*Dear City Council members,*
My name is Kevin Rennie from the Willows neighborhood, and I am writing as
a private citizen to strongly urge immediate action to improve safety on El
Camino Real through quick-build pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure—and
to address climate change alongside the broader lack of a connected,
low-stress mobility network in Menlo Park and our neighboring communities.
Climate change is the greatest public health threat of our time,
exacerbating chronic illness, mental health challenges, and economic
hardship—especially for children and low-income communities. Here in
California, we are already experiencing widespread impacts—from extreme
heat, droughts, and wildfires to coastal erosion and sea-level rise. These
changes are accelerating, and the most vulnerable communities bear the
greatest burden in health and safety. By mid-century, California will face
longer and more intense heat waves, a diminished snowpack, and more severe
wildfire seasons. Coastal communities will be hit by flooding and
infrastructure damage, while marine ecosystems suffer from warming,
acidification, and oxygen loss.
El Camino Real (ECR) is the deadliest road in the Bay Area, with 129 lives
lost between 2002 and 2022. In Palo Alto—which has just completed safety
improvements to ECR—someone walking or biking on El Camino was injured
nearly every month, often a child or teen. In Menlo Park, this corridor
remains a two-mile gap in what could be a continuous 13-mile protected bike
lane stretching across the Peninsula. The citys own 2014 study—and ongoing
public input—shows strong support for bike and pedestrian safety
improvements over vehicle lane expansion. Yet progress remains stalled.
Menlo Park still lacks a connected, high-safety bike and pedestrian
network, with major sidewalk and protected bike lane gaps that make travel
dangerous—especially for students, seniors, and transit riders. Community
surveys have repeatedly emphasized the need for safer crossings, separated
lanes, and traffic calming. Meanwhile, the infrastructure remains unclear
and unsafe for walking, biking, and other micro-mobility options, despite
growing demand and availability.
A critical starting point would be *quick-build projects*, which offer a
powerful, cost-effective way to address this crisis. Tools like protected
bike lanes with Qwick Kurb channelizing systems, two-stage bike turn queue
boxes, and “No Right Turn on Red” signage can dramatically improve
safety—fast. While many cities have used quick-build techniques to protect
vulnerable road users, Caltrans has yet to apply these solutions on state
routes like El Camino Real in Menlo Park, even though these roads double as
local streets through dense communities.
We can’t wait any longer. El Camino Real must be transformed into a safe,
connected, and climate-friendly corridor. Quick-build infrastructure can
make a difference now—for safety, for equity, and for sustainability. I
urge city leaders to act boldly and without delay.
Thank you for your time and your commitment to a safer, more connected
Menlo Park.
Sincerely,
*Kevin Rennie*
Resident, Willows Neighborhood
