North Fair Oaks Middlefield Rd. road diet and bike lanes approved!

On Tuesday, October 21st, I attended the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors meeting at which they unanimously approved the North Fair Oaks Community Council's design recommendations for Middlefield between 5th and Pacific, including: 3 lanes (from the existing 4), bike lanes, wide sidewalks and parallel parking to replace the current diagonal parking!As this has been one of our priority campaigns under our Connecting our Communities Initiative, I spoke in favor of the project and process and why these changes would help to contribute to a safer and more vibrant Middlefield. The next steps will include a preliminary design, at which point we will be able to comment more, and some additional reports on parking, signalization and business sustainability. The Board was particularly complimentary of the public outreach process, which included multiple community and stakeholder meetings, a survey that gathered almost 2,000 respondents, and lots of publicity. All materials were available in both English and Spanish, including public presentations.A significant part of this process was the business outreach. A majority of business owners, even those who run auto-related businesses, were in favor of adding bike lanes and changing the parking from diagonal to parallel parking. They recognized how bicycling is a key transportation option for many of their customers and neighbors. In addition, the Board approved a business sustainability plan, to help retain the many locally owned businesses in this area.We feel these design features will help the community achieve its goals for a safe and vibrant corridor in addition to closing a gap in the County bike network and providing opportunities for active transportation. The road diet from four to three lanes will provide the space necessary for protected bike lanes and wider sidewalks which will create a more welcoming and safer environment for all roadway users, including seniors, schoolchildren and people who bike. Transforming this road will also encourage residents to walk and bike, increasing health, bolstering local businesses and producing a greater community atmosphere.Thanks to all the people who helped make this happen, including SVBC's San Mateo County Committee, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, North Fair Oaks Forward, and the North Fair Oaks Community Council!