Dear City of Menlo Park:
I am perplexed by the currently underway Middle Avenue repaving project fronting Nealon Park. I have watched as street parking was remove, repaved, and have now learned will be reconstituted in the same dangerous perpendicular parking configuration fronting Middle Ave.
Perplexed because the City is supposedly engaged in a planning process to make this corridor safer for all users, and adequate off-street parking to serve all of Nealon Park exists in the large parking lot along the side and behind the park. The parking may not be as convenient, but would be safer for all concerned, and safety should be our priority.
The City recently held community meetings to guide staff in creating a holistic plan to finally make the Middle Ave corridor safer for all users, motorized and non-motorized alike. And this the result? I didn’t hear calls for the parking to remain in the meeting I attended.
This is a shameful missed opportunity for the City to execute on its declared design goals of complete streets (safe for all users) and vision zero (eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roadways). A well designed corridor aligned with these goals, encouraging non motorized transport, could also help to reduce automotive Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT- another stated but so far dormant City goal).
It makes no sense to have undertaken this nearly one-half million dollar ill-timed, disingenuous, and money-wasting project. Restoring the on-street parking with permanent hardscape further codifies the precarious conditions that have existed for so long for all users, those visiting the park as well as travelers along the corridor, and will make it costly and perhaps impractical to replace once a thoroughly vetted plan is approved. It will severely dilute any attempts to improve safety. Our City is apparently content to allow this configuration to live on for another generation.
It’s hypocritical for our City to claim the mantle of climate action, vision zero and complete streets while continuing to elevate the needs and convenience of the automobile above the safety of all other road users.
When will these attitudes change?
Bill Kirsch
Partridge Ave
Menlo Park
