City of San Mateo
City Council Meeting
POST PACKET
PUBLIC COMMENT
1 From: Anna Lieb
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2025 2:50 PM
To: Clerk
Subject: 19th Ave / Fashion Island Blvd project: please put safety first! Dear City Council,
I am a resident of San Mateo. I get around our city by walking, biking, and driving. I'm writing to express my hope that you will move forward with much-needed improvements to the 19th / Fashion Island Blvd corridor and that you will prioritize the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-motorists as you do so.
This corridor is a vital link between East San Mateo and the rest of the city, and many people need it to get to and from school, work, or errands. I personally have ridden on this corridor to access Target and other destinations in Foster City. Sometimes I have used part of it along my commute to work. Even as a very experienced cyclist, I find several of the intersections along this route terrifying. Collision data supports my intuition that these intersections are not safe!
I think some people will protest that any changes to our streets that do not prioritize vehicles will inconvenience drivers. In the long term, I doubt that will be the case. Providing protected bike lanes and intersection modifications are vital to ensuring that cyclists, pedestrians, and other non-motorists are safe along this corridor. If more people feel safe, more people will be ready to get out of cars and use other means of transportation. And the more people get out of their cars, the less congestion there will be.
Furthermore, the cost of a few extra seconds or minutes of waiting in traffic is a cost of very different magnitude than that of a serious injury or death within our community. Please do not lose sight of this -- safety should be our highest priority design goal!
Please have the vision and courage to move forward with the proposed safety improvements for the 19th Ave / Fashion Island Blvd corridor, especially the protected bike lanes and intersection improvements.
Best regards,
Anna
1 From: Karvin Dassanayake
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2025 2:02 PM
To: Clerk
Subject: Public Comment on Agenda Item 9. 19th Avenue / Fashion Island Boulevard Dear City Council members,
I want to express my support for the amazing efforts in improving pedestrian and cyclist safety on 19th Avenue and Fashion Island Boulevard. I - like 8 coworkers at my company - bike every weekday from Hillsdale Caltrain station to my job near Serramonte Center. This project will astronomically improve my comfort and safety on my daily commute. I believe the staff have done a great job keeping cyclists and pedestrians safe in their proposed designs, and I strongly encourage council members to support this project without forcing concessions that risk the safety of pedestrians or cyclists.
The project benefits the many communities that live, work and play along this corridor including members of the YMCA and even kids at College Park.
Additionally, since I commute in via Caltrain from Redwood City, the success of this project will be a major factor in whether I want to keep working in San Mateo and whether I will continue to patronize the many businesses along the project corridor.
Many commenters may say I am part of some biking conspiracy but I am not. I have no agenda, I am just a guy in jeans that wants to get to work and then go back home to his family without worrying about his safety.
Thank you.
Karvin Dassanayake
1 From: Yili OD
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2025 2:36 PM
To: Clerk
Subject: Supporting the 19th Ave improvement
Hi,
I am wriƟng in support of the improvement for 19th Ave. I witnessed so many closed calls when pedestrians tried to cross the on ramp of 101 S and major congesƟon going into FC at rush hours. Biking there is nearly impossible due to the fast traffic. I thank you for the hard work our city planners and staff put in to try to improve traffic, pedestrian safety and biker safety at this locaƟon. I support the project.
Thank you once again!
Yili Young
San Mateo resident
1 From: Danielle Gray < >
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2025 2:36 PM
To: Clerk; City Council (San Mateo)
Subject: Public comment for agenda item 9 (19th Ave/Fashion Island Blvd MIP) City Council Members:
As a resident of San Mateo who occasionally cycles on this corridor and would like to do so more often, I'm writing in support of the proposed Multimodal Improvements to 19th Avenue and Fashion Island Blvd.
I'm typically a confident cyclist, but navigating this corridor on a cargo bike with my children is exceptionally intimidating. I can't imagine how scary it must be for children who are walking on the narrow sidewalk or riding their bikes on what is functionally a road shoulder with cars, trucks, and SUVs zooming by just feet away. This is a busy corridor and it needs to be made safer for residents using all modes of transportation, especially those who are most vulnerable.
Many thanks to the Department of Public Works for their efforts on the new design for this corridor and for their continued efforts to make our streets safer and better connected for cyclists and pedestrians. I urge the City to move forward with this project as quickly as possible so no more lives are lost on this dangerous roadway.
