- Residents express strong opposition to the Willow Park project, emphasizing the need for a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR). They highlight that the additional vehicle miles generated would lead to significant and unavoidable traffic impacts, especially on Willow Road, which is already heavily congested. Concerns include worsening traffic congestion, increased travel time, and potential difficulties for emergency vehicle response.
- Community members observe increasing vehicular hostility and unsafe conditions for pedestrians and cyclists in downtown Menlo Park. Drivers are noted to be distracted and aggressive, making walking and biking hazardous. The decline in local businesses and amenities, along with parking challenges, contribute to a less vibrant and accessible downtown area, affecting pedestrian and passenger safety.
- Multiple residents and stakeholders advocate for maintaining the partial closure of Santa Cruz Avenue to cars, emphasizing traffic reduction, safety, and a move towards a more pedestrian- and bike-friendly downtown. Several suggest that re-opening should be part of a comprehensive plan aligned with the city's Transportation Master Plan (TMP).
- Concerns are raised that street closures have led to decreased traffic and revenue for downtown businesses, advocating for policies that encourage traffic from neighboring areas to support the local economy.
- A survey shows overwhelming support from the majority of respondents, especially among certain businesses, for reopening Santa Cruz Avenue to traffic, indicating community preferences and balancing of interests.
- Residents value outdoor dining as a key attraction and express desire to retain outdoor seating areas, despite acknowledging the complex traffic patterns they create. There is a call for a nuanced approach to manage streetscapes and traffic flow.
- Long-standing residents voice concerns about increased traffic, overdevelopment, and its impact on quality of life, small businesses, parking availability, and community character. They suggest studying effects carefully before making development decisions, including considering alternative locations.
- Residents shared positive experiences with local shuttle services, highlighting improved transit options along Willow Road and Menlo Shuttle. They emphasized the importance of public transportation and expressed gratitude for efforts to enhance transit viability. Additionally, there are concerns about parking congestion, especially in downtown areas, with proposals for studies and infrastructure projects such as parking garages and street reconfigurations to manage traffic flow. Residents also raised issues about traffic impact from downtown redevelopment, including the need for thorough traffic studies before approving new housing projects on parking lots, and discussions about street closures affecting traffic patterns and retail vitality.
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