Dear council member,

As you know this Tuesday, the council is slated to have a presentation from CalTrans on the replacement of the pedestrian over crossing at Ringwood. Having lived in Menlo Park and near the over crossing since 1985, I urge you to carefully consider all the facts and issues with this over crossing. This is a decision that will last at least 50 years.

CalTrans projects this will cost about $5.7M. I seriously question if this is a wise use of money. For the most part the west end of the cross is long ways from anywhere someone might want to go. It is a mile from the high school, almost two miles from CalTrain and over two miles to downtown. On the east side it's up to a mile to the furthest residence. That's over six miles round trip for some residents to walk to Safeway.

I think the money would be put to better use by using it to expand the midday shuttle. With minor modifications to its route and extending its hours, it could easily serve the 20 -30 Menlo Atherton High School students, who are the biggest users of the crossing.

If on average 100 people use the crossing everyday and the new crossing costs $5.7M and it lasts 50 years, it comes to $3.12 per person per trip or $6.24 per round trip. For someone that uses it every day, that's over $2,000 per year!

It seems to me that we are not really treating our fellow citizens of Menlo Park with much respect when we say will spend all that money and not really get them anywhere.

The midday shuttle is currently funded by measure A funds. The funds for the new over crossing are also measure A.

In addition, the existing over crossing is a crime magnet. It provides for an easy escape route to criminals. The Menlo Park Police Department automatically sends patrol cars to both sides when ever an incident is reported near the crossing. Petty crime on the street is much higher than neighboring streets. While this is disturbing more disturbing and really unacceptable is the incident of violent crime on or near the over crossing. Within a few houses of the over crossing, there has been two rapes and a resident tied up and threatened with his life. Not to mention the obvious signs that it facilitates drug trafficking, nor the tagging and graffiti.

I know as reasonable people you will have a tough time telling the residents that the status quo with the over crossing best serves them, and that you wouldn't want to have to tell the residents that the violent crime is an ok price to pay to give people access to walk several miles when for probably less money you can better serve them.

Thank you for you consideration with this matter.

Paul Hugo
1062 Ringwood Ave
325-8440 Received on Mon Dec 17 12:06:39 2007