Rebuilding Sand Hill-area intersections: Residents grumble Rebuilding Sand Hill-area intersections: Residents grumble (December 10, 2003)

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

Stanford's traveling road show describing plans and schedules for rebuilding the infamous intersections of Santa Cruz Avenue with Sand Hill and Alpine roads, and Junipero Serra Boulevard, continues to play to mixed reviews.

About 40 people at Oak Knoll School December 3 pummeled Stanford representatives with questions about the projects and the impacts of two years of construction on traffic and neighbors. A vocal group still objected to expanding the roads and intersections. "Eight lanes (at the intersection) -- that's enormous overkill," said one disgruntled resident.

"At the end of the day, I think you'll like it," said Andy Coe, Stanford's community relations director. "It will move traffic more freely through the intersections."

In an effort to reach people who will be affected by the project, Stanford has presented its plans at several neighborhood and community meetings. The first, on October 2 at Ladera Oaks, raised even more hostility, and a range of different issues.
The plans

Stanford's Sand Hill Road project in Menlo Park comes years after the artery was widened in Palo Alto from El Camino Real to the two-lane bridge, where the road enters Menlo Park at the county line. The Palo Alto projects were completed in 2000.

After balking for years at widening the bridge and improving the intersections in Menlo Park, the city council finally approved Stanford's plans late last year. San Mateo County went along.

Construction plans now being finalized call for: four lanes on Sand Hill Road all the way from El Camino Real to Interstate 280; four lanes on Santa Cruz Avenue from north of the Sand Hill intersection to Junipero Serra Boulevard and Alpine Road; double left-turn lanes in each direction at both intersections; and single right-turn lanes for each turn.

In addition, plans include sidewalks, bike lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, a path along Sand Hill Road by the golf course, and landscaping. Signals will be coordinated, and there will be a new frontage road along Sand Hill Road from Santa Cruz Avenue almost to Oak Avenue.

To accommodate all the new lanes through the narrow 450-foot Santa Cruz "throat" between Sand Hill and Alpine roads, the high concrete wall along Stanford's Buck estate will have to be moved back into the hillside by 10 to 30 feet; Santa Cruz will be extended out toward the golf course as well.

Construction will take place between April and November in 2004 and 2005. In 2004, the bridge will be widened, Sand Hill Road made four lanes, and intersection at Alpine and Junipero Serra improved.

In 2005, the Santa Cruz throat section will be closed to traffic for the construction season. The closure is necessary for safety and speed -- so it takes two, not three, years, said construction manager Jim Inglis.

Emergency vehicles will be allowed through during closure, he added.

"Sand Hill Road will remain open," Mr. Coe promised.
Questions

The debate is no longer over whether there should be a project, but over how to make it work better, Mr. Coe emphasized. "During construction there will be impacts. We will try to respond," he said.

Nevertheless, residents in both Menlo Park and unincorporated San Mateo County appeared frustrated that their voice had not been heard. "We protested," grumbled one neighbor. "I didn't want it widened. We lost."

The audience voiced concerns about safety, pedestrians, bicycles, turns, and noise. "How is this going to improve the current situation," asked a woman, who said she was ashamed to admit she was a Stanford grad.

Mr. Coe replied, "It will smooth traffic and keep traffic off neighborhood streets."

Many residents are not convinced the project will diminish the traffic that cuts through residential neighborhoods to avoid waiting in traffic jams on the main roads.

Traffic activist Rich Rollins of Oak Avenue said he supports the widening of the streets, but fears that expanding the intersections will encourage future building, and not reduce the traffic cutting through neighborhoods.

In particular, Mr. Rollins would like to reduce the size of Oak Avenue, where it joins Sand Hill Road, to a single outbound lane for both right and left turns onto Sand Hill Road. With two lanes, he said: "It's going to be an attractant. I'm worried about the kids going to Oak Knoll School."
INFORMATION

For information, or to sign up for community meetings and regular construction updates, call the construction hot line at 306-0350.

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