Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Imagine -- no auto traffic on Santa Cruz Avenue!
I recently read in The Almanac that Menlo Park was seeking ideas for revamping El Camino and the downtown. Immediately I thought of the central plazas of cities I had visited in Europe. Here's a plan for traffic in Menlo Park, opening Santa Cruz Avenue to pedestrians and bicyclists.
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2 comments:
While I generally like your idea, as someone who lives on Menlo Ave (@ Crane) and who already deals with a lot of crazy traffic on that street I shudder to think about what re-routing traffic off Santa Cruz and down Menlo and Oak Grove would do. There's only one stop sign on Menlo Ave (at Crane) and probably 1 out of every 10 cars blows through it. It can be impossible to cross the street at any other place along Menlo Ave particularly anywhere near Trader Joe's where you are really risking your life.
Actually, thinking about it, if you lifted Trader Joe's out of there and put it somewhere else you might have shot. I know some yuppie somewhere is shuddering now as I write that but the traffic problems it creates on Menlo Ave are already a problem. Add more traffic coming down there and it would become complete gridlock.
Your plan only works with a Sand Hill Road type wide street providing access from 280 down to El Camino.
So glad for your comments. I've walked around, looking at present traffic patterns, imagining what would change if Santa Cruz Ave was closed. Crossings for Menlo, Oak Grove, University Avenues by children, bicyclists, citizens with disabilities, to reach the town center just as important as smoothing vehicle traffic. It's a big puzzle. I hope as a community we can solve it and do something splendid here.
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