I would add that it isn't clear to drivers that they must stop twice. It would help if there were only right turns allowed from Menlo on the west side of University or for Menlo to be one-way, westbound only.

Thanks for reporting through ACT Menlo Park. We look to resolve your request as soon as possible.

Crosswalk and traffic flow improvements have been identified at University Dr & Menlo Ave in the Transportation Master Plan (TMP). Removing the westbound Menlo Ave right turn lane, installing a bulb-out at the northeast corner into Menlo Ave, and replacing the crosswalk with a straightened crossing have been recommended as a high priority project (#113) in the TMP.

Currently, the TMP is planned to undergo proposal to the Complete Streets Commission, and then to City Council. After acceptance, the projects listed in the document will be completed as time and budget allows. If you would like more information on the history behind the TMP, as well as other projects that have been recommended such as this one, you can view the website located at this address: https://www.menlopark.org/1147/Transportation-Master-Plan

We have lived here nearly 30 years and utilize this intersection very frequently on foot, and also on bikes, and in cars. If I understand what is proposed, it makes little sense, and there are better solutions to the problem. Referring to the corner of Draeger's as "northeast",

Removing the right turn lane onto University (northbound) from westbound Menlo doesn't address the main problem, makes no sense. There is excellent visibility from that lane of the two crosswalks.

There is NOT good visibility of pedestrians crossing University because of the two stop bars.
Pedestrians crossing University are hidden by left turn lane from University onto Menlo for drivers continuing southbound on University, partially because the first of two stop bars is set back to allow drivers from Menlo Ave west of University to turn left onto University northbound. Removing that ability would allow a single stop bar and improved visibility .

The recommendation doesn't consider the impact on the large amount of westbound Menlo traffic. Is the assumption the traffic will turn right onto Evelyn and then left onto Santa Cruz Ave? That intersection does not have a stop sign to allow left turns onto Santa Cruz Ave. Further, there are discussions about closing off parts of Santa Cruz Ave to allow on-street dining. This may be temporary or permanent. Either way, the traffic flow must be considered. It is short-sighted to look only at a single intersection and not at traffic flow.

Agree with all of Iris’s observations.

Forcing all of the Menlo Ave traffic to turn left on University will also significantly increase traffic on Live Oak, as drivers attempt to re-navigate toward Santa Cruz.

A sketch of a proposed fix is Recommendation #137 in https://www.menlopark.org/DocumentCenter/View/20234/Key-improvement-Sketches.

With that fix
- visibility of peds in the crosswalk for vehicles going S on University would be improved because the crosswalk would be straight rather than jointed
- vehicles could still turn R from Middle onto University to continue W on Santa Cruz; there would be no impact on Evelyn or Live Oak

There's only one stop sign and stop line for southbound traffic on University. There is, however, a Keep Clear zone adjacent to the 900 block of Menlo Ave; it may help to paint or stripe that zone.

The text under the Recommendation #113 suggests that there is no right turn that will be allowed from Menlo onto University going north: "Remove the right turn lane on Menlo Avenue and install a bulb-out"
If that is the case, it is absolutely imperative to figure out where that heavy traffic will go -- not just where consultants want it to go, but where human behavior will make it go. With changes on Santa Cruz downtown, this is a very big deal.

The biggest problem now is when a driver is turning left from southbound University onto eastbound Menlo. As they move forward, the southbound driver next to them has their view obliterated of people in the crosswalk.
There is no mention of what happens to the traffic so the analysis of impacts is sadly deficient.

Also, with the Keep Clear zone so wide, northbound drivers very frequently do not understand that the southbound drivers have already stopped. There are conflicts about who has the right of way.
As suggested above, I think there are better ways to do this with fewer new negative impacts

Without passing judgement on the proposal itself, my interpretation of Recommendation #113 is that:
- Menlo Ave's right turn lane would be removed (to accommodate the bulb-out)
- Menlo Ave's left turn lane would become a left/right turn lane (indicated by the bidirectional white arrows)

It appears this change could encourage some backup on Menlo Ave, but would not prevent Menlo Ave traffic from turning right onto University Ave.

We live on Menlo Avenue and walk at least once a day by the intersection. We agree pedestrians need to be really careful (get eye contact with drivers) and that during busy times it feels dangerous to cross university. I also agree that the two stops are confusing. Friends who don't live around here have told us say they are confused about the two stops areas and just ignore the second one.

Perhaps, an option to explore would be to use colors (perhaps yellow) to paint the area between the two stop areas as an area to be cautious. That might help people to slow down two lines.

The southbound stop really needs to be at the intersection. Otherwise pedestrians crossing Menlo assume there is no traffic, even when a driver is entering the Keep Clear (??) area. Additionally, northbound drivers don't register that southbound drivers have already stopped. And drivers turning left onto southbound University from westbound Menlo also assume they have the right of way when they don't. Those drivers expect southbound drivers to stop at the intersection I see this ALL the time. This design does not fix those problems.
Will commenters be notified of commission or council meetings about this?