CITY OF SAN MATEO
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CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 9 Section Name: OLD BUSINESS Account Number: 10-4661 File ID: 25-10126 TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Public Works Department
MEETING DATE: September 15, 2025
SUBJECT:
19th Avenue / Fashion Island Boulevard Multimodal Improvement Project — Informational Update RECOMMENDATION:
Receive an informational update on the initial design plans for the 19th Avenue / Fashion Island Boulevard Multimodal Improvement Project and provide feedback about the proposed design and outreach efforts.
BACKGROUND:
The 19th Avenue / Fashion Island Boulevard Multimodal Improvement Project (Project), is a comprehensive effort to enhance safety, accessibility, and operational efficiency along this key east/west corridor for all roadway users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. The project extends approximately 1.3 miles, from Pacific Boulevard to Mariners Island Boulevard.
This Project is the result of combining two previously separate initiatives: the Fashion Island Class IV Bikeway Project and the Norfolk Street and Fashion Island Boulevard Intersection Reconstruction Project. The bikeway component was originally identified as a priority improvement through the 19th Avenue / Fashion Island Boulevard Smart Corridor and Mobility Hub Study, which recommended enhanced bicycle infrastructure to improve multimodal connectivity. Separately, the intersection reconstruction project was funded with the goal of addressing vehicular congestion and improving traffic flow at a key junction.
To maximize efficiency and deliver a more integrated solution, the two efforts have been consolidated into a single, corridor-wide project. The updated Project scope and name reflect this unified approach, which seeks to fulfill the original multimodal, safety, and congestion relief objectives in a cohesive and coordinated manner.
This multi-agency initiative, sponsored by the City with the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) as the lead implementation agency, has an estimated cost of $27 million, funded through various local and federal sources.
The Project is in the initial design stage and includes the following key improvements:
Vehicle Congestion Relief: Significant congestion has been identified in the eastbound direction along the 19th Avenue / Fashion Island Boulevard corridor, particularly during the afternoon peak period. In response, the City conducted a comprehensive corridor analysis in 2021 to evaluate potential improvements aimed at relieving congestion and improving traffic operations.
As part of this analysis, the Norfolk Street intersection was identified as a primary bottleneck in the eastbound direction. The study concluded that in order to address this constraint, the intersection would need to be reconfigured to provide an additional eastbound through lane to accommodate the observed vehicle demand.
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While this can be partially addressed by modifying the existing median just west of the intersection to create space for another lane, the analysis also determined that a bottleneck would remain at the Seal Slough bridge, which currently provides only one eastbound lane and two westbound lanes.
To support this finding, a recently completed traffic count confirmed that eastbound traffic volumes during the afternoon peak are approximately 50 percent higher than westbound volumes in the morning, despite the eastbound direction having only a single travel lane. The 2021 corridor study evaluated and recommended a lane reconfiguration over the Seal Slough bridge, from two westbound and one eastbound lane to one westbound and two eastbound lanes, to better align with actual traffic patterns.
Initial traffic analysis for the Project shows a substantial reduction in eastbound queue lengths, primarily due to the removal of much of the median just west of the Norfolk Street intersection. This benefit is further supported by the proposed reconfiguration of lanes over the Seal Slough bridge to two eastbound and one westbound lane.
These congestion improvements will come with some tradeoffs for other directions of traffic at the Norfolk Street / Fashion Island Blvd intersection. These findings will be discussed further during the meeting.
As part of the Project, the City would implement intersection modifications, including the lane configuration changes as well as modified signal timing at Norfolk Street, and the bridge lane reconfiguration to two (2) eastbound lanes and one (1) westbound lane. These improvements are intended to reduce corridor congestion, address long- standing traffic concerns, and improve traffic flow during peak periods. Protected Bikeway Facility: The Project includes a Class IV protected bike lane along the entire length of the corridor. Class IV facilities are physically separated from vehicle traffic using concrete medians, curbs, posts, or other barriers. These facilities improve safety and comfort by minimizing conflicts between people biking and motor vehicles. The corridor is identified as a medium-high priority project in the City’s Bicycle Master Plan.
A two-way protected bikeway is proposed on the south side of 19th Avenue from Pacific Boulevard to the YMCA parking lot, helping riders avoid SR-92 off- and on-ramp traffic on the west end of the corridor. From the YMCA to Mariners Island Boulevard, the design shifts to one-way protected bike lanes on each side of the street, which are more familiar to most road users and provide better connections to surrounding bike networks. Pedestrian Enhancements: The Project includes ADA-compliant curb ramps, high-visibility and raised crosswalks, pedestrian-scale lighting, and protected intersections designed to improve safety and visibility while reducing conflicts between people walking, biking, and driving.
