Jamal Rahimi to travel a new road Jamal Rahimi to travel a new road (March 09, 2005)

By Rebecca Wallace

Almanac Staff Writer

Will traffic-calming play in Peoria? Jamal Rahimi, who has just resigned as the city of Menlo Park's transportation manager, will find out soon.

Mr. Rahimi is to become the transportation manager for Peoria, Arizona, a fast-growing city near Phoenix with a population of about 130,000. His last day in Menlo Park is March 17.

"It looked interesting and my wife's family lives in the Phoenix area. We don't have any close relatives here," Mr. Rahimi said. "Also, there's the cost of living here."

During his five years in Menlo Park, Mr. Rahimi has wrangled with a host of hefty issues, including speed humps and stop signs galore.

When asked what he's proudest of, he named two projects: traffic-calming measures in the Linfield Oaks area, which he said have proved popular; and the city's master plan for bicycles, which includes recommended routes and improvements to the bike system.

City Manager David Boesch said Mr. Rahimi has been very valuable in handling controversy, which transportation issues often spark.

"He's got a very calming demeanor," he said, adding, "He's a dedicated professional who really takes his work seriously."

Mr. Rahimi also worked extensively on the recently approved neighborhood traffic management plan, which established official procedures for residents to follow when seeking a traffic-calming program. Previously, the process had been more piecemeal.

Mr. Rahimi has worked in the transportation world for about 20 years. Before coming to Menlo Park, he was senior transportation engineer with the city of Santa Monica.

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