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Significant changes are coming to the Y-shaped intersection of Santa Cruz Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas in West Menlo Park.
Referred to in documents as “the Y,” the intersection in unincorporated San Mateo County near Sand Hill Road is where Santa Cruz Avenue merges with Alameda de las Pulgas. San Mateo County staff has been working since January 2017 on a project to improve safety for pedestrians, including widened sidewalks and a raised median around the bike lane. As part of the design, crossings will be repainted with high-visibility ladder crosswalks.
At a community meeting on April 18 with the San Mateo County Public Works department some residents expressed consternation over reducing the intersection to only one lane in each direction on Alameda de las Pulgas.
One resident, identifying himself as Tom E., submitted a written comment saying that if the lane reduction was done, Alameda de las Pulgas, which translates to Avenue of the Fleas, would have to be renamed Alameda de las Caracoles (Avenue of the Snails).
County staff said that the lane reduction and narrower lanes are intended to have a traffic-calming effect on the road, and members of the Department of Public Works said that they believe the roads will see lower speeds, which one resident claimed currently reach up to 70 mph. County staffers said they plan to monitor the speeds of cars in the area. The zone between Sand Hill Road, Sharon Road and Avy Avenue is being considered for a speed limit of 25 mph.
The department of Public Works conducted a Green Infrastructure Feasibility Analysis of the roads, and determined that it was not possible to add greenery to the medians due to underground utilities located in the corridor.
The project includes new traffic signals at the Y intersection, aligned so that drivers can more easily identify which light controls their lane — something that’s been a point of confusion for drivers at the complex intersection. County staff is also considering installing shields or blinders on the traffic lights to increase the clarity.
The county plans to begin construction on the project next summer.
Have always wondered whether the county has considered a traffic circle to replace the Y at the Santa Cruz-Alameda intersection.
The closed off right turn lane to Santa Cruz Ave is a baffling monument to traffic engineering which, I am sure, reduces safety for all. I can’t wait to see what these “expert planners” have in mind to torment us with.