Dear City Council Members,
First, I'd like to thank you for the work you've done in Menlo Park to improve bicycle access and pedestrian safety. For example,
the Oak Grove Bike Boulevard project is a terrific change and I hope it becomes a permanent one. I visit Oak Grove businesses
two-three times per week in my car at busy lunch and after work times, yet have not had any increased difficulty in parking around
Oak Grove. This is a super improvement to our city. Thank you!
Second, I'm writing to encourage you to continue to prioritize bicycle and pedestrian safety in your 2018 Council Work Plan,
specifically as it relates to Safe School Routes. I have written to you the past about the dangerous situation we have on Middle
Avenue right now and I know you're aware of the unsafe scenario that hundreds of young riders face on that street each day. I urge
you to take action before we experience a preventable tragedy.
Finally, I am in support of the following message from Parents for Safe Routes:> "On Tuesday night you will be discussing the
priorities to be included in the 2018 Council Work Plan in anticipation of your goal setting meeting to be held on January 29th.
One year ago you included the Willows Neighborhood Complete Streets Study (which includes the Laurel Safe Routes to School Study)
and the initiation of a Citywide Safe Routes to School Program in your 2017 goals. Thank you again. Parents for Safe Routes
strongly encourages you to maintain these two priorities at the top of your list. Given the continued challenges that kids face
daily trying to get to school safely, it is critical that these projects move forward in a timely manner.
> In addition to the continued focus on the above-mentioned priorities, we would also like to see the City prioritize the
Middlefield Road and Linfield Drive Crosswalk Improvements. This past summer, the Menlo Park Fire District generously offered to
fund 50% of a much-needed safety improvement at this crossing location. Rather than pushing for the project at that time and
likely upending other approved projects, Parents for Safe Routes honored the City's prioritization process and decided to wait
until the appropriate time to lobby for this improvement. That time is now. Please do not forget the over 70 people who signed a
petition to the Fire Board back in June, the 10 who wrote personal letters to the Fire Chief and the handful who spoke up at the
Fire Board meeting. The Almanac article about this project is here
https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2017/06/22/menlo-park-fire-district-offers-175k-for-special-crossing-lights
[https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2017/06/22/menlo-park-fire-district-offers-175k-for-special-crossing-lights] and the
presentation we made, including many public comments, to the Fire Board can be found here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQP_q_YrkC8&t=1075s. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQP_q_YrkC8&t=1075s.]
> We would also encourage you to leave room in your Work Plan for smaller infrastructure improvements. Whether it's a simple
crosswalk or patch of missing sidewalk, it is critical that enough staff capacity exists to address relative "low hanging fruit"
issues. Perhaps "Increasing Staff Capacity" should be one of your priorities. It's the little things that can often have the
greatest impact on our quality of life."
Thank you for your continued work,
Elena Battles
Menlo Park resident + Oak Knoll Elementary parent
