Menlo Park: Ravenswood Ave. median barrier to stay; Chilco Street to get sidewalks

The Menlo Park City Council voted 4-0 Tuesday night to approve traffic-control measures near the Ravenswood Avenue railroad crossing, including making permanent a median barrier on Ravenswood from Alma Street to Noel Drive.

The council also voted 4-0 to build sidewalks, improve bike lanes and add street lighting along Chilco Street. The bulk of the work is expected to be completed this summer.

Councilwoman Catherine Carlton was absent due to illness.

Ravenswood Avenue

Council members and city staff agreed that the Ravenswood Avenue median barrier is not a perfect solution, but it should stay, at least until a “grade separation” could be installed at the rail crossing. (In a grade separation, the roadway would run under or above the tracks.)

The council directed city staff to work with Scott Norton, owner of AXIS Personal Trainers, located at Ravenswood near Alma, to make sure people can access his building when construction begins on new offices at 1020 Alma St. Mr. Norton said the median barrier has made it difficult for clients to access his facility, and the construction will likely make that worse.

Chilco Street

Sheryl Bims, who had raised concerns about the slowness of adding bike and pedestrian facilities to Chilco Street, told the council she is “elated to see how quickly this project is moving forward.”

Mayor Rich Cline remarked to Public Works Director Justin Murphy, “I hope it’s as easy to get done as it is to vote for it.”

In October 2013, two Menlo Park residents were struck and killed by a drunken driver while walking in the bike lane of Chilco Street.

The Chilco Street project will be in three phases, with most of the costs paid by Facebook.

Minimum wage

The council agreed to put the issue of raising the minimum wage on its work plan in the category of “very important,” but with the provision that it will wait until November to see if the issue is decided by voters at the state level. If not, then after November, the council will consider actions the city can take.

● Earlier story: Menlo Park council reviews traffic measures near Ravenswood rail crossing