SAN MATEO
CITYWIDE COMPLETE
STREETS PLAN
Phase 2 Engagement Report
Summary of Phase 2 Engagement
Activity Insights
Insights by Transportation Mode
High Need Corridor Comments
Overarching Highlights
Community Engagement Learnings
OUTLINE
SUMMARY OF PHASE 2
ENGAGEMENT
September 14,, 2023
September Nights on B
Street (22 participants)
Shoreview-Parkside
Meeting
(~ 30 participants)
November 28, 2023
Baywood Elementary PTA
Meeting (20 participants)
October 26, 2023
Hillsdale High School
Student Focus Group
(~ 14 participants)
November 14, 2023
Sunnybrae Elementary
Parent Focus Group
(15 participants)
October 27, 2023
ACTIVITY INSIGHTS
September Nights on B Street (22 participants)
Baywood Elementary PTA Meeting (20 participants)
Key highlights gathered from specific
engagement activities
• Emphasizing the importance of educating bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers on road rules to improve safety and cooperation among all road users.
• Introducing first and last mile transit solutions, improving SamTrans frequency and reliability, and tackling congestion and parking challenges associated with new developments.
• Introduction of pedestrian and bicyclist visibility measures, including advanced crosswalk signals and flashing beacons, coupled with speed deterrence infrastructure such as roundabouts and speed bumps to enhance street safety and manage parking congestion. • Need to address illegal U-turns and speeding, particularly during school hours around Alameda de las Pulgas.
• Participants suggested the installation of more stop signs or signals to effectively reduce speeding in the area.
• Emphasized the need for improved coordination between city officials, schools, and construction authorities to avoid scheduling conflicts during critical school hours. There was interest in understanding why the school hasn't been included in the 'Safe Routes to School' program
ACTIVITY INSIGHTS
Sunnybrae Elementary Parent Focus Group
(15 participants)
Hillsdale High School Student Focus Group
(~ 14 participants)
Key highlights gathered from specific
engagement activities (continued)
• There is a need for more safety infrastructure to ensure bikers and pedestrians are better seen at busy corridors and intersections. • There is a need for more connections on the commute to and from school and at key City destinations such as Hillsdale Mall and the Hillsdale Caltrain Station
• There is a recognized need for additional painting on curbs near intersections to prevent parking that obstructs visibility. • Concerns about speeding vehicles, leading to a call for more enforcement to ensure safer roads. Additionally, parents lack confidence in allowing their children to travel to school alone, following incidents where children were hit/nearly hit by vehicles. • Timing of road construction, sweeping, and maintenance needs better coordination with the city and schools.
ACTIVITY INSIGHTS
Shoreview-Parkside Meeting
(~ 30 participants)
Key highlights gathered from specific
engagement activities (continued)
• Key discussions revolved around tackling speeding, stop sign violations, and poor intersection visibility. Solutions proposed were flashing stop signs near schools, better street sign visibility, speed bumps, and coordinated traffic control with schools.
• Emphasis was placed on improving east-west neighborhood connectivity. Suggestions included constructing safer pedestrian bridges, shuttle services to reduce traffic, and integrating pedestrian, bike, and vehicle traffic safely, particularly in congested areas.
• Concerns were raised about the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians in high-traffic and school zones. Proposals focused on creating dedicated bike lanes, redesigning bike trails for safety, and ensuring ADA compliance for bus stops. Reevaluating the Fashion Island Blvd bike lane was also considered.
• The importance of community engagement in public safety and preparedness for emergencies like earthquakes or tsunamis was highlighted. This included public safety campaigns and planning evacuation routes.
7 PEDESTRIAN NETWORK
• Intersection safety: Residents expressed concerns about dangerous intersections emphasizing the need for additional safety measures. • Pedestrian crossings: Community members highlight difficulties in crossing major roads like El Camino Real during daylight hours, suggesting the installation of more crosswalks and stop signs.
• Infrastructure visibility: Faded stop sign street signage throughout Parkside raises visibility concerns, calling for measures like red paint on corners to prevent parking and enhance safety.
• General safety: Overall, there were requests for improved safety and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, encompassing diverse issues such as crosswalks, stop signs, and street maintenance.
General themes from community feedback
8 BICYCLE NETWORK
• Infrastructure safety: Residents emphasize the need for safety measures in bike infrastructure, including improved signage and dedicated bike lanes in high-traffic areas and at unsafe intersections.
