North Central Bike Lanes Project (CDBG)

Humboldt Street Bike Lane Alternatives Project

The Humboldt Street Bike Lane Alternatives Project aims to explore the City Council directed alternatives from the February 3, 2025 Council meeting by exploring the future of bike connectivity, pedestrian safety and traffic, and street lighting in the North Central neighborhoods on Humboldt, Fremont, and Idaho streets. There will be several opportunities for the community to get involved on the project including three community workshops, online surveys, and presentations to the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission and City Council.

Visit the Humboldt Street Bike Lane Alternatives Project webpage to find out how to get involved and for more information.

City Council Meeting Recap - Humboldt Street Bike Lanes

At the February 3, 2025 City Council meeting, City staff presented post-installation feedback from the community which was gathered from the December 4, 2024 session at the Martin Luther King Center (attended by over 100 residents). The Council meeting was well attended with over 60 comments received during the public comment period. After reviewing this input, the City Council directed City staff to pursue two alternatives: 

  • Alternative 3: Partial Removal and Pilot Bike Boulevard 
    • Short-Term Action: Remove a portion of the Class II bike lanes on North Humboldt Street (from Indian Avenue to 2nd Avenue) to restore parking in that segment. Concurrently, launch a pilot project to establish a new bicycle facility on Fremont and/or Idaho Streets as an alternative route. 
    • Long-Term Action: Conduct a connectivity study to explore future bicycle infrastructure enhancements across North Central, ensuring a cohesive network for cyclists.
  • Alternative 5: Streetlighting Upgrades 
    • Upgrade streetlighting on Humboldt Street, with potential extensions to Idaho and Fremont Streets, to improve visibility and safety for all users.

No final decision on bike lane removal or funding has been made. The City Council emphasized further community engagement to refine these plans before a vote later in 2025. 

Next Steps

City staff will engage the community on the short-term action of Alternative 3 as well as the streetlighting upgrades for Alternative 5. 

Community Meeting - Humboldt Street Bike Lanes Post-Installation Review

On December 4th, 2024, staff hosted a large community workshop where 110+ residents attended in person to seek their input on the bike lanes on Humboldt Street post installation. Staff wanted to know 1) how have the Humboldt Street bike lanes impacted you, 2) what improvements would make you feel safer walking, biking, or driving on Humboldt Street and 3) what are your thoughts on a bicycle boulevard alternative to lower speeds, accommodate cyclists, and restore parking on Humboldt Street. Staff provided a high-level presentation, but the bulk of the workshop came from the breakout sessions that consisted of 13 individual tables with a staff or outreach consultant facilitator for each table. Spanish-only tables were provided, as well as child watch services and dinner for attendees. All feedback gathered during the breakout session were reported back out table by table to the rest of the attendees at the end of the meeting to build consensus. 

Parking Programs

We have announced parking programs for North Central residents, addressing neighborhood concerns over parking loss related to San Mateo City Council’s Feb. 22, 2022 approval of the installation of bike lanes in North Central. Find detailed information about programs introduced in the North Central neighborhood on this page: www.cityofsanmateo.org/NCParking. 

Project Details

The North Central Bike Lanes project will construct theCDBG bike facility map
2nd and 4th highest priority projects in the
 2020 Bicycle Master Plan. New bike lanes and a bicycle boulevard will be installed on East Poplar Avenue, North Delaware Street, Indian Avenue, Humboldt Street, and Eldorado Street. Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page to view common questions and answers about this project.

We received funding from the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to implement pedestrian and bicycle improvements in the North Central neighborhood. In December 2021, project contractors installed ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps along E. Poplar Avenue and N. Claremont Street, N. Humboldt Street and Peninsula Avenue, and N. Humboldt Street and Indian Avenue. After City Council's Feb. 22, 2022 decision to proceed with the rest of the project, the contractors remobilized to implement the bicycle lanes, pavement improvements, striping and signage, signal improvements, a bicycle boulevard, and traffic calming treatments. 

Once completed, the project will further develop our bicycle network and create bicycle connections to Downtown San Mateo. 

Go to the Bicycle Master Plan webpage for a list of upcoming and in-progress bike projects.

Scope of Work

  • Pavement improvements, striping and signage, signal improvements, and traffic calming treatments. 
  • Bicycle lanes on East Poplar Avenue from El Camino Real to North Delaware Street, North Delaware Street from East Poplar Avenue to Indian Avenue, and Humboldt Street from Peninsula Avenue to 5th Avenue.
  • A bicycle boulevard and traffic calming treatments on Indian Avenue from Delaware Street to North Humboldt Street, Poplar Avenue from Delaware Street to Eldorado Street, and Eldorado Street from Poplar Avenue to Indian Avenue.

Community ChangesParking Removal Map - BMP NC Project

Changes to on-street parking and turning lanes are being implemented to accommodate all modes of transportation and evolve toward Complete Streets.

Parking will be removed in certain locations, on Poplar Avenue, Delaware Street, and Humboldt Street to fit the north-south and east-west Class II bike lanes (refer to map for specific locations). Additional parking spaces may be removed in the project area for increased safety for all users and better site visibility at intersections. 

The number of parking spaces to be removed:

Estimated number of parking spaces to be removed:

  • South side of Poplar Avenue from El Camino Real to Delaware Street - 43 spaces (approximate)
  • East side of Delaware Street between Poplar Avenue and Indian Avenue - 1 space (approximate) 
  • West side of Humboldt Street from Peninsula Avenue to 5th Avenue - 170 spaces (approximate) 

Schedule

The project was awarded to McGuire and Hester in fall 2021 and some improvement work started shortly after award. 

On Feb. 22, 2022, San Mateo City Council voted to implement the North Central Bike Lanes project, part of the citywide Bicycle Master Plan. View meeting below or click here. The bike lanes were completed in Spring 2022.

Notifications

Feb. 23, 2022  - Project Update postcard // Distribution maps: Map 1 Map 2, and Map 3 

Feb. 23, 2022 - Flyer Notice - distributed by Public Works staff on project corridors

Nov. 30, 2021 - Have Your Say postcard // Distribution maps: Map 1 Map 2, and Map 3 

Sept. 9, 2021 - Notice of Project Intent // Distribution maps: Map 1 Map 2, and Map 3

July/August 2021 - Lamppost Neighborhood Signs (in locations of future parking removal)

May 17, 2021 - North Central Virtual Community Meeting Flyer // Flyer distribution map

Public Meetings

City Council  - Public Meeting - Feb. 22, 2022

Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission - Public Meeting - Feb. 9, 2022

Virtual Community Meeting - Public Meeting - May 27, 2021