Honorable Mayor and City Council Members:
As a Central Menlo resident and frequent traveler of Middle Avenue and side streets by car, on foot, and by bicycle, I offer the following suggestions and observations:
PILOT - This is an excellent idea. However, a pilot must be conducted when the most common usage pattern and parking requirements are observable, not when families are likely to be away on vacation or when students are not attending any local school, including Stanford. Thus, a pilot should be implemented while school is in session this spring or in the fall, not over the summer as stated in the staff report.
OPTIONS - The design must balance the needs of residents who have no or limited parking available as well as the safety of cyclists and pedestrians on Middle AND on side streets. Because side streets are more narrow than Middle and do not necessarily have sidewalks, a shift of parking to side streets could well jeopardize the safety of pedestrians and cyclists on those streets. I personally favor options that preserve Middle parking near high demand/limited supply. Note that this can be revisited if/when traffic of all sorts increases dramatically along Middle Ave.
Assuming that the potential for an train track undercrossing being available is at least 5 years away because of CalTrains electrification project and the potential impacts of a subsequent grade separation project, the only near-term change in traffic might be from occupants of the Middle Plaza housing; given that Stanford has deemed that this housing is for academic purposes, there might well be shuttles to campus. Thus, it will be important to monitor use over time and potentially select another option if/when it is warranted.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS - The most treacherous section of Middle is the approach eastward past the Safeway shopping center and the gas station. The road is narrow and lacks any bike lanes. Drivers are hurrying to shop, get gas, and get back to El Camino. Motorists are not accustomed to looking for cyclists or pedestrians and cant easily see them currently. Sight lines are poor - especially for pedestrians and cyclists - with all the motor vehicle activity turning across lanes (left and right) and the current physical features/vegetation of the shopping center entrance at Middle.
The design should:
1. Maximize the street width, involving full use of city Right-of-Way or even wider if at all possible
2. Modify turning possibilities from/to the shopping center and gas station, considering that east-bound cyclists wishing to enter the shopping center currently must stop in the middle of the street amidst cars also turning left and cars exiting the parking lot to reach El Camino, and considering that cars exiting/entering will cross bike lanes and crosswalks.
3. Improve sight lines for motorists of cyclists and pedestrians, particularly at the exit from the shopping center, looking both directions from each lane
Additionally, paint crosswalks along Middle (and elsewhere!) with zebra striping, which helps motorists and cyclists see people in crosswalks. Most of the intersections along Middle are poorly lighted, and the type of painting being used recently on crosswalks doesnt seem to make people as visible as zebra striping. This is an important safety matter.
COMMUNICATION - Neighborhood meetings have been well attended, and very useful (thanks, Councilmembers Nash and Doerr, and staff!). But communication regarding some physical changes has shown there is room for improvement (e.g., the sudden appearance and disappearance of stop signs installed at San Mateo Drive with NO notice to an entire neighborhood dependent on that intersection as only one of two ways out). Additionally, explanations regarding the rationale for the stop signs at San Mateo Drive have come up short since there are other intersections where cyclists and motorists also make turns and where there are crosswalks but are where the plans dont include new stop signs. and other intersections where there are other traffic-slowing solutions (e.g., the flashing lights for the crossing of MUCH busier Santa Cruz Ave at San Mateo Drive). More thorough explanations would be helpful, especially if they consider the familiarity of residents with other intersections and other solutions that seem to address the same safety concerns.
As it becomes more safe to walk or cycle along Middle, it is critical that there be good communication about how to navigate beyond the project area. For example, how does a cycling family headed eastward along Middle get to Burgess park or the library in the 5+ year period before an undercrossing is available? If it isnt possible to go through Middle Plaza and Big 5 shopping center parking lots (really?), what options would be recommended?
Respectfully submitted,
Patti Fry
