Willows traffic is top topic at Menlo candidates' forum Willows traffic is top topic at Menlo candidates' forum (November 06, 2002)

By David Boyce

Almanac Staff Writer

Concerns about traffic problems in the Willows neighborhood of Menlo Park were evident at a City Council candidates forum at the German-American School October 28. About 100 residents showed up, and submitted many questions about traffic and how the candidates would deal with it.

Traffic on Pope Street is up 162 percent over the past five years, up 78 percent on Chester Street, and on narrow, winding Woodland Avenue, there are 51 percent more vehicle trips than there were three years ago, according to data supplied by the city transportation department.

All seven candidates agreed that something needs to be done, but they also noted that crafting a long-term solution will take time. Residents are prepared for the long haul, however, said neighborhood spokesman John Donald in an interview with the Almanac.

"We want the City Council to come up with a traffic mitigation plan that will work for the entire neighborhood," he said.

Residents said they believe the increase in congestion stems from several factors, including rush hour cut-through traffic, commuter traffic to and from the University Circle office complex in East Palo Alto, and errand traffic to neighborhood shops on Willow and Menalto avenues after new construction pushed similar businesses out of East Palo Alto.

With another large office complex called University Place planned for East Palo Alto in the border area, and with a Four Seasons hotel going up nearby, the neighborhood is looking for answers.

"Maybe [the congestion] is not coming from the development, but we think it is," Mr. Donald said. "We're trying to raise the level of awareness at the City Council."
Candidates speak

The candidates at the forum seemed to get the message. In answering a general question about the greatest challenges facing the city, six of the seven candidates identified traffic congestion as the most pressing problem.

"I feel like East Palo Alto isn't being a good neighbor," said candidate Lee Duboc. "We can't give them a carte blanche to develop indiscriminately. They have to learn to be a good neighbor just like we have to be a good neighbor."

Candidate Toni Stein echoed those sentiments. "We need to put a clear message out to East Palo Alto ... that we are something that exists, that they can't just make decisions in a vacuum," she said.

Candidate David Speer said he would try inexpensive solutions on a temporary basis while the council looks into the issue of dense development on the city's borders. In response to a question about the closing of neighborhood streets as a solution, he said: "It's very important that we all have a say. [Street closure] is like a last resort if other things don't work."

Candidate Mickie Winkler was also reticent to resort to closing streets. Paraphrasing from a Robert Frost poem that looks askance at the building of walls, she said she'd like to know what such street closures would be walling in as well as walling out.

"As a Menlo Park resident and a Menalto [Avenue] denizen, I know the public and I hope that we can resolve this," she said.

Candidate Bill Halleck said he supports interim solutions, such as the installation of traffic circles at key intersections, before settling on a long-term solution. "Each program has to be wanted, warranted and safe," he said. "There are lots of ways to close streets."

Candidate Eric Kinney said he would "listen to the community," adding that he is open to the idea of street closures and mid-street barriers but that he is also open to installing stop signs.

Incumbent candidate Nicholas Jellins said that short-term solutions such as speed bumps and turn restrictions are "Band-Aids," and that the issue needs more study.

A group of Willows residents are in the early stages of circulating a petition throughout the neighborhood that specifically links the East Palo Alto developments and traffic congestion and asks the council to make traffic mitigation in the Willows a top priority.