San Mateo station

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|image1=San Mateo station 1908 postcard.jpg

|caption1=Original station site ({{circa|1908}})

|image2=Caltrain in San Mateo 3107 03.JPG

|caption2=Southbound Caltrain passing the present-day theater, the site of the original 3 stations}}

The first three stations serving downtown San Mateo were all located on the block bounded by 2nd and 3rd Avenues, Main Street, and Railroad Avenue.{{cite web |url=https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/kt496nd138/ |title=President McKinley's Visit #3 |date=1901 |website=Calisphere |publisher=San Mateo Public Library |access-date=8 March 2018}} On June 15, 1883, a "disastrous fire" destroyed San Mateo's Central block, located across the street from the station, but the original 1870s railroad depot itself was saved.{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=TG18830616.2.27 |title=Desolated by Fire. The Business Portion of San Mateo Burned to the Ground. |date=June 16, 1883 |newspaper=Times and Gazette |location=Redwood City |access-date=16 May 2024}}{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofsanmate00sanf |title=History of San Mateo County, California, including its geography, topography, geology, climatography, and description, together with an historical sketch of California; a record of the Mexican grants; the early history and settlement, compiled from the most authentic sources; some of the names of Spanish and American pioneers; legislative history; a record of its cities and towns; biographical sketches of representative men; etc., etc. |date=1883 |publisher=B.F. Alley |location=San Francisco |access-date=8 March 2018}}{{rp|233}} Antoine Borel donated a lot in the block destroyed by the fire which become the site of the first public library in San Mateo;{{cite web |url=https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/544/History-of-the-Library |title=History of the Library |publisher=San Mateo Public Library |access-date=8 March 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=TG18831208.2.17 |title=A Good Work. The Proposed Reading Room and Library for San Mateo. |date=December 8, 1883 |newspaper=Times and Gazette |location=Redwood City |access-date=16 May 2024}} that building, named "Library Hall", was destroyed in another fire in April 1887, on the day a meeting was held to organize a fire department, and rebuilt.{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SJMN18870407.2.6 |title=A Big Blaze. San Mateo's Large Hall Destroyed. |date=April 7, 1887 |newspaper=San Jose Daily Mercury |access-date=16 May 2024}}{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/hometownsanfranc0000flam_x4f8/ |title=San Mateo: A Centennial History |first=Mitchell P. |last=Postel |date=1994 |url-access=registration |publisher=Scottwall Associates |location=San Francisco |isbn=0-942087-08-9}}{{rp|86–87;91;95}} It later was converted to serve as City Hall and subsequently other city uses.{{cite web |url=https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/kt596nd2js/ |title=Levy Brothers covered coach at the San Mateo train depot |website=Calisphere |publisher=San Mateo Public Library |access-date=8 March 2018}}

The original depot building was replaced at the same location in 1891. That depot and Library Hall both sustained damage in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.{{cite web |url=https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/kt8k4027tx/ |title=1906 Earthquake Damage to Southern Pacific Railroad Equipment |date=April 1906 |website=Calisphere |publisher=San Mateo Public Library |access-date=8 March 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/kt1v19q6nj/ |title=Library Hall roof damage due to 1906 earthquake |date=April 1906 |website=Calisphere |publisher=San Mateo Public Library |access-date=8 March 2018}} In 1925, a third depot building replaced the 1891 structure, again at the same site. The San Francisco Municipal Railway 40 San Mateo interurban line terminated at this station.{{cite book | title=San Francisco's Interurban to San Mateo | chapter=Introduction | chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l6iYSkBnTD8C&dq=san+francisco+mateo+railway&pg=PA7 | first=Walter | last=Vielbaum | publisher=Arcadia Publishing | year=2005 | isbn=0738530085 | page=31 |display-authors=etal}}{{cite web |title=San Mateo 40 Line | date=February 21, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3GJsv0iiOs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/d3GJsv0iiOs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|publisher=Market Street Railway |access-date=10 April 2019}}{{cbignore}} Today, this site holds a 12-screen cinema, and a mural in its courtyard pays homage to Library Hall.

