1 Step Closer to Installing 2 Speed Humps

The Menlo Park Transportation Commission voted five to one in favor of moving forward with a process that may result in the installation of two temporary speed humps on Mills Street in Menlo Park between Oak Grove and Glenwood Avenues.

They would be placed between the residences at 1300 and 1309, as well as 1249 and 1250 Mills Street for a period of six months, if the City Council also approves them. 

Seven people spoke publicly at the meeting that was held Wednesday night in Council Chambers to decide whether the project, which has been in the works for almost eight months, should be escalated to the next level.

Most of the residents in attendance brought their children and expressed support for the installation of the speed humps, including a woman who would have one placed in front of her home.

“We sit on our front porch in the morning and have coffee,” said Peggy Stretch. “Between 7:30 and 8:30 that street is a race track, with people trying to get around Oak Grove to beat the train.”

Noelle Thurlow, also a Mills Street resident, expounded upon Stretch’s sentiment.

“A lot of it has to do with the train signals,” Thurlow said. “If the train is coming through, people speed up to avoid it.”

City staff found that 85 percent of people who drive on that road travel faster than the posted speed limit of 25, according to

Not all of the Commissioners agreed that installing speed humps would be the best way to solve the problem. Commissioner Robert Cronin said based on what he’s seen around the speed humps on Willow Road, the installation would not curb people’s desire to speed. He offered an alternative.

“What if one end of that road was blocked off with a barrier that was porous to bicycles, but prevented motor vehicles from traveling through?” Cronin asked. The question was not received favorably.

Commisisoner Maurice Shiu said that he too was "not a fan of speed humps." People will probably slow down to avoid damaging their vehicles while they go over them and then speed up immediately thereafter, Shiu said.

Ultimately, a majority of the commissioners decided that the temporary installation project should proceed and approved the next level of action. A Neighborhood Traffic Committee, composed of community representatives, will be formed to work with city staff to make sure the interests of all stakeholders are addressed.

To find out more about some of the things they will assess,