Thank you,
Danielle Gray
1 From: Thomas Morgan II < >
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2025 11:28 AM
To: City Council (San Mateo)
Subject: Bike Lane Item on Council Agenda
Dear Councilmembers,
I’m writing to express concerns about the proposed bike lane project and to request reconsideration of its scope and location.
Summary
I support safer biking and walking. However, this corridor is a heavily traveled regional interchange with narrow bridges and many busy driveways. As designed, the project risks harming local revenues, emergency response, and overall safety, while competing with higher-priority needs.
Key Concerns
1. Economic impact. The corridor serves a top-10 sales-tax generator. With revenues already under pressure (e.g., declining VLF/retail), this project could reduce activity and create ongoing budget strain beyond the proposed $1M contribution.
2. Ongoing costs. Grants fund construction, not long-term operations. Routine maintenance, staffing, and wage growth must be budgeted; in practice, maintenance is often deferred to meet payroll needs.
3. Project fit. Staff framed this as combining two projects, but it still functions like two, and not optimally for San Mateans. Given the traffic volumes, narrow bridges, and poor air quality at a regional interchange, a separate pedestrian/bicycle crossing north or south of the 101/92 area ( and along the lagoon) would be safer and more pleasant than mixing with vehicle traffic. This appears to be compensating for the lack of a successful Hillsdale/101 bike crossing.
4. Prioritization near housing. Limited dollars should follow housing production. After recent litigation (by the Housing Action Coalition) reduced nearby housing sites, investing here now offers less mobility benefit per dollar.
5. Public safety response. We have an aging population and increasing climate-related incidents (fire/flood). Any design that slows emergency vehicles or creates choke points will lengthen response times.
6. State mandates & funding risk. New mandates often arrive unfunded. With current budget constraints, we need flexibility, not additional recurring obligations.
7. 92/101 interchange uncertainty. If Caltrans/managed- lane work changes this area, new facilities
could be torn out or require costly rework, potentially without the same grant match, leaving the City to fund 100%.
8. Liability exposure. “Separated” lanes can imply safety. If designs underperform or the City lags on a mandated upgrade injuries could translate into litigation and settlements.
9. Traffic spillover. Foster City’s no-left-turn policies are already pushing more traffic here.
2 10. Unsafe crossings. The removed crosswalk at Norfolk & Fashion Island (SE corner) undermines access to the bridge; other removals that favor right turns make walking less safe and intuitive.
On-the-ground observations
After many walks this summer, I regularly see people biking on sidewalks because they don’t feel safe in on-street lanes. The current route requires awkward crisscrossing, and there are streetlights placed mid- sidewalk. Portions that appear to be Caltrans yard space could potentially be repurposed to create wider, protected paths set back from traffic.
If the project proceeds, please consider:
1. Relocating bike lanes to the north side of 19th Ave, reducing conflicts with numerous high- turnover driveways.
2. Preserving on-street parking, which local trades and working trucks rely on. Eliminating it jeopardizes livelihoods.
3. Building one generous, continuous sidewalk/multi-use path, preferably on one side, wide enough to separate walkers from people on bikes, rather than narrow bike lanes in traffic.
Thank you for your consideration and for prioritizing a solution that improves safety without sacrificing emergency response, fiscal stability, or local businesses.
Sincerely,
Thomas Morgan
San Mateo resident (since 2005)
1 From: Lisa Taner < >
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 11:31 AM
To: City Council (San Mateo)
Subject: Delaware/19th Ave - Bike Lane Concerns
Attachments: Bike Lane Concerns Sept 8th Meeting .pdf
All,
10 passionate resident leaders from 4 different neighborhoods attended last Monday's meeting with Alex
and staff to continue discussions on the proposed bike lanes installation on 19th/Delaware areas. I know Alex will pass along some of this information to you, but I also wanted to share my rough notes of top concerns.
While I feel my district representative will push forward with any and all bike lanes in our city, the Humboldt debacle has not created any feeling of constituent comfort for thoughts on more bike lanes.
However, the attendees were thoughtful, bringing ideas to 'best' this proposal and overall, the meeting was very productive.
With that being said, there is an underlying feeling of: "If this project is uncertain to make things better, why are we taking funding to do it?" AND that this is another case of residents vs. special interests, so where does that leave us with representation?
