Planning for a user-friendly Town Center
During my
lifetime the town center has changed considerably and it will continue
to do so.
The addition
of vast expanses of unneeded asphalt to Woodside Road, imposed by
Caltrans while Woodside resisted the routing of I-280 was particularly
disruptive.
The recent
Measure A election split the Town between those who want outdoor gathering and those
who want to limit changes. Change is coming. We should have a Town Center Plan that can shape these changes. We can have a user friendly center, improved circulation and adequate parking if we engage in thoughtful planning.
I have been a member of several Town Center Committees. Every committee agreed town center should be more pedestrian friendly. Recent Councils have not taken serious steps to plan for the town center's future.
Traffic
has increased far more than the population has increased. More
traffic,
not more people, has decreased our quality of life. Traffic volume is directly related to sprawl and auto dependence. We should find ways to replace auto trips with trips by other means. Increased housing density should occur close to town center where increased driving will be minimized.
The Town Center
can be a great place for all if we limit growth of auto traffic and make
a friendly, attractive environment. Thoughtfully designed changes to parking
and roads, especially the Cañada Road/Woodside Road intersection can
make the town center more pleasant and functional. It is time to start a
public discussion of these issues.
Changing the design of Town Center roads could make it safer for all users;
https://smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Dangerous-By-Design-2022-v3.pdf
If you have 15 minutes, here is a story of how Poynton, England transformed its center by rethinking the role of cars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vzDDMzq7d0. Poynton isn't Woodside, but we are overdue for re-imagining our town center.
Funding is available for this kind of project: https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A
If elected, I will promote planning for a more user friendly, less congested town center.
EHDD Architect's 1989 plan for Town Hall/Town Center. The parking near Town Hall is based on my sketch which I presented in reaction to an engineer's drawing proposing an all asphalt lot with multiple straight rows of parking and no green space.