San Mateo County is working on a study evaluating the potential for pedestrian rail crossings at North Fair Oaks, over or under the Caltrain tracks, which would make walking and biking in the adjacent part of Redwood City easier.
According to the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability, the study will also explore potential bicycle and pedestrian improvements on local streets in North Fair Oaks that provide connections to the new rail crossing and local destinations on both sides of the tracks.
To conduct this study, the county wants to hear from residents through a poll, which is available in English and Spanish. In addition, there will be a series of sessions to interact with community members and better understand their needs around the topic, which will take place from this Friday, March 24, through April 6, with more dates expected to be announced.
Those interested in knowing the complete agenda, places and times, can access to give click here.
The study team seeks to develop a community-led plan that reflects the priorities of North Fair Oaks residents and defines a path forward for implementing improvements. The study team includes county staff, the community-based organization Nuestra Casa, and consultants.
The study is being conducted because the North Fair Oaks community and part of the adjacent city of Redwood City are separated by the four-track Caltrain rail corridor. The rail tracks separate residents from local destinations including, but not limited to, community facilities and services, schools, shopping, and local bus service, creating a need for improved and connected pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
According to Unincorporated San Mateo County’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP), North Fair Oaks has the highest potential demand for walking and bicycling and the highest concentration of bicycle-pedestrian collisions per square mile of all unincorporated communities in the county.
Making streets more walkable and bike-friendly and making it easier to get to destinations with a new bicycle-pedestrian rail crossing could help reduce collisions.
In turn, this analysis aims to create options for a new pedestrian and bicycle crossing that will bring benefits to the community such as improved access for people walking, rolling and biking through the rail corridor and nearby neighborhoods; and safer, well-lit public spaces that are comfortable and attractive for people of all ages and abilities.
Additionally, improvements for people traveling without cars that reflect community priorities and achieve local and regional sustainability goals without housing displacement; sense of community through attractive public spaces, public art, and structures; and minimal construction impacts on the community and feasible project budget.
The study area boundaries are Middlefield Road to the north, 5th Avenue to the east, El Camino Real to the south, and the unincorporated county/Redwood City boundary to the west.
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