Lower speed limits coming to Menlo Park streets

Published on August 12, 2024

Speed plays a critical role in determining the likelihood of survival in a traffic collision. Lowering speed limits is therefore part of the City’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040.

New State legislature allows for the lowering of speed limits in the City’s designated business activities districts and safety corridors. Starting the week of Aug. 5, staff began implementing lower speed limits on specific streets throughout the city as approved in the May 7 City Council Meeting (item M2). The following speed limit changes will be made:

• Business activities districts
  • Menlo Avenue - University Drive to El Camino Real: 25 mph to 20 mph
  • Oak Grove Avenue - University Drive to Alma Street: 25 mph to 20 mph
  • Santa Cruz Avenue - Johnson Street Drive to Merrill Street: 25 mph to 20 mph

• Safety corridors / high collision corridors
  • Alpine Road - Santa Cruz Avenue to City Limits (County): 35 mph to 30 mph
  • Bay Road - Marsh Road to Van Buren Road: 30 mph to 25 mph (COMPLETED)
  • Middle Avenue - Olive Street to University Drive: 30 mph to 25 mph
  • Middlefield Road - City Limits (Atherton) to City Limits (Palo Alto): 35 mph to 30 mph
  • (Pictured in featured image) Ravenswood Avenue - Laurel Street to Middlefield Road: 30 mph to 25 mph (COMPLETED)
  • Sand Hill Road - Highway 280 to Sharon Park Drive: 40 mph to 35 mph
  • Sand Hill Road - Sharon Park Drive to City Limits (Palo Alto): 35 mph to 30 mph
  • Santa Cruz Avenue - City Limits (County) to Avy Avenue/ Orange Avenue: 30 mph to 25 mph (in coordination with San Mateo County)
  • Valparaiso Avenue - Cotton Street to El Camino Real: 30 mph to 25 mph (in coordination with Town of Atherton)

  For additional information and/or to provide feedback, please contact Senior Transportation Engineer Kevin Chen at (650) 330-6748 or email: kchen@menlopark.gov.