• Connectivity: Connectivity: Calls for better bike connectivity, such as new bike paths near the Boys and Girls Club in the North Shoreview neighborhood, highlight the importance of expanding the bike network. • Trail promotion: Community members called for collaboration with the City of San Mateo to create new bike trails, accompanied by the installation of bike stop lights at critical intersections. This suggestion underscores the importance of actively promoting and expanding the city's network of bike trails.
• Speed deterrence: Improving the effectiveness of sharrows/bike boulevards on residential streets to prevent speeding on long city blocks is recommended, focusing on speed deterrence infrastructure. 9 TRANSIT NETWORK
• Connectivity improvement: Requests for better transit connectivity, especially east-west routes, underscore the need for enhanced transit options to serve the community effectively.
• Infrastructure enhancement: Suggestions for additional bus stops, shelters, and ADA-compliant facilities highlight the importance of improving transit infrastructure.
• Reliability concerns: Concerns about bus delays and unpredictability point to the need for more frequent and reliable transit services. • Accessibility: Calls for improved transit options, especially for people with disabilities, emphasize the importance of making public transportation more accessible.
General themes from community feedback
10 AUTO NETWORK
• Traffic congestion: Residents express concerns about traffic congestion at key locations during commute hours, suggesting solutions like stop signs, speed bumps, and enhanced safety measures.
• Intersection safety: There are numerous calls for improved safety at various intersections, including requests for stop signs, speed bumps, and coordination with construction companies to minimize conflicts. • Aggressive driving: Concerns about speeding, aggressive driving, and non- compliance with traffic rules are prevalent, indicating a need for increased enforcement and road safety education.
• Parking issues: Parking-related challenges and suggestions for designated parking for work trucks are highlighted, emphasizing the need for better management of parking spaces.
General themes from community feedback
11 Other General Comments
• General safety concerns: Overall concerns about traffic safety, speeding, and non-compliance with road rules suggest a need for increased public safety education and enforcement.
• Emergency preparedness: Residents express concerns about the city's emergency preparedness, emphasizing the importance of designing ways to move around in case of emergencies.
• Pedestrian-friendly infrastructure: Recommendations for pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and safety enhancements are highlighted, encompassing various aspects of road safety.
• Light pollution and congestion: Concerns about light pollution, traffic congestion due to new projects, and overall city growth reflect broader community apprehensions.
General themes from community feedback
12 High Need Corridor Comments
1. 31st Avenue (4) - General speeding concerns, making it unsafe for pedestrians/cyclists
2. 3rd Avenue/J Hart Clinton Dr (7) - Many commercial vehicles parked; inconsistent bike lanes, especially crossing 3rd from east (merges onto sidewalk)
3. Alameda de Las Pulgas (10) - Curves and hills near schools creates dangerous crossing and travel conditions for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
4. El Camino Real (5) - Maintenance, visibility, and bicycle/pedestrian safety concerns
5. Fashion Island Blvd (6) - high congestion; ingress/egress onto 101 is dangerous for bicyclists to cross
6. Grant St (2) - Need for better safety measures for pedestrians and bicyclists.
7. Hillsdale Blvd (7)- dangerous conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists
8. Monte Diablo Ave (2) - Need for improved visibility, lighting, and maintenance
9. Norfolk St (7) - unsafe intersections and mobility for bikes; need of infrastructure improvements
10.Poplar Ave (1) - Narrow streets, many cars parked on sidewalk Top ten corridors identified in Phase 1 as high need are confirmed by community with many providing comments specifically on the following:
• Automobile speeding continues to be a
major concern among residents,
indicating a need for more traffic
calming measures.
• Limited visibility at intersections
creates dangerous crossing conditions
for bicyclists and pedestrians for both
wide and narrow roads
• Pedestrian and bicyclists feel generally
unsafe moving throughout much of
San Mateo, citing aggressive drivers,
infrastructure, and road design.
• Need for public agencies and school
districts to better communicate about
ensuring construction, sweeps, etc.
don’t coincide with school hours.
OVERARCHING
HIGHLIGHTS
Pictures to the right were gathered from June 2023 Walking Tour What worked well:
• Leveraged connections with community leadership and school district connections to plan and organize targeted focus groups and workshops. • Provided Spanish speaking support at all pop up engagement events and at focus groups as necessary.
• Engaged with youth via focus group with Hillsdale High School students. • Leveraged large City events (Nights on B Street) to gather input from residents from all over the City.
14 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
LEARNINGS
What improvements should be made:
• Ensure there is geographic diversity among all events from the beginning of the engagement phase.
• Better preparation for multilingual engagement experiences to ensure every voice is heard and respected.