The Dumbarton Corridor

In 2018, the San Mateo County Transit District kicked off a process with Cross Bay Transit Partners, LLC (Facebook and Plenary Americas) to evaluative the technical and financial feasibility of a transit project along the Dumbarton rail bridge, connecting the Caltrain corridor at Redwood City to the East Bay. In Spring 2020, the project was put on hold due to the global pandemic and was recently restarted through a partnership with Facebook to compile and document pre-environmental work of the alignment and technology options under consideration for the DRC Project. This effort will build on community coordination done to date and include public outreach - anticipated this Winter. The District is also maintaining a partnership with CBTP, now owned by Plenary Americas. Continuation of pre-environmental work is expected through 2021. MTC is leading an effort related to the Dumbarton Highway called Dumbarton Forward.

This effort follows the completion of the 2017 Dumbarton Transportation Corridor Study., and will consider the study's recommendations for the rail corridor. The Dumbarton Rail Corridor is a critical connector between residential neighborhoods in the East Bay and job centers on the San Francisco Peninsula. The District is exploring new, environmentally appropriate alternatives for a high quality, high-capacity public rail system. A strategic, community supported Dumbarton rail project could bring much-needed commute alternatives along with job and housing opportunities to the Bay Area.

Process / Timeline: 
  • Spring - Winter 2019: Kick-off Meetings with the Community and Stakeholders
  • Spring 2020 - Fall 2020: On Hold
  • Winter 2020: Public Outreach
  • Spring 2021: Completion of Pre-Environmental Documentation
  • Next Steps:
    • NEPA/CEQA Scoping
    • Alternatives Evaluation
    • Identification of preferred alternative
Environmental Review Process:

As the Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) lead agency, the District is responsible for the environmental review process and the certification of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The timing of the environmental review process is not clear at this time.

The District will prepare an EIR according to state requirements outlined in the CEQA and their Board of Supervisors will consider certification of the EIR. The project is also subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will be the lead federal agency for the project.