The city has highlighted the corridor, between Pacific and Mariners Island boulevards, as a high priority for pedestrian, cycling and congestion improvements. According to a staff report, there have been about 200 collisions between 2019 and 2024 along the road, six of which have involved either pedestrians or cyclists.
While there are currently bike lanes on 19th Avenue, which eventually turns into Fashion Island Boulevard, the project would construct Class IV, or protected, lanes between Pacific Boulevard west of Delaware Street and Mariners Island Boulevard east of the Marina Lagoon, enhancing connectivity to other parts of the city and major transit connections. Pedestrian crossing and sidewalk improvements would also be implemented, including between Pacific and Mariners Island boulevards and on the bridge over Seal Slough, also known as Marina Lagoon.
Public Works Director Matt Fabry said some neighboring residents were concerned that the project would prioritize bike lane infrastructure over vehicle congestion relief, which many have been advocating for over the course of many years.
But to mitigate traffic at the often-congested Fashion Island Boulevard and Norfolk Street intersection, the city proposes lengthening the left turn lane — which would turn into a lane for left turns and through traffic — by about 400 feet. There would also be traffic signal modifications and a reconfiguration of lanes on the Seal Slough bridge, creating two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane. Currently, the configuration comprises one eastbound lane and two westbound.
The project highlights a broader issue with which the city is contending — improving bike lane infrastructure while balancing the needs of nearby residents who park and drive their cars in the area. Earlier this year, the City Council voted to start the process of removing bike lanes on one street in the North Central neighborhood — funded by a $1.5 million federal grant that the city will probably have to repay in part — after residents complained about the subsequent loss of parking spaces and voicing concern their input wasn’t included prior to its implementation. And earlier this month, the city revised its Delaware Street bike lane project after resident concerns over the initial proposal to eliminate a vehicle travel lane.
Like the North Central grant project, the bike lane and pedestrian improvements along 19th Avenue and Fashion Island Boulevard will be largely grant-funded, which Councilmember Nicole Fernandez said comes with pros and cons.
“It feels a little bit like we are rushing ... because we have this grant money that’s coming, and we’re sort of putting our timeline behind the grant money instead of putting our timeline behind the residents,” Fernandez said. “That’s concerning to me considering that I live in a district where we’re living with the effects of a similar project with the bike lanes.”
Fabry has stated that the congestion relief aspects of the project “wouldn’t be possible” without the grant funding.
While the council generally supported the project, Mayor Rob Newsom also stated the project is a “mixed modal solution” that needs to cater to all users.
“It’s got to be focused on being right for the cyclists. It’s got to be focused on being right for pedestrians, and it’s got to be focused on being right for car traffic, and hopefully if we solve for all of those we’ll see people using more alternatives,” he said.
The project is estimated to cost about $27 million.
(5) comments
Nicole Fernandez promised to be the opposite of Amo Lee and bringing back decency and good leadership to her district. Turns out the two are basically carbon copies: two privileged, female, BIBOC leaders thinking THEY are Equity. Nicole Fernandez thinks because she isn't a middle-aged white male, she doesn't have to follow any of the city's plans to provide equity, livable neighborhoods or safe streets to her district.
For example if people like Amo or her want to drive around a Lincoln Navigator all day, that just means Lincoln Navigator EQUALS equity. More air pollution, more lung cancers, more strokes in her district be damned. If "I AM EQUITY" is her main formula, then good governing is not needed anymore.
Where’s the data to justify changes/improvements? How many cars and bikes roll through the roads now and how will this reversal of lanes/directions impact traffic flow if we have no data? Or is this project to take advantage of “free” money and essentially reward labor unions with another $27 million in a make-work project? Residents in the area, make your opposition to these changes known. And be prepared to dig into your pockets for money to reverse these changes if these changes are enacted. Remember Humboldt’s cautionary tale.
Here's the data to justify making these roads safer: https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/san-mateo-pedestrian-killed-in-hit-and-run/article_fd449258-e82b-11ef-80b6-47a002e74267.html
Thanks, joebob91, for the linked article but I don’t understand what point you’re trying to make. Your linked article doesn’t denote how many pedestrians, cyclists, and cars pass through that road. Did 100,000 cars pass through that road with the one fatality? Much more? Much less? Your linked article also doesn’t provide context – was it the fault of the driver or the fault of the pedestrian? Was the pedestrian wearing dark clothes? Did the driver realize they hit somebody? Are you implying we should allocate $27 million in improvements for any fatalities, regardless of who was at fault? Again, where’s the data?
I don't understand Nicole Fernandez's comment that this project is being "rushed". This was an informational meeting to gather input at 35%. Changes have already been made to the design based on community input. There has already been one well attended community meeting at the Nueva School. Congressman Mullin got grant money for the project over a year ago: https://kevinmullin.house.gov/2024/03/05/rep-mullin-brings-home-12976031-for-local-projects-in-bipartisan-federal-government-funding-package/
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