From: Martin Engel <martinengel_at_(domain_name_was_removed)>
Date: Sat Mar 08 2008 - 09:52:43 PST

Honorable Mayor and members of the Menlo Park City Council:

Mountain View is taking shuttles seriously, including for transporting school kids. Might we study this to find out if it's a good idea for Menlo Park? Do we want fewer cars on our streets; do we want safer routes to schools by reducing vehicle traffic on those streets? Shouldn't we consider all the practical options?

Respectfully,

Martin

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Published Friday, March 7, 2008, by the Mountain View Voice

Shuttle concept lurches forward

By Daniel DeBolt

Last year, City Council members stated as one of their goals the idea of setting up a free shuttle service, thereby providing better transportation options for residents and reducing greenhouse gases in the process.

But in a study session Tuesday, staffers told the council that such a service may not be effective in reducing emissions. Instead, they suggested a campaign encouraging residents to "dump the pump" in favor of existing public transit.

As for transportation options, city analyst Peter Skinner told the council that the Valley Transportation Authority "does meet demand," and that a resident could get anywhere in the city in half an hour, on average.

Despite the presentation, almost everyone on the council had suggestions for shuttle service. Member Jac Siegel suggested a trolley going up and down Castro Street, and member Nick Galiotto suggested something similar that would take people around downtown when parking was scarce during lunchtime.

Also suggested were shuttles for seniors to help them do their grocery shopping, and a
shuttle for kids to get from local schools to after-school programs such as those offered at the Community School of Music and Arts -- which CSMA's Evy Shiffman spoke in support of.

When asked to provide possible routes, Skinner said, "Frankly, that is what we were struggling with."

Adding a shuttle service to underserved, low-ridership areas could mean there would only be one person riding at a time, he said, which means you haven't taken any cars off the road.

Margaret Abe-Koga suggested complimenting heavily used VTA bus routes with the free shuttles, making transit a more attractive alternative.

In Palo Alto, the city's free shuttle service has become popular enough to result in cuts to VTA service on some routes, Skinner said. Middle school and high school kids make up about half of Palo Alto's rider ship, he added.

"Why don't our kids take the bus?" asked Siegel.

"It's not cool," said transportation manager Joan Jenkins, half
jokingly.

Council member Margaret Abe-Koga added that "schools can't afford the bus anymore" for middle and high school students.

The cost of the shuttle service could range from $500,000 to $1.5 million for two routes, depending on the frequency of service.

Member Nick Galiotto said the funding was not there, with city budget revenues predicted to decline.

"Once we have more buy-in, maybe the funding will be more obvious,"
said member Ronit Bryant.

City manager Kevin Duggan said staff would fold the discussion into this year's effort to revise the general plan.

[...]

E-mail Daniel DeBolt at ddebolt@...

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Martin Engel
1621 Stone Pine Lane
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650:323-1670
martinengel@earthlink.net
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Received on Sat Mar 8 09:53:53 2008