CITY OF SAN MATEO, CA
North Central Livable Streets Plan
Project Type: Master Plan
Scale: 360 Acre Neighborhood
Start Date: Spring 2001
Status: Plan Adopted Mid 2003
Client: Ron Munekawa, Chief of Planning
Principal: Alison Kendall, AICP; Kendall Planning + Design with FTB Urban Design
The City hired Alison Kendall, Kendall Planning + Design, as prime consultant in association with Freedman Tung & Bottomley to develop a plan to increase the safety, convenience and livability of streets in the North Central neighborhood. The plan’s emphasis was on promoting walking, biking and transit use in this moderate income area conveniently close to downtown and a major rail transit center. The effort brought together public works, planning and neighborhood services and police department staff.
To leverage CDBG and regional transportation grant funds for planning, three types of streets – arterial, collector and local street- were identified for detailed analysis and proposals for street improvements. City staff and volunteers walked the three streets, identifying safety, maintenance and design issues. The survey data and traffic and accident patterns were analyzed by the consultants and discussed at an initial community workshop to identify community goals and concerns. Based on the workshop input and data analysis, guidelines for improving safety and livability connections throughout the area were developed. In addition, schematic street improvement plans and options were developed for the three major streets. After a second public workshop and City staff review, these were refined into proposed improvements plans for the Livable Streets Plan. The Plan was adopted with enthusiastic response from officials and neighbors. The City plans to pursue grant funding to implement street improvements to connect the neighborhood to the nearby train station.