Also proposed with the Project is a new pedestrian walkway on the south side of the Seal Slough bridge, which will close a critical gap in the pedestrian network along the corridor. Currently, sidewalk exists only on the north side of the bridge, requiring pedestrians to cross the street multiple times to reach destinations on the south side.
Completing the south side walkway will improve pedestrian safety by providing a continuous and direct path, reducing the number of street crossings required in areas with complex intersection geometry and freeway ramp connections.
Signal Modifications: Five intersections along the corridor will be upgraded with modern signal hardware and new timing plans to support all modes. Several of these signals fall under Caltrans jurisdiction, including the 19th Avenue / Delaware Street / SR-92 Eastbound On- and Off-ramps and Fashion Island Blvd / US-101 Southbound On- and Off- Ramps. Signal upgrades will improve operations and safety while accommodating new bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
Parking Constraints and Corridor Widening: Between Pacific Boulevard and Grant Street, the existing roadway width cannot accommodate all proposed uses, including protected bikeways, travel lanes, and on-street parking.
To address this, the project proposes widening the roadway on the north side using previously unused right-of-
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way, enabling multimodal improvements while maintaining parking access for adjacent users.
Currently, there are approximately 64 on-street parking spaces in this segment. The widening will allow preservation of about 43 spaces. As the design process continues, the project team will be reviewing the potential to retain additional parking spaces in this area. While the widening cost is significant, staff has incorporated it into the design to support nearby businesses, residents, and other corridor users.
On the east side of the Seal Slough Bridge, currently underutilized parking will be reduced from 25 to 11 spaces to accommodate expanded bikeways and improved intersection design in line with project goals. Stormwater and Maintenance Considerations: The design also includes green infrastructure features for stormwater management and has been developed in coordination with Public Works maintenance staff to ensure long-term maintainability of new facilities.
FUNDING AND SCHEDULE
The total estimated cost of the 19th Avenue / Fashion Island Boulevard Multimodal Improvement Project, including planning, design, environmental clearance, and construction, is around $27 million. Of this amount, the City of San Mateo has budgeted approximately $500,000 to date, with the remaining funding anticipated to come from a combination of local and federal sources.
The construction phase of the project is estimated to cost around $25 million, of which approximately $6.5 million in construction funding has been secured to date. This includes $3.85 million in federal funds obtained on the Project’s behalf by the TA. These federal funds are being used to satisfy the local match requirement typically met through City contributions, significantly reducing the City's financial obligation for the Project. To help close the remaining funding gap for construction, the City is actively working with the TA to secure additional funding through the TA’s Highway Program, which may provide up to 75 percent of the total project cost in grant funding. Even with this maximum contribution, the Project may still face a funding shortfall of approximately $1 million.
City staff continue to pursue all available funding sources to ensure the Project remains fully funded. At the same time, it is critical that the City meets all deadlines and requirements associated with the federal funds already secured for the project. Failure to meet these deadlines could result in the loss of this funding, which would be extremely difficult to replace given the scale and regional significance of the Project. Without these federal funds, the Project would face a significant risk of delay or cancellation due to a substantial funding shortfall.
Given the accelerated schedule required to keep the Project on track for continued funding eligibility, the Project team is actively developing a delivery strategy that prioritizes timing and funding requirements. While the current schedule is achievable, it will require a highly streamlined approach. As such, the team may need to forego certain typical project milestones or administrative steps, such as extended design reviews or phased bidding, in order to maintain the aggressive timeline. Staff are coordinating closely with funding and regulatory partners to ensure that the necessary approvals and documentation are completed without delay.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & STAKEHOLDER COORDINATION
As part of the formal design phase for the 19th Avenue / Fashion Island Boulevard Multimodal Improvement Project, the City has planned two community meetings to gather public input and provide Project updates, the first of which was held in mid-July. In addition to the first community meeting, staff presented the Project design to the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission on August 13th to obtain their early feedback on the Project. Feedback from these engagement efforts are described further within this section and will be included in staff’s presentation. The next community meeting is currently being planned for early November, and staff are reviewing the Project schedule to determine if one additional community meeting can be included before completing the Project design.
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Community Meeting
The first community meeting was held on July 15, 2025, following completion of the 35 percent design milestone. This milestone represents an appropriate time to seek community feedback, as many Project components have been refined since the planning phase, but detailed design work has not yet commenced, allowing for adjustments based on input received. This meeting marked the first formal opportunity for public engagement during the design phase.
