From: Ronit Bryant <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2024 6:08 PM
To: , Public Works <[email protected]>
Subject: Council Transportation Committee meeting of January 30 Item 5.1
CAUTION: EXTERNAL EMAIL - Ensure you trust this email before clicking on any links or attachments.
Dear members of the CTC,
As you discuss central walkway pavement treatments for Castro, please urge staff to consider adding greenery into the mix. Sitting on Castro this Sunday, enjoying excellent pastries and great coffee, I saw clearly the street has not recovered from the closure imposed to reasphalt it.
There are way fewer cafe tables and the street looks ready to be reopened to traffic. I felt bounded and constrained by fences around the cafe area and exposed to the constant flow of cars on the cross street (Villa). The view was dominated by asphalt, cars, and traffic barriers:
nothing soft, nothing warm, nothing to make one feel welcome.
The great big round bollards along the cross-street intersections are quite attractive. The fences/barriers are not. These could easily (and not too expensively) be replaced by potted trees in large containers such as are used very widely (including by commercial developments here in Mountain View). I'm sure such containers could be made moveable to reassure the fire services.
Though the current Castro Street project is supposedly temporary, I foresee it is here to stay for many years. Please push to make Castro welcoming and attractive now!
Thank you,
ronit bryant