Palo Alto Advances Nine Bike Boulevard Projects
Congratulations to Palo Alto, whose City Council voted on May 9 to approve $1.4 million in funding as well as concept plans and environmental analyses to advance the ambitious Bike Boulevard prioritization of their 2012 Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan.Since the passage of the 2012 Plan, residents and SVBC members have been advocating for the prioritization of a full bike boulevard network. This effort progressed in 2013 when Council voted to dedicate $1.2 million each year for five years in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to implement the Bike Plan, not including individually funded projects. Since then, City staff has been working with consultants to create concept plans, hold community meetings, gather feedback from residents, and conduct the environmental reviews for sixteen Bike Boulevard projects.This is the next phase in that project. On the agenda this month were approval of Bicycle Boulevard concept plans and environmental analyses for Amarillo Avenue, Bryant Street, East Meadow Drive, Montrose Avenue, Louis Road, Palo Alto Avenue, and Ross Road. Also included were approvals for final design contracts for the previously mentioned projects, plus the Bryant Street extension, Maybell Avenue, Park-Wilkie Way projects.Thank you to all of our members who wrote Council or spoke at the meeting in support of these projects. Council was unanimous in their approval and showed a keen attention to detail in studying the proposals and vetting citizens’ concerns. Thank you to Mayor Pat Burt and all the Palo Alto City Council for recognizing the need to create a safe and connected bike network in Palo Alto!
