Dear Mayor Nash, Members of the Menlo Park City Council and Staff,
I am writing in strong support of Agenda Item J2 and the resolution to make the Coleman Avenue Pilot project permanent (Staff Report #26-151-CC).
Projects like Coleman Avenue are an important part of creating a safer, more connected transportation network in Menlo Park—particularly for children and families traveling to and from school. For many families, the decision to allow a child to bike or walk is not based on distance, but on whether the route feels safe. Protected bike lanes, traffic calming, and safer intersections reduce the conflicts between people driving, biking, and walking and make active transportation a realistic option for a much broader range of residents.
Safe Routes to School should be a particularly important consideration. School arrival and dismissal are among the busiest times on our neighborhood streets, and encouraging more students to bike, walk, or use other forms of micromobility has benefits well beyond the individual rider. Every trip that can safely be made without a car helps reduce school-related vehicle congestion, improves visibility and predictability on our streets, and makes the environment safer for everyone—including those who still need to drive.
The Coleman Avenue pilot represents exactly the kind of incremental, data-informed approach Menlo Park should continue to pursue: identify an important route, test improvements, evaluate their performance, and retain successful safety measures. Making the project permanent also sends an important signal that Menlo Park is committed to building a connected network of safe routes rather than isolated segments that end precisely where riders need protection most.
I strongly encourage the Council to adopt the resolution and make the Coleman Avenue Pilot permanent. I also hope the City will continue to prioritize protected bicycle infrastructure and Safe Routes to School throughout Menlo Park so that walking, biking, and micromobility become safe and practical choices for residents of all ages.
Thank you for your consideration and for your continued work to improve transportation safety in our community.
Thank you,
Molly Ackley
Willows Neighborhood
