San Mateo residents living near the Caltrain tracks will wait longer for relief from train horns.
Construction on the city's Train Quiet Zone program, which would reduce routine horn blasts at two railroad crossings, has been pushed from late 2026 to spring 2027. The city needs more time to pursue additional funding, according to the city's quiet zone program page.
The San Mateo City Council on Aug. 18, 2025, directed staff to permanently close Villa Terrace and East Bellevue Avenue where they cross the tracks. Both streets will be converted into cul-de-sacs. Pedestrians, cyclists and drivers who currently use those crossings will be rerouted to East Poplar Avenue or Peninsula Avenue.
The project design is complete. The city is finalizing environmental review with Caltrans before construction can begin.
What changes for residents
Once the quiet zone is in place, trains will reduce routine horn sounding near those crossings. Horns may still be used near station platforms, in construction zones or when crews spot a hazard on the tracks. Locomotive bells and flashing lights at crossings will remain.
The city chose street closures over more expensive options. Quad gates and grade separations were ruled out at Villa Terrace and East Bellevue Avenue because of what the city described as significant cost and schedule implications. The city's program page does not list a total project budget.
Some driveways closest to the tracks may need adjustments, but the city said all driveway access will be maintained.
Traffic impact studied twice
A 2023 transportation impact analysis found that closing both streets would not create unacceptable traffic problems. The city updated the traffic data in 2025 and reached the same conclusion.
Before the council vote, the city published a public survey from July 9 to Aug. 12, 2025. A total of 252 residents responded.
Project history
Community complaints about train horn noise date to at least 2009. The council made the quiet zone a priority in 2017. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) first allowed cities to establish quiet zones in 2005.
San Mateo has nine at-grade rail crossings: Villa Terrace, East Bellevue Avenue, 1st through 5th avenues, 9th Avenue and Hayward Park Station. The city and Caltrain already upgraded 4th and 5th avenue crossings with four-quadrant gates funded by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). That work is now complete.
Separately, the city completed the $205.9 million 25th Avenue Grade Separation Project in 2021, which grade-separated three crossings.
Residents who want email updates on the quiet zone project can contact Karen Cornejo, assistant engineer, at [email protected] or (650) 522-7300. No upcoming council meeting on the project has been scheduled; the city said construction-related outreach will begin as the spring 2027 start date approaches.
