Dear Council,

In conjunction with the consideration of the project at 40 Middlefield Road, I propose a stoplight at Woodland and Middlefield. Due to the bend in the road and speeding vehicles coming from Palo Alto, it is sometimes difficult and dangerous to make a left turn out of the neighborhood onto Middlefield for cars and bikes. A right turn is also difficult sometimes for the same reason. In addition, cars often do not honor the “keep clear” marking on the road, blocking traffic trying to make a turn from Middlefield going south onto Woodland. The option to make turns here needs to be preserved, to allow residents to exit and enter the neighborhood. A light would also allow pedestrians and bicyclists to cross the road safely here, which is being done unsafely currently.

The project at 40 Middlefield may reduce visibility from Woodland to Middlefield, and the project will cause additional auto traffic exiting via Woodland to Middlefield. This traffic needs to be controlled. I think the distance from this proposed light to the light on Willow is about the same as many traffic lights on successive cross streets on Middlefield in Palo Alto, so I do not think the nearness of the Willow stoplight should prevent a light from being installed at Woodland and Middlefield. I think this intersection would benefit from a traffic light regardless of the 40 Middlefield project, but if the project goes forward, the need is greater.

Thank you.

John Donald
Concord Dr.