San Mateo council approves consent calendar, funds bike‑ped project; staff to pursue train quiet‑zone planning

The San Mateo City Council on Monday approved its consent calendar by unanimous vote, including funding for a Hillsdale Caltrain Station bicycle‑access gap closure project after brief council questions and public comment focused on Caltrain horn noise and local bike‑lane plans.

The council approved consent calendar items 2, 3 and 5–9 in a single motion, and after additional discussion took item 4 (Hillsdale Caltrain Station bicycle access gap closure) separately. The clerk recorded a 5–0 roll call for both the omnibus motion and the separate vote on item 4 (Deputy Mayor Lorraine; Council members Fernandez, Diaz Nash and Svirko Gaditsky; Mayor Rob Newsom all voting yes).

Public comment and city response

Several speakers urged the council to shift funds or accelerate work on a Caltrain quiet zone. One in‑chamber commenter said “that $300,000 will be better spent towards the grade separation projects that are desperately needed for pedestrian, train, and car safety, and also the noise pollution in San Mateo.” Another caller from the Sunnybrae area described recurring horn noise and asked the council to press Caltrain and federal regulators for broader quiet‑zone relief.

City Manager A. Kojikens told the council the item on the consent calendar was “specifically for the bike‑ped project itself here. It’s not for the train quiet‑zone noise initiative,” and that staff will return in August with the next steps for the quiet‑zone project. The quiet‑zone work under discussion covers six at‑grade crossings north of Hayward Park station and the station’s pedestrian grade crossing; city staff said implementation would include about a year of construction if council decides to proceed.

Councilmembers asked whether the consent‑calendar funds are flexible. City staff said a portion of the project budget (staff cited roughly $140,000 for a Peninsula off‑ramp connection) could be reallocated to other transportation projects, but that the current item is intended to complete design and connectivity work between Delaware, 28th Avenue, El Camino and Hillsdale Station. Public Works Director Matt Fabry stated the project “would not take away lane travel” under 28th Avenue based on current design.

Other public comments at the meeting addressed local matters including Golf Course VIP reservation rules at Poplar Creek; Parks & Recreation staff said they will review the VIP program and return with updates.

Votes at a glance

- Consent calendar (items 2, 3, 5–9): approved 5–0 (Deputy Mayor Lorraine; Council members Fernandez, Diaz Nash, Svirko Gaditsky; Mayor Rob Newsom). - Item 4, Hillsdale Caltrain Station bicycle access gap closure project agreement: approved 5–0 after council discussion and public comment.

Why this matters

The Hillsdale bicycle‑access project focuses on connectivity to a major transit station and is part of the city’s active‑transportation program. The council’s direction to return in August on a broader train quiet‑zone plan signals follow‑up work that could reduce recurring horn noise at at‑grade crossings if the city chooses to proceed and secure necessary approvals from Caltrain and federal regulators.

Speakers quoted or referenced in this article appear in the council record for the consent calendar item and the meeting’s general public comment period. The votes on the consent calendar and item 4 were recorded by roll call.