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Atherton council urges staff to press SamTrans, legislators on Dumbarton corridor planning amid SB 79 concerns
Summary
Council members told staff to draft letters to SamTrans and state lawmakers after debating whether the Reimagine Dumbarton rail‑corridor study should prioritize a pedestrian and bicycle corridor or allow a bus rapid transit solution that could trigger SB 79 housing consequences.
Atherton council members asked staff to draft letters to SamTrans and state legislators after a presentation on SamTrans’ Reimagine Dunbarton study prompted debate over whether the dormant Dumbarton rail right‑of‑way should be repurposed for buses or reserved for walking and biking.
Town staff member Robert summarized the study and said it is screening alternatives and will hold another round of public engagement before selecting a preferred option. “It is sitting vacant, growing weeds,” Robert said, describing the corridor as unused and in need of cleanup and study.
The council’s discussion centered on the tradeoffs between high‑quality transit and active‑transportation uses. Several members warned that a dedicated busway meeting bus rapid transit standards could invoke SB 79’s transit‑adjacent housing provisions. “Given SB 79, I think we should strongly support this to be a pedestrian and bicycle pathway,” one council member said, adding that a busway could lead to unwanted housing impacts near proposed stations.
Other council members stressed the value of transit in reducing traffic and urged caution about cutting off options. “We need high‑quality public transit to support the housing mandates,” another council member said, arguing that a bus line could relieve traffic and serve future development.
After extended back‑and‑forth, council members asked staff to draft one or more policy letters—addressed to SamTrans, regional officials and state lawmakers—laying out Atherton’s concerns and potential requests, including seeking exemptions or clarifications related to SB 79 if a busway is proposed. Staff were directed to circulate drafts to the mayor and vice mayor for final wording before sending.
Next steps include staff preparing the draft letters and coordinating with SamTrans; council members signaled they would review the language before any letters are distributed.
