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Council backs current Willow Road protected-bikeway design and tells staff to pursue grants to close $7.3M construction gap
Summary
After a study-session presentation, the council expressed broad support for the city'staff'recommended raised Class 4 Willow Road bikeway, asked staff to pursue active-transportation and MTC grants, and indicated willingness to identify roughly $1.7 million in local funding to keep design on schedule.
Menlo Park City Council members on July 14 signaled support for the staff'recommended raised Class 4 bikeway and pedestrian improvements for the 1.3'mile Willow Road corridor, and directed staff to continue design work while pursuing grant funding to close a construction shortfall estimated at about $7.3 million.
Senior transportation engineer Christianne Choi outlined the project scope, which runs from O'Keefe Street to Bayfront Expressway and includes a raised Class 4 bikeway in most locations, new crosswalks (including at O'Brien Drive and Bay Road), median refuge islands, interchange modifications to reduce merging conflicts near the 101 interchange, and in-lane transit boarding. Choi reported a total project estimate of $16,300,000 that includes prior PA/ED work; SMCTA grant funds require a local match of $4,400,000, the city has roughly $1.7 million available in the CIP for design, and the remaining construction funding gap is about $7,300,000.
Choi also described three lower'cost alternatives that would reduce scope and cost (from limited at'grade separators to a phased approach), but staff cautioned smaller alternatives could be less competitive for large grants and might require returning some existing grant funds.
Councilmembers emphasized safety for students and vulnerable users and prioritized the full design where feasible. Councilmember Cecilia Taylor said the corridor warranted the "highest investment we can" and urged staff to pursue grant sources and Bayfront mitigation funds. Choi and public works staff said the city applied for Active Transportation Program funds to fill the construction gap and expected results by year'end; other competitive opportunities (MTC grants, a forthcoming SMCTA cycle) were noted.
Council direction: retain the current raised Class 4 design and continue to pursue grants while identifying up to $1.7 million in local budget sources for match and design; staff should report back on grant outcomes and options if full construction funding is not secured.
Key numbers and funding: total estimated project cost $16.3 million (including PA/ED), required SMCTA match $4.4 million, current CIP allocation about $1.7 million for design, and remaining construction gap $7.3 million; ATP decision expected by end of the year.
What happens next: staff will continue design, pursue the ATP and other grant opportunities, and return with updates on funding and any recommended phasing or scope changes depending on grant results.