In 1975, a fourth station opened one block south of the first three, between 3rd and 4th Avenues. Library Hall and the 1925 railroad depot were both subsequently torn down in 1976, and a parking structure was erected on the old site.{{cite web |url=http://www.bayrailalliance.org/peninsula_commuter_rail_history |title=Peninsula Commuter Rail History |publisher=BayRail Alliance |access-date=7 March 2018}} Trains stopping at this station would block automobile traffic on major downtown streets, since the center boarding platform was between 3rd and 4th.{{cite web |url=http://caltrain-hsr.blogspot.com/2009/07/focus-on-san-mateo.html |title=Focus on: San Mateo |author=Tillier, Clem |date=5 July 2009 |website=Caltrain-HSR Compatibility Blog |access-date=7 March 2018}} This station was replaced in 2000, following the completion of an $11 million project to relocate the rail stop.

The fifth and current station is sited completely north of 1st Avenue, so vehicular and pedestrian traffic on nearby streets are no longer blocked by trains stopped at its platforms. This incarnation of the San Mateo Station opened in September 2000. A large mural entitled "Mr. Ralston Racing the Train", showing a race between a stagecoach and the train, was painted in 2000 by Nick Motley and "Little" Bobby Duncan under a commission from Eric Pennington on the exterior of an auto body shop at 1st and Railroad, near the south end of the northbound platform.{{cite web |url=http://www.cityartsofsanmateo.org/art_gallery_of_san_mateo.htm |title=Sculptures and Public Art Pieces in San Mateo |publisher=City arts of San Mateo |access-date=9 March 2018}} A new mural replaced it in 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.wescover.com/p/murals-by-brian-barneclo-at-downtown-san-mateo-caltrain--PS1qcebw6vmb |title=Good Life 2017 |date=2017 |publisher=Wescover |access-date=8 March 2018}} The replacement, entitled "Good Life", was painted by Brian Barneclo, who also created one of the longest murals in San Francisco near the 4th and King station.{{cite web |url=https://laughingsquid.com/the-systems-mural-project-by-brian-barneclo-the-largest-mural-in-san-francisco-measures-600-feet-long/ |title=The Systems Mural Project by Brian Barneclo, The Largest Mural in San Francisco Measures 600 Feet Long |author=Beale, Scott |date=30 July 2012 |publisher=Laughing Squid |access-date=8 March 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Brian-Barneclo-painting-Systems-Mural-Project-2311446.php |title=Brian Barneclo painting 'Systems Mural Project' |author=Vaziri, Aidin |date=2 September 2011 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=8 March 2018}}

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File:Low clearance (8'6") bridge for the railroad at Tilton. San Mateo. (41038543161).jpg

Just north of the station are four steel rail bridges crossing (from south to north) Tilton, Monte Diablo, E. Santa Inez, and E. Poplar avenues, the earliest grade separations on the Southern Pacific Coast Line (between San Francisco and Gilroy) and among the earliest grade separations in the entire state.{{cite report |url=http://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/ca/ca3700/ca3756/data/ca3756data.pdf |title=Tilton Avenue Underpass (Bridge No. 35C0087), HAER No. CA-2277 |author1=McMorris, Christopher |author2=Miller, Chandra |date=June 2010 |publisher=Historic American Engineering Record, National Park Service, Pacific West Region |access-date=7 March 2018}}{{rp|14}} The four rail bridges were built by the American Bridge Company for Southern Pacific in 1903, and sacrificial steel beams were added in 2006 to prevent damage from vehicle strikes. The bridges had low vertical clearances as they predate the prevalence of automobile transport:

• Tilton: {{convert|8|ft|6|in|abbr=on}}{{rp|3}}
• Monte Diablo: {{convert|11|ft|1|in|abbr=on}}{{cite report |url=http://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/ca/ca3700/ca3755/data/ca3755data.pdf |title=Monte Diablo Avenue Underpass, HAER No. CA-2276 |author1=McMorris, Christopher |author2=Miller, Chandra |date=June 2010 |publisher=Historic American Engineering Record, National Park Service, Pacific West Region |access-date=7 March 2018}}{{rp|2}} Since 2016: {{convert|13|ft|2|in|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://www.caltrain.com/projectsplans/Projects/Caltrain_Capital_Program/San_Mateo_Bridges_Replacement_Project.html |title=San Mateo Bridges Replacement Project |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |access-date=7 March 2018}}
• Santa Inez: {{convert|12|ft|3|in|abbr=on}}{{cite report |url=http://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/ca/ca3700/ca3754/data/ca3754data.pdf |title=Santa Inez Avenue Underpass (Bridge No. 35C0090), HAER No. CA-2275 |author1=McMorris, Christopher |author2=Miller, Chandra |date=June 2010 |publisher=Historic American Engineering Record, National Park Service, Pacific West Region |access-date=7 March 2018}}{{rp|2}} Since 2016: {{convert|15|ft|0|in|abbr=on}}
• Poplar: {{convert|13|ft|abbr=on}}{{cite report |url=http://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/ca/ca3700/ca3753/data/ca3753data.pdf |title=East Poplar Avenue Underpass (Bridge No. 35C0091), HAER No. CA-2274 |author1=McMorris, Christopher |author2=Miller, Chandra |date=June 2010 |publisher=Historic American Engineering Record, National Park Service, Pacific West Region |access-date=7 March 2018}}{{rp|2}} Since 2016: {{convert|15|ft|0|in|abbr=on}}

