Council approves Third Avenue–South Norfolk safety redesign, including new bike crossing and signal changes

The San Mateo City Council approved construction of the Third Avenue and South Norfolk Street intersection safety improvement project after a detailed staff presentation and public comment on Jan. 13.

Staff recommended a redesign and signal operations change intended to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, strengthen bicycle connectivity from the Third Avenue bike-and-ped bridge to the San Mateo Creek Trail and reduce vehicle delay for neighborhood access. “We want to make improvements that proactively address some of these types of collisions rather than waiting for the data to support the need for the improvements,” said Bethany Lopez, senior engineer, during the presentation.

The council and staff said the project responds to collision hot spots identified in the city’s local road safety plan and would use CDBG funding targeted to the North Central/North Shoreview area. The design takes one southbound travel lane to create a sidewalk-level protected bicycle path and adds a new signalized bike crossing synchronized with the existing Third and Norfolk signal. Staff said the bike crossing will operate as a coordinated extension of the main signal to reduce conflicts with a heavy northbound left-turn movement.

Lopez described signal phasing intended to separate pedestrian crossings and right-turn movements and to retain on-street parking on the corridor. She said the design includes a no-right-turn-on-red for one eastbound movement and an extended right-turn pocket to accommodate additional queuing. The project team tested multiple geometry and signal-operation options (three layouts and more than a dozen operational options) and modeled delays; several north–south movements show lower delay in the proposed scheme. “We were able to maintain priority for the northbound left turns as well as the eastbound right turns,” Lopez said.

Public commenters—many from nearby neighborhoods and parents and school representatives—largely supported the project as a safety improvement. “This intersection is the main reason parents have told me that they do not want their child to bike or walk to the eight schools in the area,” said Alison McQueen, a North Shoreview resident. Maggie Trin, who said she is a school district board member, noted the crossing serves students traveling across Highway 101 and urged the council to approve the design.

Councilmembers asked detailed operational questions about the phased signal timing, the potential for off-peak timing adjustments, enforcement needs and impacts during construction. Staff said signal poles have long lead times (about six months) and estimated the work would take about 45 working days of construction—roughly two to two-and-a-half months—phased so the bulk of concrete work can occur first and signal hardware installed later. Lopez said post-construction monitoring will include updated video detection, CCTV for non-recorded monitoring, follow-up traffic counts in September and possible timing changes or enforcement tools, including blank-out signs, if needed.

Councilmember Diaz Nash said she supported the design’s traffic-delay goals and asked staff to confirm that the proposed phasing would allow drivers turning left from the off-ramp to stop safely for the new bike crossing; Lopez said timing accommodates those movements. Multiple council members praised staff outreach and asked that communications summarize what staff heard and how the design addresses concerns.

On a motion that was seconded, the council voted 5-0 to award the project and move the design into construction with the staff-recommended approach and monitoring plan.

Councilmembers agreed staff should monitor the intersection closely after installation and be prepared to adjust timing, signage or enforcement if safety issues arise.

Construction is expected to begin after procurement and signal pole delivery; staff estimated a phased construction window of roughly two to two-and-a-half months of onsite work once construction begins.

Votes at the meeting show all five councilmembers voted in favor of the motion to award construction.