivity benefits to the Town, public works improvements would be required that are beyond the Town’s jurisdictional limits and control.
Additionally, State land use policies and regulations encourage high-density housing near transit routes regardless of accessibility and further restrict the ability of jurisdictions to manage such Reimagine Dumbarton Study
MAY 20, 2026
development and to require implementation and/or funding of public improvements to provide such access. With these limitations, should development of the corridor move forward, it would be important that it include requisite infrastructure improvements to provide reliable access to all served by and impacted by such repurposing of the corridor. Under the state’s density bonus law, developers may also waive required infrastructure improvements. Therefore, there is not certainty these improvements will be made if not included in the program.
The City Council has the opportunity to discuss the benefits and impacts of the repurposing of the Dumbarton Corridor and can discuss the level of support for the project and if they desire to send a letter to SamTrans, the Transportation Authority, and/or other elected officials regarding the study.
FISCAL IMPACT
None at this time.
GOAL ALIGNMENT
This Report and its contents are in alignment with the following Council Policy Goals:
• Goal A - Preserve Small Town Character & Quality of Life • Goal D - Be Forward Thinking
• Goal E - Maintain and Improve Public Infrastructure
POLICY FOCUS
The policy focus for this item related to the potential benefits and impacts of the current Reimagine Dumbarton efforts.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notification was achieved by posting the agenda, with this agenda item being listed, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting in print and electronically. Information about the project is also disseminated via the Town’s electronic News Flash and Atherton Online. There are approximately 1,200 subscribers to the Town’s electronic News Flash publications. Subscribers include residents as well as stakeholders –to include, but be not limited to, media outlets, school districts, Menlo Park Fire Protection District, service provides (water, power, and sewer), and regional elected officials.
COMMISSION/COMMITTEE FEEDBACK/REFERRAL
This item has not been before a Town Committee or Commission
ATTACHMENTS
Reimagine Dumbarton Study
MAY 20, 2026
1. Reimagine Dumbarton Fact Sheet
2. Reimagine Dumbarton TBPSC Presentation