Hello!
I read that you are considering converting Santa Cruz Ave entirely back to vehicle traffic. That would be a real shame. A major missed opportunity. The pilot program forced by COVID-19 has been a chance to try out a new safer and more social downtown. It is better! So much better!
Outdoor dining is a no-brainer in a place with such great weather. Why would we give this up? And with Omicron surging it is certainly too soon to return to pre-COVID habits, even if we wanted to.
And seeing teenagers socializing in the public space created is heartwarming, and very safe! What better place to have them than in the heart of the town. This and Bon Marché in downtown, are just a couple examples of what can happen when Menlo Park takes back the versatile central public space that is Santa Cruz Ave. Why not have the farmer's market in the center of downtown instead of off in a parking lot? The possibilities for Santa Cruz Ave are endless.
Parking is a non-issue in my opinion: the downtown is surrounded by parking lots, and they seem to rarely fill up, if ever. If it did, street parking within a couple blocks is beyond abundant. The negligible number of spots right in front of a particular shop do not add much parking, but do reduce safety for everyone by mixing pedestrian traffic with automobile traffic. This is particularly bad for young children who are by nature unpredictable and adventurous.
Similarly, through traffic for automobiles is also not necessary. Downtown is surrounded by quicker and safer roads. Even if for some reason you keep parking and passenger automobiles on Santa Cruz Ave, diverting bollards would increase safety by calming speeds and eliminating through traffic.
Personally, I would like to see Santa Cruz Ave fully pedestrianized. Then I could let my young children navigate it more freely and joyfully, knowing that they would be safe if they stepped off the sidewalks.
Kenneth Knowles
Downtown Menlo Park, CA
