Middlefield Road North Project

• Project typeTraffic and Transportation
• Completion DateMarch 31, 2021

Project Description

In July 2016, Middlefield Road North Traffic Safety Project was initiated in response to resident’s concern of traffic conditions along Middlefield Road from Forest Avenue to the Menlo Park city limits. Residents cited traffic congestion, safety, high travel speeds, collisions, and noise as concerns and identified improved safety and quality of life as the primary goals of the project between Menlo Park city limits and Forest Avenue.

Staff worked with the neighborhood group to identify potential options and ideas and held a community workshop in October 2016 at the Downtown Library. During the community workshop, Staff presented five (5) alternative concept plans with the option to mix and match various features from each alternative concept plan to address the identified concerns. As a result of this community-driven process, Staff identified two alternative concept plans that would address the bulk of the community concerns. The selected plans were slightly modified to improve traffic operations and limit impact to motor vehicle level of service (LOS) and better address pedestrian safety, resulting in the development of Alternative Concept Plans 7A and 7B.

City Council approved Concept Plan 7A on January 23, 2017 to implement as a one-year pilot project and construction was completed in June 2017. The approved concept Plan includes a traditional road diet that removed one travel lane in each direction, two five feet wide paved shoulders and a two-way left-turn lane. At the intersections with Hawthorne Avenue and Everett Avenue, all cars approaching Middlefield Road are required to make a right-turn, while left-turns and through movements are restricted by raised medians and signage.

City Council approved the permanent retention of this project at its January 14, 2019 meeting. City Council approval included direction to staff to investigate alternative roadway materials and replace the current temporary islands and delineators, used as part of the pilot project with more permanent products. Staff would work with the neighbors and stakeholders to select a new product that would ensure acceptable aesthetic appearance and maintains compliance with standard roadway requirements.

Scope of Work

• Community outreach and project concept development
• Approval and implementation of concept trial project
• Approval of concept project and direction to replace with permanent materials
• Completion of project construction

Project Status

This project was completed in March 2021 with installation of concrete islands and fixed traffic posts.

Project Documents

• Concept Plan 7A (shown with unapproved Concept Plan 7B)(PDF, 325KB)
• 65% Design Plans for Concept 7A(PDF, 578KB)
• Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) Presentation – October 26, 2016(PDF, 8MB)
• City Council Meeting Staff Report – January 23, 2017, Approval For Pilot Project(PDF, 12MB)
• City Council Meeting Staff Report – December 11, 2017, Mid-Pilot Report(PDF, 12MB)
• City Council Meeting Staff Report – January 14, 2019, Final Approval and End-Pilot Report(PDF, 5MB)