Esteemed City Council
I am writing to encourage you to accelerate as much as possible the landscaping of the Willow Road and US HWy 101 interconnect. The old trees were removed at the beginning of the project, back in 2017, and the surrounding communities have been without canopy since then. This impacts the environment while crossing the bridge, especially as a pedestrian or a bicyclist, and it also impacts the quality of the air in surrounding areas.
Looking at the staff report to be presented today (Aug 29th, 2023), it seems the current schedule could take 3 years before starting the planting, and then 3 more years before the trees are established - I am counting creating and reviewing the construction documents, and then submitting to bids, reviewing and awarding the project, and waiting for the right time to start planting (winter and early spring). In the meantime we will go through additional hot summers, as our climate continues to heat.
I know this topic is an important one to the District 1 residents; Ive attended several meetings where this has been raised.
Thanks for listening.
Eduardo Pelegri-Llopart, The Willows, Menlo Park.