Because the original rail bridges did not meet modern seismic safety standards, Caltrain and the City of San Mateo replaced the bridges during a project completed in October 2016. Planning for the bridge replacement started over a decade earlier.{{cite news |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/rail-bridge-upgrade-raises-concerns/article_bed0bbec-34b3-529d-acd8-d3e66076af37.html |title=Rail bridge upgrade raises concerns |author=Choi, Yunmi |date=10 July 2003 |newspaper=San Mateo Daily Journal |access-date=7 March 2018}} Although increasing the vertical clearance below the tracks was studied{{cite report |url=http://www.caltrain.com/Assets/Noise+$!26+Vibration+Study.pdf |title=Final Noise and Vibration Study: Caltrain replacement or reconstruction of seven bridges |author=Parsons |date=August 15, 2006 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |access-date=7 March 2018}}{{rp|1}} and was meant to be accomplished by raising tracks up to {{convert|4|ft|6|in|abbr=on}} over their current elevation,{{cite web |url=http://www.caltrain.com/Assets/October+2014+Community+Meeting+Presentation.pdf |title=San Mateo Bridges Replacement Project |date=October 2, 2014 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |access-date=7 March 2018}} an exemption was granted in 2014 to allow the low clearances at Monte Diablo and Tilton to continue, as raising the clearances at those bridges would also raise the track profile through the San Mateo station, requiring the platforms to be rebuilt.{{cite web |url=http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M089/K147/89147688.docx |title=Resolution SX-110, Granting authorization to deviate from the provisions of Section 12.1 of General Order 26-D requiring a minimum vertical clearance of 15 feet above the roadway at the grade-separated highway-rail crossings at Monte Diablo Avenue and Tilton Avenue in the City of San Mateo in San Mateo County |date=1 May 2014 |publisher={{DOClink}} Public Utilities Commission of the State of California |access-date=7 March 2018}} Lowering the roadways was not possible due to interference with subsurface utilities.{{cite web |url=http://www.caltrain.com/Assets/FAQs.pdf |title=San Mateo Bridges Replacement Project Public Meeting FAQs |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |access-date=7 March 2018 |quote=28. Did Caltrain assess the viability of lowering the roads rather than raising the rail bridges and berms?
{{pad|1.0em}}a. Yes. There are two reasons why lowering the streets is not viable in this case. One there are gravity fed sewers just below grade level which would conflict with the lowering, and secondly: in order to lower the streets, private driveways would need to be purchased and lowered and in some cases this is not feasible due to the geometry.}} The underpass at Tilton remains at {{convert|8|ft|6|in|abbr=on}} of vertical clearance, more than {{convert|3|ft}} less than the 11 foot 8 Bridge in North Carolina.{{trivia inline|date=January 2022|reason=Trivia?}}

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{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.caltrain.com/stations/sanmateostation.html Caltrain San Mateo station page]
• {{cite web |url=http://www.caltrain.com/projectsplans/Projects/Caltrain_Capital_Program/San_Mateo_Bridges_Replacement_Project/San_Mateo_Bridges_Photos.html?

|title=San Mateo Bridges Photos |date=2006 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |access-date=7 March 2018}}

• {{cite web |url=https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/DocumentCenter/View/7620 |title=Downtown Area Plan |date=February 2009 |publisher=City of San Mateo |access-date=8 March 2018}}

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Category:Caltrain stations in San Mateo County, California

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 2000

Category:Former Southern Pacific Railroad stations in California