San Mateo weighs in on transit wishlist: City leaders hope for better connectivity across San Mateo Bridge if regional measure passes

Much of the revenue from the sales tax would go toward closing the rail agencies’ shortfalls, with about $50 million going directly to the county, which can be used more flexibly as part of a SamTrans-administered local investment plan.

SamTrans has been visiting cities throughout the Peninsula to solicit feedback on how it could potentially spend the $50 million should the measure pass. The funds would be in addition to money that major transit agencies, like Caltrain and BART, would receive to narrow their deficits.

Projects would fall into one of 10 possible investment categories, ranging from increased bus routes to pothole repairs. During a San Mateo City Council meeting April 20, city leaders discussed a number of transit needs in and around their communities, including better connectivity to the East Bay, improved bus shelter accessibility and enhanced technology.

Focusing on the east-west connection could also get other jurisdictions like Foster City on board with the measure, Councilmember Rob Newsom said, adding that some leaders in cities without a Caltrain or BART station don’t see how the measure currently benefits them.

“After the pandemic, we lost the Transbay Express. We really need that restored. One of the biggest challenges with Foster City and San Mateo is people trying to cross the San Mateo Bridge, and there is not a good alternative solution for that,” Newsom said. “If we don’t have a way for a bus to get across faster than sitting in traffic, then people are going to sit in their own cars.”

Noelia Corzo, Transportation Authority board member and president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, previously said she’d also like to see better cross-Bay transit during a meeting earlier this month.

Others, such as San Mateo Councilmember Danielle Cwirko-Godycki said she was concerned about which communities would get funding priority.

“I do remain concerned that there is a lack of clarity on how the funding would be distributed … when every city has unique situations around where or how that funding could be utilized,” she said. “For example, on the east side of the freeway, where my community is, there are several bus stops that don’t have accessibility for seniors, don’t have benches, don’t have coverings for people to sit in.”

The measure, authorized via Senate Bill 63, is a citizens’ initiative, meaning it needs to secure a certain number of signatures before it can go before voters in the upcoming election.