Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Tory A. Newman, Director, Department of Public Works
Subject: Ringwood Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Project - Grant Application
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution supporting the Ringwood Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Project and authorizing submittal of an application to the San Mateo County Transportation Authority for Cycle 8 Pedestrian and Bicycle Program Funding.
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BACKGROUND:
Ringwood Avenue, between Middlefield Road and Bay Road, is located in the unincorporated area of Menlo Oaks, with its southernmost segment in the City of Menlo Park. The roadway carries approximately 6,900 vehicles per day and serves Menlo-Atherton High School and Laurel School Lower Campus (kindergarten through second grade). Existing conditions include Class II bike lanes and pedestrian facilities that vary from sidewalks to paved shoulders.
From 2022 to 2024, the County, in partnership with the City of Menlo Park, led the Coleman and Ringwood Avenues Transportation Study (Study), which included four phases of community engagement and was completed in September 2024. The Study identified a preferred alternative for Ringwood Avenue that retains the existing bike lanes, adds a potential off-street pathway on the west side of the corridor adjacent to the schools, installs a potential protected bike lane near Laurel School Lower Campus, and includes potential traffic calming measures and crosswalk improvements. The Study estimates that between 16 and 25 of the approximately 425 trees along the corridor could be affected, depending on subsequent design development and an arborist's assessment.
In August 2026, the County’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee unanimously ranked the Ringwood Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Project (Project) as its top priority for San Mateo County Transportation Authority’s Cycle 8 Pedestrian and Bicycle Program (Cycle 8) funding.
On October 15, 2026, BPAC voted to support the Project and authorized its Chair to submit a letter of support to the San Mateo County Transportation Authority.
DISCUSSION:
The Department of Public Works (Department) is seeking $2,000,000 from the Cycle 8 funding for community outreach, preliminary engineering, and environmental clearance for the Project. The total cost of these phases is estimated at $2,222,222, of which $222,222 will be a local match using Senate Bill 1 funds.
If awarded funding, the Department will implement a robust community engagement process to further evaluate and refine project design alternatives in partnership with residents, schools, and other stakeholders.
The engagement process will focus on identifying a preferred alternative that responds to community priorities while advancing the project’s safety, mobility, and environmental objectives. Key considerations will include minimizing impacts to existing trees and neighborhood character; improving safe, convenient multimodal travel for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and motorists; and providing safer access to local schools for children and families. Community input will directly inform subsequent design development and help ensure that the proposed improvements are practical, equitable, and responsive to the needs of the surrounding community.
The San Mateo County Transportation Authority requires submission of a resolution of local support for the Project to qualify for funding.
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The Project will improve safety and access for students, families, older adults, and residents of Menlo Oaks who walk and bicycle along Ringwood Avenue, including those traveling to Menlo-Atherton High School and Laurel School Lower Campus. Through continued planning, technical analysis, and community engagement, the Project will evaluate and refine potential strategies to improve travel conditions, reduce conflicts among roadway users, and support safer, more comfortable access for people of all ages and abilities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for supporting the grant application.