Dear City Council- Thank you for your diligent efforts working through a difficult period. I am writing in strong support of closing Santa Cruz Ave to automobile traffic in the downtown business district. This long overdue measure will reawaken and revitalize our downtown, providing merchants and restaurants a lifeline to climb out of the pandemic. Aside from the obvious social distancing benefits, it will finally become an attractive shopping area- a gathering place and magnet for our whole community- a safe pedestrian zone for children, families and seniors alike. Over time we could rival the vibrant pedestrian zones in Boulder, Colorado and Santa Monica. Please take this bold and courageous first step now to bring our downtown back to life. As a follow-on to this closer, I urge you to take action to calm traffic speeds as Menlo Park gradually returns to life. We have all seen our shared street infrastructure blossom with activity- every segment of the population, especially families, walking and bicycling for recreation, pleasure, and chores during the lockdown. This has been one of the few upsides to this crisis; neighbors connecting with neighbors without the fear and constant anxiety of speeding automobiles. Redwood City is taking such action- a slow streets initiative- to create a stronger, healthier, more connected community. The upside would be less traffic congestion as other travel modes are made safer, viable, and more pleasurable options. Pent-up demand for safe access to our shared street infrastructure has been on full display for the past several months. Let’s honor and build on it. Consider a citywide 25 MPH speed limit, and an even slower limit on non-arterial residential streets. Many cities around the country are taking these sensible, lifesaving steps. In addition, a more visible and rigorous policing of violators would help reinforce Menlo Park’s image as a welcoming place for active transportation. We’ve adopted Vision Zero and Complete Streets. Let make these great ideas a reality. Respectfully, Bill Kirsch Received on Sun May 10 2020 - 16:17:54 PDT
