Half Moon Bay Awarded State Grant for Improvements at Surfer’s Beach Public Access Point

For Immediate Release
February 18, 2020

Contact: Jessica Blair
Half Moon Bay Communications Director/City Clerk
(650) 726-8271

Half Moon Bay Awarded State Grant for Improvements at Surfer’s Beach Public Access Point

Half Moon Bay, CA – The City of Half Moon Bay, working in concert with the San Mateo County Harbor District, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $298,000 grant from the California Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), to be used toward significant public amenity improvements to a day-use parking area accessing Surfer’s Beach and the California Coastal Trail. The day-use parking area is on the southern end of a parcel owned by the Harbor District, which maintains the Coastal Trail segment running through this property. The grant was awarded on November 20, 2019.

The Harbor District is coordinating the project in partnership with the City of Half Moon Bay to enhance the visitor experience for pedestrians, bicyclists, and beach-goers in this heavily-used location by improving the day-use parking area with a new public restroom structure, ADA parking spaces, and additional amenities.

“This is an extremely popular spot, drawing hundreds of visitors every day to the great beach access, the Coastal Trail, and our wonderful coastline,” said Half Moon Bay Mayor Adam Eisen. “But there are no nearby restrooms, few benches or resting spots, and really no other amenities. This project will provide some great improvements, including additional ADA accessibility. This partnership between the City and the Harbor District will offer the community a much better experience.”

Among the improvements are three all-gender, accessible restroom stalls, drinking fountains, an outdoor shower, and ADA-compliant parking spaces. Additionally, an area leading from the Coastal Trail to the restrooms will provide space for pedestrians and bicyclists to safely pull off the trail with room to gather without impeding trail traffic, and will include educational/informational signage, benches, bicycle racks, a pet waste station, and trash and recycling receptacles.

These amenities will benefit locals and visitors, trail-users and beach-goers, and people of all types of physical abilities.The ADA improvements in particular will support access to one of the few locations along the City’s coastline where individuals needing access accommodations can get this close to the shoreline without encountering challenging grade changes caused by steep bluffs or wide sand dunes.

The day-use parking area will be reconfigured to include a total of eight ADA parking spaces with an ADA-compliant path leading to the accessible restroom stalls and the Coastal Trail. An approximately 200-foot segment of the Coastal Trail will be realigned inland between 10 and 20 feet, and will include three additional benches to augment the existing two that provide a public place to rest and view the ocean and Surfer’s Beach.

“The Harbor District is extremely excited to partner with the City of Half Moon Bay in bringing this wonderful project to life,” said San Mateo County Harbor District Board President Nancy Reyering. “The tremendous improvements will provide much needed facilities, parking and EV charging stations, greatly enhancing access and the experience for visitors of the Coastal Trail, the Harbor, and Surfers Beach.”

The total estimated cost of the project is $896,101, with the Harbor District responsible for the additional funds needed beyond the grant amount. The Harbor District will manage the construction, and will continue to coordinate with the City in pursuit of additional grant funding to reduce the local cost of the project. The Harbor District has already distributed a Request for Proposals to begin final design and engineering plans for the project. The next steps include entering into a funding agreement with MTC. The project is expected to begin construction in late 2021, with completion anticipated for late 2022.

Located 28 miles south of San Francisco, the City of Half Moon Bay is a community of about 12,500 people, situated on the peninsula between forested hills and some of the most beautiful coastlines that California has to offer. Its historic downtown is home to numerous shops, art galleries, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and other businesses, and its celebrated beaches and parks are wonders of nature, accessible to pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians. With its many activities and events, beautiful natural scenery, old-town charm, and abundance of retail and commercial services, Half Moon Bay is a regional destination. The City’s website is www.hmbcity.com.