Spring has (finally!?) Sprung! Fingers crossed that the storms are behind us and we can look forward to beautiful days and warmer weather. And with Spring comes biking season (actually, with the right gear, any season is biking season). In an effort to excite everyone to dust off their bikes (or get one for the first time), I filmed a short video (special thanks to my daughter, Naomi, for her filmmaking skills), challenging other cities to try beat Menlo Park in the number of pledges submitted for Bike to Wherever Days, taking place May 18th to 20th.
As you can see from the Bike to Wherever Days Pledges Leader Board below, Los Altos is currently in the lead. I know that with our great (and growing) bike infrastructure and all of the cyclists in Menlo Park, from little kids biking to school, to seniors running errands on electric trikes, we can make it to and end up in first place.
To learn more about Bike to Wherever Days and to sign up to pledge, visit https://bikesiliconvalley.org/events/btwd. I'll see you in the bike lanes, and let's go Menlo Park!
The City is responsible for maintaining approximately 96 miles of streets, and asphalt resurfacing is typically performed every two years to keep roadways at an appropriate level of service. Each street in the City is assigned a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) rating on a scale from 0 (failed) to 100 (excellent). The goal is to maintain the City’s PCI, and keep its streets at an appropriate level of service, through surface treatments. The City’s overall PCI is currently 76 which is classified as “Good to Excellent.” In general, streets with higher PCIs are more cost effective to preserve and may be candidates for lower cost surface treatment options (e.g., asphalt overlays or slurry seals). Alternatively, streets with lower PCIs may require more intensive repairs such as full street section reconstruction.
The 2023 street resurfacing project generally consists of asphalt milling and overlays (from two to six inches deep), replacement of striping and markings, tree root damage repairs, and installation of curb and gutter, curb ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and minor sidewalk repair or gap closure. Staff identified (via a pavement management software called StreetSaver) a draft list of potential street segments for the resurfacing project. This assessment is based on factors such as existing pavement condition, potential to optimize the City’s overall PCI, and available budget.
The staff report for this item contains a list of street segments to be included in this year's citywide repaving program. The item before council is to award a construction contract to do the repaving work. Sixteen street segments (comprised of a base bid and four bid alternates) were selected for resurfacing. One of the segments is Burgess Drive in District 3. The 16 segments represent 2.2 miles of roadway (or 2.3 percent of the City’s total street network). This project will increase the City’s overall PCI from 76 to 78.
Please note that there are additional repaving efforts that the City performs on an ongoing basis. Some larger and and more complex streets are done as separate projects (see Ravenswood and Haven Street), and other smaller repairs are done as needed through city staff or via an on-call contractor.
I often get asked if the bicycle and pedestrian Middle Avenue Undercrossing will ever happen...the staff report for agenda item F3 is evidence that the project is indeed moving along! While the item before Council on Tuesday is a procedural step in the project development process (authorizing a service agreement with Caltrain), the staff report contains some exciting news about the funding for the project - there is now $21,788,334 in funds available for the undercrossing (see below):
The staff report also outlines additional work activities that staff is engaged in, including:
Adjustment of the 700-800 El Camino Real Planned Development Permit. This is required to reduce the parking provided at 700-800 El Camino Real as a result of removing the parking spaces on the property being purchased by the City. Staff currently anticipate bringing this item to the Planning Commission April 24, with final action by the City Council to follow.
Approval by the California Public Utilities Commission of the new crossing. This item is on track for completion before the close of escrow for the property purchase.
Design coordination with Caltrain. Staff have been meeting regularly with Caltrain to discuss design details, construction methods, and the impact of Caltrain electrification on the project. Staff will bring an update to City Council with substantive project updates later this year.
So...on to the million dollar (or 20 million dollar) question...when will the undercrossing be built? Given the coordination, approvals and design work that still need to be done, the earliest we're looking to break ground is 2025. I'll continue to keep you posted!