The SMDJ just published the fact that Cal Train is limping along and is 'scrambling' for a state loan to keep them solvent. My comment on that was "People will get out of their cars, they said. It's why we need to build transit-oriented development, they said. And remove parking and car lanes for bike lanes, they said. And streamline massive building projects to make housing affordable, they said. HOW IS THIS WORKING FOR US?"
This 'forced change' has not gone well, thus far. If the actual reason is environment (that's what we're told, should we still believe), we need to be investing in the many. many other ways to make impacts without lining the pockets of those who profit on these promises.
The state is happy to hand out this money for the 'forced change' agenda. But when things go sideways (Humboldt) it's up to US to pay to put things right - which we can't if we don't have the funding. This you already know.
The Delaware/19th Avenue bike lane proposition MUST be done to result in real improvements. If it is not shown as a slam-dunk, it should not be attempted, no matter how tempting the state's handout may be.
Look where that left us last time.
We look to you to put residents first over special interests. (Their "Safe Streets" signs peddle to the families out there - too bad that's only a slice of their agenda, which is unrealized by the general public.) We don't need poorly placed, rarely used bike lanes to make our streets safe. We look to you to keep us from massive missteps.
2 We look to you to lead us to a future that works for the majority of San Mateans, though residents aren't as organized and don't have the kind of special interest money to have the loudest bullhorn.
Rough notes attached.
Sincerely,
Lisa Taner
City Responses to Concerns Sept. 8th Meeting
-They will seek improve intersections or keep them the same (not worsen) -The request for right on red with no bulb-out will go to staff -They’ll run models on suggested scramble intersection to see if they improve or delay traffic
-Discussion of on-demand scramble (should models result positively); 19th & Delaware could be a place
-The Slough Bridge is a funding issue
GENERAL DISCUSSION/THOUGHTS DURING MEETING
Data, which currently does not include the new Concar/Passages development will be done in early November (not in time for upcoming Council meeting) – important for Ginniver, Delaware and 19th Ave impacts
Would like median removed eastbound 19th @ Norfolk
8 vehicles can currently back up at the right turn on S/B Norfolk; use for ease means no installation of most impactful type of bike lane there
Desire to adjust signal light timing as needed (Cal Trans) No bulb-out E/B 19th at Norfolk (problematic for traffic flow) Fiesta Gardens College Park (with another new 100 families) already serious traffic issues for student pick-up/drop-off. Point made that we have many ‘commuter’ schools with no bussing;
NEED new traffic counts for schools (work w/ District)
Diversion impacts to Bermuda/Delaware
Attendees request final block by block layout/analysis
Plan should benefit the 99%, not the 1% (Bike Coalition) City has put $500k toward this; Pulte contributed $250k which attendee says should remain earmarked for intersection improvements
Emergency vehicle flow is critical
Bike percentage use: 1 ¼% east side SM, 1% west side – per Alex; CCAG may have real time bike data
Suggested signage “Don’t Block Intersection” for 19th @ Delaware Slough Bridge – can be made of wood to spare expense?
1 From: Mike Swire < >
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2025 9:21 AM
To: City Council (San Mateo)
Subject: Support for 19th/Fashion Island Multimodal project Dear Mayor Newsom and City Councilmembers,
Thank you for your work in keeping the streets of San Mateo safe, especially for those who walk and bike and those who do not own cars.
I am writing to express my support for the 19th Avenue / Fashion Island Multimodal project that will appear on the agenda on Monday. This is an incredible opportunity to make streets safer in a key corridor:
- This area has been the site of 200+ crashes in recent years. Earlier this year, a driver killed well loved community member Mark Cramer who was walking on Fashion Island.
- The project has received significant external funding, providing excellent value for the small amount that it will cost SM taxpayers. Congressman Kevin Mullin has been instrumental in attracting millions in federal funding despite the current Administration's move away from spending on safe streets projects.
- The project fills a key gap in San Mateo residents' ability to safely cross 101 on foot and bike.
Currently,
there is no safe crossing of 101 between 3rd Avenue and Ralston in Belmont. An elderly cyclist was killed by a Caltrans truck driver on Hillsdale. Hillsdale's pedestrian/bike bridge was cancelled, in part, due to the widening of US 101 in San Mateo.
- The project already includes changes that will improve auto traffic flow. We don't need more car lanes in this corridor. This will not solve congestion and will simply encourage more cut through traffic from 101 and 92.
