Dear City Council Members - I want to take a moment to thank you for working to make Menlo Park safer for pedestrians and cyclists. In these times when many of us are getting more exercise outdoors, the many upgrades for pedestrians along Santa Cruz are a constant reminder that with concerted effort we can make our community nicer and safer. Today I’m writing a note that can hopefully be included in the record around the September 9, 2020 “Complete Streets Commission” meeting. Specifically, I wanted to voice my support in favor of upgrading the portion of Sharon Road leading to La Entrada from Alameda de Las Pulgas, a segment that is particularly treacherous for our young students. As a parent who has walked 2 daughters to La Entrada along this stretch, I attest to the lack of safety to pedestrians along this segment. Frequently, there are either cars parked or puddles in the winter both of which force our kids towards the center of the street to make forward progress. This puts them in harm’s way at a time when there is more traffic on the street (mainly from parents dropping their kids at school). The hazardous conditions are really quite evident to anyone who spends a morning witnessing the situation. The #1 hazard to school age children in the USA is traffic accidents; and here we have a specific case where we can help mitigate a dangerous situation. My preference would be for there to be proper sidewalks (Pathway Option #1), but anything that can be done to make it safer is better than doing nothing. In fact, we have a perfect opportunity to intervene now (while distance learning is in effect) as construction should be of lesser impact at the moment. Please take the safety of our children into consideration and act to improve this situation ASAP. Best Regards, Neil _____________________________ Neil C. Barman, M.D. neilbarman_at_(domainremoved) mobile: +1.650.248.8387 _____________________________ Sharon Road sidewalk [School-children-walking-on-Sharon-Road] On January 15, the City held a meeting at La Entrada Middle School to present design concepts for the Sharon Road Sidewalk project. The project proposes safer access to La Entrada Middle School with a new pathway on the north side of Sharon Road from Alameda de las Pulgas to Altschul Avenue. The existing site is partially paved and lacks a continuous accessible walking path. This presents a challenge for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles navigating the area. Additionally, rain creates large puddles next to the street, which forces pedestrians into the travel lane. Over 30 people, including residents and middle school parents, learned more about the project and how it could improve public safety and connection to the school. The City presented renderings and plans of the following design concepts: * General improvements * Mitigate ponding by eliminating low-points and installing gutters to the storm drain * Install curb ramps and a connecting walkway at Sharon Road and Altschul Avenue * Sharrow markings for shared bicycle and vehicle lanes along Sharon Road * Pathway Option 1 – Concrete sidewalk This option consists of a raised concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk, which would remove parking on the north side of Sharon Road. The elevated curb and color of the sidewalk may act as a barrier to traffic. The concrete sidewalk could also affect street width perception for drivers, and thus reduce traffic speed. * Pathway Option 2 – Asphalt walkway This option consists of a new asphalt walkway and valley gutter at street level. The concrete valley gutter would act as a separation between the asphalt walkway and the street, possibly allowing for time-restricted parking beyond school hours where there is available width. The advantages and disadvantages of these preliminary designs were discussed. Participants shared input on pedestrian/bicycle safety, school travel, ADA compliance, parking removal and drainage. The City will continue to collect feedback through the public outreach phase before pursuing next steps. Upcoming meeting The City will host a virtual Complete Streets Commission meetin https://www.menlopark.org/calendar.aspx?EID=6017 >g on September 9, 2020, at 7 p.m. Staff will use this forum to discuss project updates and introduce design recommendations based on previous public engagement and input. Received on Thu Aug 13 2020 - 12:30:33 PDT
