Menlo Park: Risky intersection: City may drop plan to install traffic light Menlo Park: Risky intersection: City may drop plan to install traffic light (August 31, 2005)

** City may settle for interim measures as it fails to get federal funds.

By Rory Brown

Almanac Staff Writer

After demands from residents and unanimous approval of the City Council in January, the city planned to install a traffic light at a notorious intersection near Draeger's market where there have been many accidents and injuries.

However, the $285,000 in federal funding that the city had hoped to receive has fallen through, and the city may drop the traffic light plan and see whether interim changes to the intersection of University Drive and Menlo Avenue will be sufficient.

"We have no complaints about the interim layout of the intersection," said Rene Baile, the city's transportation engineer.

At a meeting on January 25, support for the traffic light was evident; the City Council agreed on immediate action after listening to members of the community, including Lewis Calk, whose 62-year-old sister was struck and killed by a car while crossing the intersection in 2003. In fact, on the same day the meeting was held, another pedestrian was injured while crossing the intersection.

But according to Mr. Baile, there have been no accidents involving pedestrians since interim measures were put in place in February. Changes include reconfiguring the crosswalk and adding a new stop sign and orange traffic flags.

The problem is that the east and west portions of Menlo Avenue do not line up at the intersection. Drivers often reported that they didn't see pedestrians in the Menlo crosswalk.

Mr. Baile said a meeting will be held in October to gauge whether the residents of Menlo Avenue and surrounding areas are satisfied with the current state of the intersection, or if they have unvoiced concerns.

Mayor Mickie Winkler, previously skeptical of the interim measures, said, "Right now, the intersection is much improved, and not at all a challenge to navigate."

She said she isn't certain if the traffic light is still needed. "I'll be very much influenced by what the city attorney advises," she said.

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