Thank you for your support of this important project.
Mike Swire
1 From: Clyde Minter < >
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2025 1:11 AM
To: City Council (San Mateo)
Subject: Bicycle lane improvement
I applaud the city for trying to improve bicycle lanes and safety throughout. I have read where people do not ride a bicycle to shop at Bridgeport. That is a false statement. I have been using the bridge on my bicycle and shopping at not only Bridgepoint but also to Costco and beyond for over 20 years. I also use my bike to shop at Home Depot if I can haul it on my bike. I live off Kehoe in Parkside and used to ride my bike to commute to the airport for work in the dark. I am now retired. I think people should learn to use a bicycle more for their daily chores rather than drive a car. That would definitely help traffic congestion. I don't think local people should have to pay for more improved flow because of San Mateo bridge commuters and increased traffic on 92 / 101 interchange during commute times. I think that should be a state highway issue.
I am opposed to stopping any free right turns as a safety item.
Thank you,
Clyde Minter
1 From: Ann Dorsey < >
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2025 12:32 PM
To: City Council (San Mateo)
Subject: Comment on Agenda Item #9 for 9/15 Meeting
San Mateo City Council,
I urge you to approve the 19th Avenue and Fashion Island Boulevard Multimodal Improvement Project in its current form. There have been 200 collisions along this corridor over the previous five years, including three involving bicycles and three with pedestrians.
The project will include much needed safety improvements such as for pedestrian crossings, protected bike lanes and continuous sidewalks. There will also be traffic improvements to reduce auto congestion.
Please take action to make this corridor safer for pedestrians and bicyclists by enacting the 19th Avenue and Fashion Island Boulevard Multimodal Improvement Project in its current form.
Thank you,
Ann Dorsey
1 From: Erin Leydig Stallings < >
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2025 10:07 AM
To: Clerk
Subject: I support the 19th Ave Bike Lane Project
Dear San Mateo City Council,
I am writing to express my strong support for the 19th Ave bike lane project. My family lives in Hayward Park and for years we biked 19th Ave with our two small children, up and over 101, to get them to school. The stretch of 19th Ave you are discussing tonight was the most challenging to bike on. There were no protected bike lanes, and even in the stretches with painted lanes, the paint was barely visible. For some blocks, the bike lanes would simply disappear, forcing us to merge into traffic for a stretch.
We were willing to bike this stretch with our children, but it was terrifying to think of sending them up and over this road on their own with the current bike situation. As a result, their independence was limited.
I can't tell you how excited I was to see this current plan. These bike improvements will make it safe for kids to bike to school along this corridor, an essential bridge connecting the two sides of our city. Children ride this route every morning and every afternoon trying to get safely to and from school.
In raising my kids we often talk about balance. We know that we need to share this road with cars, but please, balance that need with the need of our kids to get to and from school safely and independently.
With gratitude,
Erin Stallings
San Mateo Resident
1 From: Mari < >
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2025 8:52 AM
To: Clerk
Subject: Public Comment: #9. 19th Avenue / Fashion Island Boulevard Multimodal Improvement Project — Informational Update
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
I’m writing to express my strong support for the 19th Ave / Fashion Island Blvd Safety Project, and to urge you to move this long-overdue project forward without delay.
This corridor has seen 200 collisions in just five years, including six involving pedestrians or cyclists.
Earlier this year, a neighbor—Mark Kremer—was killed in a hit-and-run while walking on Fashion Island Blvd. We talk about Vision Zero and safe streets—but our infrastructure still reflects a car- first reality that is putting people’s lives at risk.
This project will finally bring life-saving improvements to this key corridor:
Separated and protected bike lanes
Corner islands to protect pedestrians at intersections Better signal timing and vehicle flow with lane reconfiguration And an extended turn lane at Norfolk to ease congestion This is a smart design that improves safety and reduces traffic.
I’m disappointed to hear there is organized opposition, because this isn’t controversial—it’s necessary.
We’ve waited too long. Please don’t let more lives be lost before acting.
Thank you for your continued leadership in making San Mateo a safer, healthier, and more equitable city.
