Menlo Park council authorizes no-stopping zone on Pierce Road to enable bike-lane improvements

City staff presented a plan to authorize a no-stopping zone on the south side of Pierce Road between Carlton and Del Norte avenues to support future bike-lane striping during the street's scheduled 2026 resurfacing.

"Pierce Road is scheduled for resurfacing in 2026," Associate Transportation Planner Cassandra Cortez said. She told the council staff anticipates the resurfacing will allow a southbound Class 2 bicycle lane and a northbound Class 3 shared lane and that creating space for bicycles will require removing an estimated 160 parking spaces on the south side along the US‑101 sound wall.

Speakers at the public-comment period urged the council to consider protected infrastructure and maintenance. Sally Cole of the Complete Streets Commission said maintenance of protected lanes is a regional challenge because standard street sweepers cannot always clear debris around fixed posts, and recommended staff study options used by neighboring cities. "We probably need to address this issue of maintenance before we can install protected lanes," Cole said.

Resident Nicholas Pataki urged physical separation such as flexible posts or bollards, suggested locating the lane on the west (sound-wall) side to reduce illegal dumping, and proposed additional tree plantings. Public Works Director Azalea Mitch said the city is developing criteria to evaluate where bollards are most appropriate and is working with maintenance staff on equipment needs.

Councilmember Cecilia Taylor moved, and Councilmember Drew Combs seconded, a resolution authorizing the no-stopping zone; the motion passed unanimously.

Staff said implementation of striping will occur after resurfacing in summer 2026, following contract award for the resurfacing project.