REIMAGINE DUMBARTON In Partnership with
Town of Atherton Council Presentation
October 21, 2026
Agenda
• Project Overview
• Recap of Community Engagement Phase I
• Proposed Project Design Concepts
• Ways to Provide Input and Next Steps
2 Project Overview
What is Reimagine Dumbarton?
Reimagine Dumbarton is a vision to transform a
former freight rail line into a 5-mile busway and
walking and bicycling trail between Redwood
City and East Palo Alto.
4 Why Reimagine Dumbarton?
Today, the Dumbarton corridor is underutilized and creates a barrier between communities. Reimagine Dumbarton would:
• Reconnect communities
• Create new walking and bicycling connections and improve access to neighborhoods, community destinations, jobs, and the regional transportation network • Provide faster, more reliable transit
• Strengthen local and regional connections through zero-emission bus service • Incorporate active transportation and community place-making • Design a project compatible with bicycle and pedestrian uses • Respond to changing travel needs and bring improvements soon • Address transportation needs of recent and future development now while preserving flexibility for a rail project in the future
5 What could Reimagine Dumbarton Include?
Fast, reliable and frequent transit
• A dedicated busway with nine new bus
stations
• Connections to Redwood City Transit
Center, Caltrain, and regional bus
services
A continuous walking and bicycling trail
• Nearly 4 miles of paved trail between
the Bay Trail at University Ave (East
Palo Alto) and Middlefield Road (North
Fair Oaks)
Community Access and Place-Making
• 15 new access points, including
new pedestrian/bicycle crossings
• Opportunities for recreation,
community spaces, and landscaping
6 Community Engagement Phase I
Community Engagement Phase 1 (Jan-March 2026)
• 11 pop-up events (476 interactions)
• 2 community meetings
• Survey (>1,000 responses)
• Stakeholder Working Group Meeting
• 15+ Roadshow presentations
8 Community Engagement Phase 1 - Key Takeaways
• Community priorities:
• Better regional connectivity, particularly
through more connections to Caltrain,
BART, and the East Bay
• Increased transit access to more places
• Improvements to transit speed and
reliability
• New opportunities for biking and walking
along the Corridor, as well as access to
new greenspaces
• Existing rail corridor is a barrier
• Opportunity for busway to address
existing issues associated with
underutilized rail corridor
• Questions related to noise, privacy,
impacts on development
9 Better
connections to
Caltrain and
regional buses
New
opportunities
for recreation,
bicycling, and
active
transportation
Connect to
more places on
transit
More places to
cross the
corridor on
foot or bike
New public
spaces like
parklets and
community
amenities like
seating and
tables
Improve
crossings and
flow across the
corridor for
vehicle traffic
Make buses
faster and
more reliable
Bus service
that comes
more often
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
Please select up to three priorities for ways
transportation can be improved near or on the
Dumbarton Corridor.
Proposed Project Design
Alternatives
The Corridor Today
11 Double Track Configuration Single Track Configuration The Project In the Future
12 Proposed Mid-Block
Proposed At Stations
Note: Alternative paved trail markings are being considered Transit Service Enhancements
13 • Fast, reliable transit • Up to 8 buses per hour (service every 7.5 minutes)
• 13 minutes travel time from
University Avenue to
Middlefield Road
• 9 new bus stations • Bus station every ½ mile or
less
• Station access • Primarily by walking, bicycling,
micromobility, and connecting
transit
• Parking is not planned at
stations
Active Transportation Improvements
14 • Continuous four-mile paved
walking and bicycling trail
• Connections to Bay Trail
• Estimated to be used by 1,000+
people daily
• Faster bicycle trips and access
for all
• Significantly reduce bicycle travel
times between key destinations
• More comfortable bicycling
experience for users of all ages &
abilities
Separated Bike/Ped Trail
New Crossing over US-101
15 Existing Conditions/Cross Section Proposed Conditions/Cross Section Community Access and Place-Making
16 • 15 new access points,
including new crossings for
people walking and bicycling
• Opportunities for small
recreational spaces or
community gathering spaces
• Inclusion of additional green
space
Potential Recreational Opportunity Areas
17 Fitness/Exercise Playground Gathering Spaces Dog Park Next Steps and Getting Involved
Project Schedule and Next Steps
19 We Want to Hear from You!
20 • Now is your chance to help refine the designs for the busway and trail project, before a preferred alternative is selected in early 2027!
• Scan the QR code to visit the project website and share feedback on project designs through a survey, open now
through October 30, 2026.
• Visit samtrans.com/dumbarton
• Email the project team at [email protected]
• Call SamTrans Customer Service at 1-800-660-4287
• Free interpretation assistance is available.
• Para traducción llame al 1-800-660-4287.
• 如需要翻译，请电 1-800-660-4287.
Thank You!
This project is made possible by local transportation sales tax dollars from the San Mateo County Transportation Authority and Regional Measure 3 funds through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.