Sincerely,
Mariana Tiwari
North Central San Mateo
--
Mariana d' Abreu Tiwari
1 From: Karen Moen < >
Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2025 9:20 PM
To: City Council (San Mateo)
Cc: Clerk
Subject: Traffic mitigation along the 19th Avenue/Fashion Island and Delaware Corridors I am a 35 year resident of the eastside of San Mateo. Traffic along the 19th Avenue extension/Fashion Island Blvd. as well as the Delaware corridor has increased dramatically during my residency in the area near Bridgepoint Shopping Center. The proposals currently being considered to restrict the ability to make right turns and to increase options for bicycle, e-bike, and scooter traffic along an already congested corridor make no sense especially in light of the already planned projects for increased housing units at the Concur site and the old Fish Market site. This corridor is used primarily by automobiles traveling from east to west and west to east San
Mateo/Foster City with less than 1% of the overall traffic being from other than automobile traffic. This area is also a primary way for commuters (and residents of the mid-peninsula including San Mateo residents) to access Highway 92 and Highway 101 North and 101 South. There is already a chokehold on traffic at certain intersections and along the roadway that cause delays not only to commuters and residents of the east side but access by emergency vehicles of all types. Adding dedicated bike lanes and pedestrian walkways to areas that were never designed to be wide enough in the first place, makes no sens e. Not allowing right turns not only impedes the flow
of normal traffic but severely limits access by emergency vehicles to an area of town with a growing population, increased life science and technology business growth, and one of the major City’s “profit centers” (stores and restaurants at the Bridgepoint Shopping area).
Poorly thought out alternatives and responding without additional studies is not the answer. Nor is “chasing grant dollars” just because the City thinks funding may be available to do “something now” even if that results in further congestion, further restrictions on traffic heading east to one of the fastest growing areas of the City, and restricts the ability of emergency vehicles to access east side residences, shopping areas, and the freeways. Please keep in mind that residents and businesses on the east side of the City, want and deserve access that is safe and actually designed to improve the current situation and to not add further to the congestion and safety issues already existing along this corridor.
Karen Moen
San Mateo CA resident
1 From: Martin McTaggart
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2025 4:20 PM
Cc: Bethany Lopez; Jay Yu; Katherine Sheehan; Matt Fabry; Alex Khojikian; Christina Horrisberger; Chantal Eaton
Subject: FW: 19th Avenue Corridor
Good afternoon, City Council (Bcc’d),
Please note the below public comment.
Best wishes,
Martin
From: Michal Lim
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2025 9:55 AM
To: Danielle Cwirko-Godycki <[email protected]> Subject: 19th Avenue Corridor
September 14, 2025
Dear Councilperson Cwirko-Godycki
Listening to the local community is your job. Analyzing and making solid decisions is your job. Quickly voting on issues that have been ignored for 25 years is not your job.
Thus is the problem with a potential vote on the
19th Avenue corridor.
The East Side residents have been asking for 25 years for traffic mitigation. Unfortunately, the 19th Avenue corridor is used by commuters to access the San Mateo Bridge creating traffic problems for local users just trying to get home.. Some of the proposals are good. Some are not well thought out at all.
GOOD PROPOSALS:
1. Making a longer left turn lane on 19th Ave. going east to Norfolk going north.
2. Shifting one northbound lane on Norfolk (north side of the 19th/Norfolk intersection) to a southbound, left turn onto Fashion Island Blvd so that more cars can turn in a shorter amount of time.
3. Trying to get a longer right turn lane from 19th Ave east onto Norfolk south.
4. Limiting left turns from Hillsdale Blvd onto Norfolk going north during heavier commute times.
5. Looking into constructing a new pedestrian/bike only bridge over Seal Slough lagoon.
BAD PROPOSALS:
6. Closing an exit/entrance at the Arco station. People will just turn left onto Bermuda and left onto Ginnever. Turning left is difficult so there will be backups.
7. Keeping 19th Ave. narrow from Delaware to Ginnever. No expansion just continues and increases the backup.
2 8. No right turn from 19th east to Norfolk south. Restricting traffic flow is the opposite of what the goal is.
9. Not taking into account that there will be future construction at the Fish Market, Parkside Plaza, and on Concar Drive.
A hasty decision in order to obtain possible funding screams bad judgement. Ignoring the needs of the vast majority of 19th Ave. users, namely local vehicles, is a slap in the face. Postpone a vote and study this issue more thoroughly. We would hate to see another fiasco such as the Humboldt bike lanes decision.
Sincerely,
Michal Lim