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Guest opinion: Grade separation is a golden opportunity for Menlo Park

Original post made on Dec 19, 2017

Imagine yourself in an awful predicament when an unavoidable future event will have a large negative impact on you and many others unless you can identify a way to greatly minimize its consequences, but the most promising solutions also create big new problems. Plus, you doubt there is time to carefully evaluate additional options. Feel anxious, overwhelmed, and frustrated? The Menlo Park City Council is now in this unenviable position as it attempts to prepare our city for future increases in vehicle traffic, more frequent Caltrain trains, and high-speed rail.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, December 20, 2017, 12:00 AM

Comments (8)

Posted by Dana Hendrickson
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Dec 19, 2017 at 1:07 pm

Anyone who wishes to discuss grade separation and this opinion can contact me directly at danahendrickson2009@gmail.com.


Posted by Dana Hendrickson
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Dec 21, 2017 at 10:56 am

A map of the proposed central plaza and fully elevated open rail is displayed at Web Link


Posted by Jym Clendenin
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Jan 5, 2018 at 9:25 am

The FEORS approach is very inviting: 1) less disruption during construction; and 2) new space underneath is created. With proper construction, noise should be no worse than for a berm, and the visual impact is much better. Questions: 1) can FEORS handle the high-speed train should it come; and 2) what is the cost differential if any?

Grade separation for both Ravenswood and Oak Grove is essential. One could also envision those two streets becoming one-way between Middlefield and El Camino.


Posted by Dana Hendrickson
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Jan 19, 2018 at 5:05 pm

Jim: I just read your comment so I will try to answer your questions.

1. Yes, high speed rail should run on the same tracks and electrification infrastructure installed on a FEORS.

2. A group of residents who are investigating this alternative has asked the City Council to study it and estimate constructions costs. The hybrid separation alternative requires lowering three streets, an expensive task as all underground utilities must be relocated. The FEORS requires raising the rail onto columns at least on the section between Ravenswood and Glenwood. The estimated cost of the hybrid is $310M to $390M so even if a FORS cost 5% more the additional $15M to $20M is not a big deal. We should pursue the best outcome for Menlo Park as new will live with it for a long time.

And your idea about modifying traffic patterns warrants careful study.


Posted by Mike Forster
a resident of another community
on Jan 19, 2018 at 8:56 pm

The FEORS approach could even cost less than the hybrid approach. The tracks would be raised partway for the hybrid approach; raising them fully for the FEORS approach should be only an incremental additional cost. But that step completely avoids the complexity and cost of any roadway lowering.

Avoiding lowering the roadways also avoids the ongoing and permanent problem of water pumps operation and maintenance and potential flooding of the roadways. The Oregon Expressway underpass frequently floods, either because the rain is too much for the pumps to handle, or the pumps fail as they did earlier this month due to a power outage. Menlo Park should not introduce this problem where the problem does not currently exist.

Noise should not be a significant factor. Nearly all of the current train noise comes from the diesel engine, as one can verify by standing next to the tracks as a train passes by. Once electrification is complete, the diesel noise will disappear, and the train could be nearly as quiet as electric or hybrid cars (except for track and wind noise).


Posted by henry fox
a resident of Menlo Park: The Willows
on Jan 20, 2018 at 9:51 am

henry fox is a registered user.

According to the Staff report, we will have 4 to 5 years of construction SIMULTANEOUSLY at all 3 track crossings in Menlo Park.

Although staff will handle this expeditiously, construction will cause delays at all 3 crossings and on ECR.

Can Menlo Park residents and businesses handle this for 4 years? With a fully elevated track, the roadways won't be affected during construction.


Posted by Dana Hendrickson
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Jan 22, 2018 at 12:36 pm

Henry: The staff report refers to Grade Separation Alternative C which has Ravenswood. Oak Grove and Glenwood Avenues lowered so vehicles could travel - after construction - thru an underpass below rails raised on a 10-foot high berm. The staff believes construction at all separations would be done "concurrently" to reduce project cost. You are right: this would disrupt local traffic for a long time.

However, as mentioned in my prior comment, there is another alternative that would NOT require the streets to be lowered and this one is currently being studied by a team of residents who has proposed that the City Council formally evaluate it. This would be much LESS disruptive.


Posted by elevated tracks
a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Jan 25, 2018 at 8:41 am

Elevated tracks are noisy and ugly. If you haven't lived near them in other cities, you cannot comment. I have.


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