Lower speed limits implemented on Menlo Park streets

Published on October 14, 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. The City began implementing lower speed limits on specific streets throughout the city as approved in the May 7 City Council Meeting (item M2).

As of Oct. 7, the City is pleased to announce that the speed limits on the following roadway segments within the City limits have been officially reduced:

Business activities districts

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

Safety corridors / high collision corridors

• Alpine Road - Santa Cruz Avenue to City Limits: 35 to 30 mph
• Bay Road - Marsh Road to Van Buren Road: 30 to 25 mph
• Middle Avenue - Olive Street to University Drive: 30 to 25 mph
• Middlefield Road - City Limits (Atherton) to City Limits (Palo Alto): 35 to 30 mph
• Ravenswood Avenue - Laurel Street to Middlefield Road: 30 to 25 mph
• Sand Hill Road - Highway 280 to Sharon Park Drive: 40 to 35 mph
• Sand Hill Road - Sharon Park Drive to City Limits (Palo Alto): 35 to 30 mph
• Santa Cruz Avenue - City Limits to Avy Avenue/ Orange Avenue: 30 to 25 mph

As part of this effort, the City has been coordinating and will continue to engage our neighboring agencies to potentially lower the speed limits of the following roadway segments:

• Santa Cruz Avenue - City Limits to Alameda de las Pulgas: 30 to 25 mph (San Mateo County)
• Valparaiso Avenue - Cotton Street to El Camino Real: 30 to 25 mph (Town of Atherton)

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