Menlo Watch: City Council calls for Peninsula meeting on rail crossings Menlo Watch: City Council calls for Peninsula meeting on rail crossings (October 27, 2004)

By Rebecca Wallace
Almanac Staff Writer

Rather than throwing its support behind one design for rebuilding Menlo Park's four rail crossings, the City Council on October 19 decided to look into holding a meeting with officials from other Peninsula cities that will be affected by more and faster trains coming through.

"It's going to impact us all," Councilman Chuck Kinney said of the possibility of a "grade separation" project to separate roads from rails.

Options that have been studied include a "split" approach of raising the rails and depressing the roads at crossings, and an "underpass" method of lowering the road.

The council also discussed an alternative construction method proposed by Redwood City engineer Nick Watry, which promises a shallower road undercrossing and less impact on neighboring properties. Councilwoman Mickie Winkler said she wanted to look into whether Caltrain would allow the Watry alternative.

The council voted 4-0, with Paul Collacchi absent, to plan and seek funding for a regional meeting, particularly with officials from the neighboring cities of Atherton and Palo Alto.

Rail traffic is expected to increase in the coming years, and there's also a possibility that high-speed trains from Southern California could one day come up the Peninsula. Atherton City Council members have also expressed interest in working with officials from Menlo Park and other cities on the future of the Caltrain corridor.

Parking garages: Where should city build them?

If a study on building parking garages in Menlo Park's downtown is to move ahead, one important question needs to be answered first: Where does the City Council want the garages to go?

City staff members and the consultants doing the study are recommending focusing on Plaza 1, by the Oak Grove Avenue post office; and the Plaza 3, on the north side of Santa Cruz Avenue at University Drive. The council is set to make that decision at its meeting on Tuesday, October 26.

The consultants at Watry Design Inc. in Redwood City are recommending these two plazas because they are the largest and thus have the most ability to provide a net increase in parking spaces. "Larger structures also tend to cost less per stall than smaller ones," city transportation manager Jamal Rahimi wrote in a staff report.

More details, such as how a garage would be designed, are set to come later in the $50,000 study. The October 26 meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 801 Laurel St.

Residents to weigh in on medical offices

To hear what the neighborhood has to say about new medical offices in the area of Linfield Drive and Middlefield and Willow roads, the Menlo Park City Council has decided to launch a public-outreach process.

City staff members will plan a community meeting to hear feedback on pending and possible development projects that could change the feel of the area. Currently, applications for two medical offices are pending there, sparking mixed responses: It could be convenient to have physicians nearby, but they could attract more traffic.

"We've got an area that's in change," Councilman Chuck Kinney said at the council's October 19 meeting, noting that the vacant office space could create an opportunity to greatly alter the feel of the neighborhood.

The council voted 4-0, with Paul Collacchi absent, to plan the meeting and look into having a special development review process for the area.

Discussion resumes on traffic plan

The City Council discussion of a proposed Menlo Park neighborhood traffic management program that was continued from the October 12 meeting is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, October 26.

City staff members are recommending that the council approve the plan, which would establish a set citywide process for neighborhoods to get traffic-calming measures approved. Some residents say it mandates an unreasonable amount of resident support for a project, while others say the high threshold is key to ensure that a plan really has widespread backing.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 801 Laurel St.

Free compost for Menlo residents

Residents of the city of Menlo Park can pick up free compost at Bayfront Park on Saturday, November 6, starting at 9 a.m. The material comes from recycled yard trimmings from BFI's curbside collection program, city officials said.

The park is located at Marsh Road and Bayfront Expressway. If there is heavy rain, the event will be postponed for one week. For more information, call 330-6763.

Election-night meeting canceled

The Menlo Park City Council will not meet on Tuesday, November 2, because it is Election Night. Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled to resume on November 9.

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