Summary of Caltrain-Related Projects
Confused about all the different Caltrain-related projects? That's completely understandable - there's a lot going on! Here is a summary (with my best guess for if it is a relative short, medium or long range project [I know many want these to go faster...just my best realistic guess]...opinions are mine alone and do not represent those of the City, they are also subject to change):
Caltrain Emergency Rail Bridge Repair at San Francisquito Creek - As reported on Friday in Palo Alto Online here, "Caltrain declared an emergency on Monday, March 27, to repair damage to the embankment that holds up the rail bridge between Palo Alto and Menlo Park after a series of recent storms undermined the soil supporting the structure." Stay tuned for more information. (Short timeframe)
Caltrain Electrification - Caltrain is in the final stages of electrifying its fleet. As outlined on the Caltrain Electrification webpage, there are currently weekend Caltrain interruptions due to the ongoing work. New electrified trains are expected to be up and running for passenger service in 2024. (Short timeframe)
Quiet Zone - This involves installing safety measures at the Caltrain crossings to enable conductors to travel through Menlo Park without sounding the horns. There was a community meeting on this topic on March 23rd (a recording and presentation slides can be found on the project page here) and this item will soon be coming to Council. (Short/Mediumtimeframe)
Middle Avenue Undercrossing - This is a bicycle/pedestrian tunnel to aid mobility across town. The latest update is above, and a project page can be found here. (Short/Medium timeframe)
Grade Separation - This purpose of this project is to separate the train travel from the road travel. The current design selected by Council is a hybrid option that would slightly raise the tracks and slightly lower the road at 3 of Menlo Park's 4 grade crossings: Ravenswood, Oak Grove and Glenwood. The project page can be found here. Note: The project page is missing the latest Council decision on this item made on February 28th and covered in the Almanac here. Caltrain is also in the middle of a corridor-wide grade separation study of their own (more info here). (Medium/Long timeframe)
High Speed Rail - For the latest, click here. (Long timeframe)
The Menlo Park Community Campus (MPCC) in Belle Haven is scheduled to open in 2024! In anticipation of its opening, a City Council Subcommittee (comprised of Vice Mayor Taylor and Councilmember Nash), a MPCC Working Group comprised of neighbors and stakeholders, and City Staff have been meeting to discuss various topics related to the new facility. This agenda item is to receive programming priority recommendations provided by the above mentioned entities, the Library and Parks and Recreation Commissions, and a citywide survey.
The staff report outlines recommendations related to guiding principles and vision, and operational and policy elements. The feedback staff is seeking from Council on Tuesday includes:
Do the proposed programming plan elements outlined in this report align with City Council’s vision and expectations for programming in the new MPCC facility?
Are there additional programming elements City Council would like included in the programming plan?
Do the statements about who the MPCC will serve and how programs and services will be prioritized in the MPCC meet City Council’s expectations for the new facility?
Using the direction received on Tuesday, city staff will then prepare the MPCC staffing, operations, and a more specific programming proposal for City Council review and authorization in the context of the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 budget deliberations. Per the staff report, a City Council informational update on this topic is scheduled for the May 9th agenda.
The collective bargaining agreements for non-sworn frontline personnel (SEIU) and non-sworn supervisors (AFSCME) both have terms of July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2023. Pursuant to best labor-management practices, it is time to open negotiations on successor agreements. SEIU represents 74 classifications with 168 full-time positions funded in the fiscal year 2022-23 budget. AFSCME represents 22 classifications with approximately 41 full-time, funded positions. This staff report transmits personnel and process information to members of the City Council, the subject bargaining units, and the public to inform upcoming labor negotiations with SEIU and AFSCME.
As included in the staff report, the following calendar identifies key dates that impact negotiation of successor agreements before the expiration of current agreements.
March 20 – City staff release report on negotiations with SEIU and AFSCME
April 4 – Members of the public offer their input on the City’s negotiations position for City Council consideration (current agenda item)
April 25 – City Council meets in closed session, confirms negotiating teams, and provides initial bargaining authority to chief negotiator
April 26 through May 26 – City and SEIU, City and AFSCME negotiate successor agreement
June 1 – Estimated deadline for SEIU and AFSCME membership to ratify tentative successor agreement for effective date of July 1, 2023
June 13 – Staff release report for ratified tentative successor agreement with SEIU and AFSCME
June 27 – Public meeting for City Council consider ratification of a successor agreement with SEIU and AFSCME effective July 1
Last Call to Apply for a Menlo Park Advisory Body Deadline is Friday, April 7th at 5pm
Menlo Park welcomes and encourages residents' active participation through serving on a city commission or committee. Advisory commissions examine issues of community interest and make recommendations to the City Council on policy matters. Each advisory commission reviews specific subjects and carries out assignments as directed by the City Council or as prescribed by law. Each advisory commission establishes an annual work plan that is in line with the City Council's goals, which guides the commissions' activities and projects.
Menlo Park currently has seven City Council advisory bodies with the following number of vacancies:
Complete Streets - 2
Environmental Quality - 2
Finance and Audit - 5
Housing - 1
Library - 2
Parks and Recreation - 2
Planning - 2
For more information, and to fill out an application (deadline is Friday, April 7th at 5pm) click here.
