We want to hear from the community! Find out more about this study and how to participate below.

The County of San Mateo is working on the North Fair Oaks Bicycle and Pedestrian Railroad Crossing and Community Connections Study to assess the potential for a pedestrian and bicycle railroad crossing over or under the Caltrain tracks, making it easier to walk and bike in North Fair Oaks and part of adjacent Redwood City. 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. The Study team seeks to develop a community-guided plan that reflects the priorities of the North Fair Oaks community and defines a path forward for implementing the improvements. The Study team includes County staff, community organization Nuestra Casa, and consultants.

The North Fair Oaks Community and part of adjacent Redwood City is separated by the four-track Caltrain Railroad Corridor. The railroad tracks separate residents from local destinations that include, but aren’t limited to, community facilities and services, schools, shopping, and local bus service. There is a need for enhanced and connected bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

According to the Unincorporated San Mateo County Active Transportation Plan (ATP), North Fair Oaks has both the highest potential demand for walking and biking and the highest concentration of bicycle and pedestrian collisions per square mile of all San Mateo County unincorporated communities. Making streets easier to walk and bicycle on and making it easier to get to destinations with a new bicycle and pedestrian railroad crossing could help reduce collisions.

The Study aims to create options for a new pedestrian and bicycle crossing that brings the following benefits to the community:

• Access: Improved access for people walking, rolling, and biking across the rail corridor and nearby neighborhoods.
• Safety: Safer and well-lit public spaces that are comfortable and inviting for people of all ages and abilities.
• Equity: Improvements for people traveling without a car that reflect community priorities and achieve local and regional sustainability goals with no housing displacement.
•  Community Design: Sense of community through attractive public spaces, public art, and structures.
• Constructability: Minimal construction impacts on the community and feasible project budget.

The Study area is located within the unincorporated community of North Fair Oaks. The boundaries of the Study area are Middlefield Road to the north, 5th Avenue to the east, El Camino Real to the south and the unincorporated County/Redwood City limit to the west.

Option A Dumbarton Avenue Tunnel is shown in purple. Option B Dumbarton Avenue Bridge is shown in blue. Option C Middlefield Junction Bridge is shown in orange. More details will be shared at the community outreach events and via the survey.

Outreach Events

We look forward to engaging with community members during the second phase of engagement. The following is a table of community engagement activities that will take place in spring 2023.

Date	Time	Location
Friday, March 24	9:00 AM to 1:00 PM	North Fair Oaks Library and Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Road
Monday, March 27	8:00 to 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM	Jornaleros Laborers and Samaritan House Free Clinic, 114 5th Avenue
Wednesday, March 29	9:00 AM to 1:00 PM	Verbo Family Services, 2789 Bay Road
Wednesday, March 29	3:00 to 6:00 PM	Willow Market, 37 Willow Street
Wednesday, March 29	1:00 to 4:00 PM	Mi Tienda Market, 812 5th Avenue
Sunday, April 2	9:00 AM to 12:00 PM	Verbo Church, 2789 Bay Road
Wednesday, April 5th	5:00 to 8:00 PM	Casa Circulo Cultural, 3090 Middlefield Road
Wednesday, April 5th	3:00 to 6:00 PM	Hoover Park, 2100 Spring Street
Thursday, April 6th	3:00 to 6:00 PM	Food Distribution at Hoover School, 703 Charter Street
More events will be announced!
Completed Events
Saturday, June 11		Casa Circulo, 3090 Middlefield Road
Saturday, June 11		Hoover Park, 2100 Spring Street
Monday, June 13		Chavez Supermarket, 3282 Middlefield Road
Wednesday, June 15		North Fair Oaks Library, 2510 Middlefield Road
Wednesday, June 22		Verbo Family Services, 2798 Bay Road
Wednesday, June 22		Familias Unidas Virtual Presentation
Thursday, June 23		North Fair Oaks Community Council Virtual Presentation
Friday, June 24		Willow Market, 37 Willow Street
Saturday, June 25		Siena Youth Center, 2625 Marlborough Ave *Note: This is a combination pop-up at the start of the event followed by a community bike ride. To learn more and to register, visit: www.tinyurl.com/NFObici
Tuesday, June 28		Mi Rancho Supermarket, 150 Charter Street
Tuesday, June 30		Chavez Supermarket, 46 5th Ave
Friday, July 8		St. Anthony's, 3500 Middlefield Road

We thank community members that have already engaged with us during the first phase of outreach in summer 2022 and shared their feedback on travel needs and priorities to improve pedestrian and bicycle access. The Phase 1 Engagement Summary can be found under Study Documents.

In the meantime, you can continue to share thoughts, comments and ask questions by sending us an e-mail at: OOS_NFOwalkbikesmc@smcgov.org  

This Study is being made possible through a Caltrans Sustainable Communities Grant as part of a financial partnership between the County of San Mateo and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

Link to other County web pages for ongoing projects in North Fair Oaks: 

• Middlefield Road Improvement Project
• North Fair Oaks Rezoning and-General Plan Amendment Project