Dear Members of the City Council,
1. Now that we are on the other side of the pandemic, parking downtown is becoming difficult. Many spaces in the parking lots are being taken up by tents that are no longer being used. When will those unused tents be removed? Every parking space matters.
2. The road closure between Evelyn and Crane continues to be a major inconvenience to drivers and hazard to bicyclists and pedestrians. None of the restaurants nor merchants on that block are using the closed street (Galta Bistro has a new parklet and does not use the street for seating). Meanwhile, every business downstream suffers from the diversion of would-be customers. Menlo Park’s businesses and residents do not understand why that block has not yet been re-opened to traffic, a sentiment reflected in the June 22 Almanac News blog by Dana Hendrickson.* Is there a reason this block has not been opened?
Thank you,
Teresa Beltramo
Teresa’s Antiques
842 Santa Cruz Ave.
* From June 22, Almanac News Blog: https://www.almanacnews.com/blogs/p/2021/06/22/downtown-menlo-park-is-not-simply-recovering-its-emerging-with-greater-vibrancy-here-is-how-to-enjoy-it
“… the closure of the eastbound lane between Evelyn and Crane provides minimal benefits for the community but has two big negative impacts. First, vehicle traffic attempting to enter downtown both from the west end of Santa Cruz and from University (next to Fremont Park) is immediately blocked at Evelyn and redirected to Menlo Avenue. This closure surprises, inconveniences and irritates motorists. Also, after school, Hillview students regularly bypass the street barrier and ride bikes against vehicle traffic using the opposite westbound lane. While this unsafe behavior has been repeatedly reported to the city, nothing has been done to stop it. This situation creates bicyclist and motorist safety and city liability exposures.”
