In response to resounding opposition from some residents, San Mateo has revised its Delaware Street bike lane project so it does not eliminate a vehicle travel lane and potentially worsen congestion.
The city has had plans to upgrade the bike lanes along Delaware Street that would provide more protection and better delineation, but the original proposal would have eliminated one lane of vehicle travel between Bermuda Drive to Saratoga Drive, with dedicated turn lanes opening up after Saratoga Drive.
But many residents who live in the area said it would worsen traffic congestion, especially during school pick-up and drop-off times, and when rideshare and delivery vehicles temporarily park, which already tend to block the existing bike lanes. San Mateo County Event Center CEO Dana Stoehr has also previously said she was concerned about how the project would impede the flow of traffic around the center, especially during large events.
According to a staff report, rather than moving forward on the original project “where substantial public opposition remained,” the city decided to preserve the second southbound travel lane. In doing so, all lanes, including vehicle and bike, would be narrowed, and there would also be eight less parking spaces compared to the original proposal.
“Even if bicycle ridership were multiplied 500 times, and car usage only goes up by 5% it’s still a concern to be removing lanes, so I think we’ve done a good job of finding a solution,” Mayor Rob Newsom said. “As our community continues to grow it’s important that we plan for this growth and that our projects look for and find compromise at every turn.”
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.
Initially, Councilmember Nicole Fernandez was “concerned about how this would affect surrounding residents and the lack of engagement with the Event Center,” but she said the revised plans are an ideal compromise.
“I know no group is 100% happy with the second design, and I understand those concerns , but … this is a start to the conversation,” she said. “Hopefully there will be more happy residents than unhappy residents.”
The City Council supported the updated design at its meeting Sept. 2.
(3) comments
It's time to have the tough talk about our council members and their addiction, because let's face it that is what this is really all about.
For the last 100 years, the US government sees fossil fuel and driving in the category of "Substance Abuse" and "Behavioral Addiction".
It's treated the same as tobacco, alcohol, weed, gambling, or tanning beds (you never heard of "tanorexia"?) and looking at statistics, the negative health outcomes are even worse than each one of those.
The arguments this council makes about 'emergency response times' and 'compromise' are wimpy at best and look corrupt at their worst. It's also very easy to recognize the lie.
We only have to look at them to realize that their votes are based on their own 'addiction to convenience'. They are violating plenty of city's forward looking plans because they can't wean themselves off their own substance and behavioral abuse issues.
But worse, they are sacrificing the current and future safety and health of many children that need to be out and about so they don't end up where these council members are today.
Good news for drivers on Delaware Street. It seems councilmembers, at least on this issue, are compromising and taking into account the needs of the many over the needs of the very few pushing their pet issue. The power of protest…hey Bob Kauser and Steve Ortiz, it seems the power of protest wasn’t caused by folks loitering in the streets carrying hypocritical signs or inconveniencing travelers and yet they’ve achieved more than the protests defending criminals over American citizens.
Very good point Terence. Showing up at local city council meetings, school board, BOS, sending emails etc. on a specific issue can make a bigger difference than protesting in the streets because you don't like the current occupant of the White House.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.