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SamTrans outlines near-term Dumbarton busway plan and Feb. community meetings
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Summary
SamTrans presented a feasibility study to convert the inactive Dumbarton Rail Corridor into a roughly 5-mile busway with multimodal connections, emphasizing near-term implementability, equity priorities and community engagement (survey and meetings Feb. 18 and Feb. 26).
SamTrans told the Menlo Park Complete Streets Commission on Feb. 11 that it is studying a roughly 5-mile busway on the Dumbarton Rail Corridor between East Palo Alto and Redwood City as a near-term, fundable alternative to heavier rail.
"We want a project that is fundable, implementable and effective," Millie Tolleson, director of planning at SamTrans, said in a slide-backed briefing. Tolleson said the study will evaluate busway alternatives, multimodal access and station concepts and will include public outreach this winter and spring.
Tolleson said SamTrans is looking at converting the corridor to rapid transit service with pedestrian and bicycle connections alongside, noting the corridor runs from University Avenue in East Palo Alto to the Redwood City Transit Center. She cited an increase of about 30% in average daily travel between Redwood City and East Palo Alto in recent years as part of the rationale for improved local transit connections.
SamTrans emphasized that a busway need not foreclose future regional rail. "We don't believe a busway project would preclude a heavy rail project in the future," Tolleson said, adding that the agency expects the busway could be delivered for much less than multibillion-dollar rail alternatives while meeting near-term needs.
The agency is in an early feasibility and engagement phase in winter 2026; staff said project alternatives will be developed in spring, specific alternatives shared in late summer, and a preferred alternative selected in the fall, with a final implementation plan about a year later.
SamTrans asked residents to take a multilingual survey (samtrans.com/dumbarton), attend two upcoming community meetings (Feb. 18 at Fair Oaks Community Center; Feb. 26 at the East Palo Alto YMCA, both at 6 p.m.) and said project staff will table at the Menlo Park Farmers Market. Tolleson said the study will analyze fundability, implementability and equity impacts, and that the service is likely to run on zero-emission buses.
Commissioners and public commenters broadly supported integrating protected bike and pedestrian facilities and stressed the importance of last-mile connections to transit and emergency-vehicle access. Tolleson said SamTrans is coordinating with local partners, including employers near the corridor, and is monitoring state and federal legislative developments that could affect corridor use.
SamTrans representatives said additional outreach events and design materials will be released later in 2026 for more detailed public feedback.