To increase accessibility and participation, an online survey was launched concurrently with the community meeting and remained open from June 25 through July 23. Outreach to promote the meeting and survey included the distribution of approximately 10,000 mailers to residents and businesses within the project area. Additionally, nearly 50 A-frame posters were installed throughout the corridor and in surrounding neighborhoods to raise awareness at the pedestrian and bicyclist level. Social media messaging was also utilized to further expand outreach and encourage community participation.
The online survey received over 150 responses, a strong level of engagement given the survey contained 17 questions and required approximately 10 minutes to complete. The in-person meeting was attended by more than 50 community members. The feedback gathered will inform further design refinements ahead of the second community meeting.
At the July 15th community workshop, a live poll showed attendees were split between prioritizing bicycle and pedestrian improvements and addressing congestion relief. While many arrived with concerns about congestion, discussions around the proposed solutions helped address those concerns. However, there was general interest in reviewing the traffic analysis before forming a final opinion. Many attendees expressed strong support for the bike and pedestrian improvements, though some questioned the proposed transition between one-way and two-way facilities at the YMCA parking lot intersection, preferring a location near Grant Street/Ginnever Street for better connectivity to existing bike routes.
In the online survey, respondents slightly favored bike and pedestrian safety improvements over congestion relief. There was broad support for key elements of the Project, including the lane reconfiguration over the Seal Slough Bridge. The proposed bikeway transition location between one-way and two-way facilities at the YMCA parking lot intersection also received support, though responses were more mixed compared to other elements in the survey, indicating some community hesitation.
Meetings with Residents
Following the initial community meeting, several residents representing communities largely from the east side of the US- 101 requested targeted meetings with staff requesting additional detail and clarity about the proposed 19th Avenue / Fashion Island Boulevard corridor changes. Staff met with residents on August 25th and again on September 8th. The residents wanted to ensure that congestion improvements, specifically for eastbound traffic congestion in the afternoon, were being incorporated into the project. Staff provided preliminary traffic analysis findings for this group and identified the benefits the project will provide to traffic congestion, which will be further elaborated during the Council presentation.
Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission Feedback
Public feedback was provided during the Commission meeting, with many speakers expressing strong support for enhanced multimodal facilities along the corridor. Several commenters emphasized safety concerns near the ARCO gas station and highlighted the importance of improving conditions for middle school students who use the corridor to cross US-101 to reach Bayside Academy. Others stressed the importance of including traffic congestion relief as a key component of the Project and noted that bike lane implementation should not compromise needed vehicle capacity improvements. The need for pedestrian-scale lighting, particularly across the Seal Slough bridge, was also raised.
Commission comments and questions reflected a range of priorities and considerations. Some Commissioners expressed interest in completing the sidewalk network on the north side of 19th Avenue between Grant Street and the YMCA parking lot. Others sought clarification on the traffic analysis, including whether the proposed improvements in the eastbound direction might introduce additional delays for westbound traffic. Questions were also raised about ensuring emergency vehicle access, the importance of clearly communicating with all relevant stakeholders, and whether preserving on-street
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parking should take priority over constructing a new sidewalk segment along the north side of the corridor.
Stakeholder Engagement
In addition to community engagement, staff have coordinated with other key stakeholders to gather input on the project.
Staff have held detailed discussions with SamTrans, as well as the Police and Fire Departments, to ensure the Project design reflects the operational needs of each agency. Input from Police and Fire will be incorporated into the design, including considerations for emergency vehicle access, signal preemption, and traffic control. Similarly, feedback from SamTrans regarding transit operations and stop configurations will be integrated. Public Works maintenance teams have also reviewed the draft plans and provided input on maintenance access, street sweeping routes, and infrastructure durability, all of which will be factored into the final design.
Community and stakeholder engagement will continue throughout the upcoming phases of the Project to ensure the design remains responsive to input and operational needs.
Additional information about the Project can be found on the project webpage at www.cityofsanmateo.org/19thFIB, including the Concept Design as well as a Project Fact Sheet.
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no budget impact to receive this informational update.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This Council action in receiving an informational update and providing feedback for the Project is not a “project” subject to CEQA review, in that it consists of the planning for possible future actions which the City has not approved, adopted, or funded. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15262.)
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 – Preliminary Design
Att 2 – Public Comment
STAFF CONTACT
Bethany Lopez, Senior Engineer
[email protected]
(650) 522-7313