Middle Avenue Complete Streets

Pedestrian crosses Middle Ave at Blake Street and people scooter, bike, and drive along Middle

Project description

The Middle Avenue Complete Streets project (Project) will install bicycle and pedestrian improvements along the entire length of Middle Avenue between Olive Street and El Camino Real. The Project enhances safety of all users, especially pedestrians and bicyclists, reduces vehicle speeds and improves connectivity to schools, parks, grocery stores, downtown and residential neighborhoods.

The Project was initiated in 2021 and was approved by the City Council for installation as a pilot in October 2022 and February 2023. The pilot measures were installed in October 2023, and were approved in May 2024 for permanent installation along with repaving of the roadway expected in summer 2025. See the Project History section below for a full listing of the numerous outreach events and updates on the project.

Project status

Final design

The Project design includes traffic calming elements, the addition of bicycle lanes, installation of crosswalks and rapid flashing beacons. Through final design development, some changes were necessary to construct the recommended improvements. These changes include the adjustment of the location of some traffic calming elements due to site constraints. More details can be found in the memo linked here.

The tentative date for bid award for the traffic calming, repaving and installation of bike lanes and crosswalk improvements is expected on April 29.

Future changes to the El Camino Real and Middle Avenue intersection are also under development.

Blake and Nealon Pilot status

Survey expected in May 2025.

Project background

The project will include construction of continuous bicycle lanes, parking safety improvements along Nealon Park frontage, enhancements to existing pedestrian crossings, and installation of other traffic calming elements that reduce vehicle speeds and conflicts.

Stanford University will be responsible for the design and construction of the segment between El Camino Real and University Avenue as a part of a required mitigation measure for its Middle Plaza at 500 El Camino Real project. The City is coordinating with Stanford University to ensure the development of a consistent vision for the entire corridor.

The project includes an outreach program to capture input from the community and stakeholders. Staff provided a project summary video that covers the outreach for the project, City Council actions to date and options for the bikeway installation.

This project is being coordinated with the Middle Avenue rail crossing project.

Project history

Date	Description	Action taken
Feb. 12, 2025	Complete Streets Commission meeting Agenda packet(PDF, 4MB) Meeting Recording	The Complete Streets Commission provided feedback on the traffic calming options.
Dec 11, 2024	Complete Streets Commission meeting Agenda packet Presentation slides(PPTX, 32MB) Meeting recording	The Complete Streets Commission provided feedback on the Middle Avenue and El Camino Real (State Route 82) intersection signal and conceptual geometric improvements.
May 7, 2024	City Council meeting Agenda packet Presentation slides Meeting recording	The City Council adopted a resolution to make the buffered bike lanes permanent and supported the reconfiguration of Nealon Park frontage parking to back-in angle parking spaces and continuation as a pilot.
April 24, 2024	Park and Recreation Commission meeting Cancellation notice	Meeting canceled due to lack of quorum.
April 10, 2024	Complete Streets Commission meeting Agenda packet(PDF, 2MB) Meeting recording	The Complete Streets Commission recommended to City Council to proceed with staff's recommendations on the buffered bike lane pilot, and provided additional feedback on key concerns.
Mar 28, 2024	Buffered bike lane pilot - community meeting #2 Presentation boards(PDF, 8MB)	Community provided feedback on the buffered bicycle lanes pilot.
Mar 19, 2024	Buffered bike lane pilot - community meeting #1 Presentation slides(PDF, 629KB) Meeting recording	Community provided feedback on the buffered bicycle lanes pilot.
Nov 8, 2023	Complete Streets Commission meeting Agenda packet Meeting recording	The Complete Streets Commission provided feedback on the buffered bicycle lanes pilot evaluation methodology.
Feb 14, 2023	City Council meeting Agenda packet Meeting recording	The City Council approved installation of no parking zones on both sides of Middle Avenue to implement buffered bicycle lanes as a pilot.
Oct 18, 2022	City Council meeting Agenda packet(PDF, 14MB) Meeting recording	The City Council approved installation of an all-way stop at Middle Avenue and San Mateo Drive and temporary closure of Blake Street at Middle Avenue and directed staff to return with options for bikeway implementation.
Sep 13, 2022	City Council meeting Agenda packet(PDF, 12MB) Meeting recording	The City Council directed staff to return with details and prerequisites to implement and evaluate a bike lane pilot project by removing parking on both sides of Middle Avenue.
Aug 23, 2022	City Council meeting Agenda packet(PDF, 31MB) Meeting recording	The City Council received an informational item on project background, outreach effort, conceptual design options and commission recommendation.
July 13, 2022	Complete Streets Commission meeting Agenda packet(PDF, 13MB) Meeting recording	The Complete Streets Commission received and provided recommendations on conceptual design options.
May 11, 2022	Complete Streets Commission meeting Agenda packet Survey results Meeting recording	Complete Streets Commission provided feedback on how to select the preferred improvement options.
Mar 3, 2022	Community meeting Presentation slides(PDF, 1MB) Presentation boards (PDF, 37MB) Meeting recording	Community provided feedback on the project.
Mar 9, 2021	City Council discussed yearly work plan and priorities, including various projects on Middle Avenue	City Council directed staff to add Middle Avenue traffic calming project as a complete street project.
Nov 17, 2020	Transportation Master Plan proposed bicycle facility: El Camino Real to Olive Street - Class II bicycle lanes	City Council adopted the Transportation Master Plan.
Oct 13, 2020	Speed limit survey: El Camino Real to University Drive - reduced from 30 to 25 mph; University Drive to Olive Street - remained 30 mph	City Council directed staff to return with options for traffic calming on Middle Avenue to achieve a 25 mph zone.
May 21, 2020	Complete Streets Commission presented yearly work plan, including a high-level Middle Avenue and Olive Street bicycle improvement project scope	City Council approved work plan with modifications.
Apr 10, 2019	Street resurfacing from San Mateo Drive to Olive Street; Developed alternatives for bicycle lanes	Complete Streets Commission recommended a preferred alternative to City Council.
Oct 10, 2017	500 El Camino development: Responsible for bicycle facility design/implementation from El Camino Real to University Drive (Mitigation Measure TRA-2.1)	City Council approved the development project also known as Middle Plaza.
Nov 29, 2016	General Plan proposed bicycle facilities: El Camino Real to University Drive - Class II bicycle lanes; University Drive to Olive Street - Class III bicycle routes	City Council adopted General Plan - circulation element.

Contact us

For more information, please email transportation@menlopark.gov.

Location

Middle Avenue between El Camino Real and Olive Street, Menlo Park, CA 94025 View map

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