Dear Menlo Park City Council and Angela Obeso (MP Transportation Projection Manager),
My name is Shasank Chavan and I'm a resident of Menlo Park. I have been following the grade separation discussion on and off now,
but I haven't followed it closely till recently. It came to my attention recently that you are considering two alternative grade
separation options: 1) trench/tunnel and 2) fully elevated/viaduct option. I'm very happy to hear about (1) - tunnel - because I
feel that's the direction our city should go - smart, long-term planning, visually aesthetic since it visually impairs nothing,
and generally agreed upon by everyone *if cost wasn't a factor*. However, (2) - elevated/viaduct - is disappointing to me. I'm
very worried about turning our city into something like San Carlos, where the elevated tracks are both distasteful to look at and
loud (I work in the surrounding areas and know). Commuter trains and tracks should be provided for functionality (make it easier
for people to go from A to B), but not to make it a focal point of our city - we shouldn't have to see (or hear) the trains, but
we should have them to make transportation easier.
Anyways, I hope you take my comments into consideration. I love Menlo Park - been here for 15 years - and I think we should really
be thinking more about being smart with our designs (swallow the costs of the tunnel, but look forward to what it will bring our
city for the next generation). My son goes to Encinal Elementary school, and he says that even during recess he can hear the
trains blaring their horns by. I'm a proponent of quiet zones like Atherton, and would hope we could have that as well, as it
seems to be working for them. Thanks.
- Shasank Chavan (207 Felton Dr, Menlo Park)
