Christopher Kao - East Palo Alto Sun

Highway 101 Ramp Metering Lights at Rengstorff Ave in Mountain View Are Working Again

Good news — the ramp metering lights at Rengstorff Avenue in Mountain View are back on! After years of being dark and causing slowdowns on southbound Highway 101, Caltrans fixed the issue within days of being notified as part of its Adaptive Ramp Metering rollout.

October 11, 2025 - 3 min read

A New Community Garden Takes Root in East Palo Alto

East Palo Alto’s beloved community garden is finding new life on Demeter Street. Led by Fresh Approach, the new space reconnects the city with its agricultural roots and invites residents to grow, learn, and volunteer together.

October 11, 2025 - 3 min read

Why Highway 101 Southbound Slows in Mountain View: Ramp Metering Lights Not On

Drone footage shows Highway 101 southbound traffic slowing near Rengstorff Ave, where ramp meters remain off. Free-flowing on-ramp traffic merges at a 1:1 ratio, creating waves of congestion. Caltrans should investigate why the meters aren’t working.

August 30, 2025 - 4 min read

From Public Records Act Request to Interactive Map: Processing Vehicle Collision Data for Geospatial Analysis

Learn how to obtain, clean, geocode, and visualize vehicle collision data using Google Sheets and Foursquare Studio. This step-by-step guide turns raw police records into actionable geospatial insights for safer streets.

August 25, 2025 - 9 min read

Big Wins for East Palo Alto: $25M in New Transit Investments

The San Mateo County Transportation Authority just funded $25M in projects that boost mobility for East Palo Alto—Dumbarton West Connector design, EPX service expansion, and Ride Plus to Palo Alto Transit Center. Here’s why this matters.

August 17, 2025 - 4 min read

Shining a Light on Safety: East Palo Alto Expands Streetlight Upgrades

East Palo Alto installed 70 new streetlight mast arms this year, improving safety on many streets. A citywide lighting study is underway to address gaps, upgrade to urban standards, and reduce nighttime collisions citywide.

August 16, 2025 - 3 min read

Closing the Gaps to the University Avenue Overcrossing

The new University Ave Bicycle & Pedestrian Overcrossing has unlocked safer travel across Hwy 101, but nearby streets remain dangerous. Urgent fixes to University, Donohoe, and Woodland Ave are needed to prevent more collisions.

August 13, 2025 - 7 min read

Why the Former Office Depot at Ravenswood 101 Has Stayed Empty for Five Years — And What’s Needed to Unlock Its Potential

The former Office Depot space has sat vacant for five years due to restrictive CC&Rs blocking popular tenants and difficult amendment rules—stalling redevelopment despite city plans for a vibrant, mixed-use district in East Palo Alto.

August 10, 2025 - 6 min read

Fixing a Dangerous Intersection: 13 Crashes at University & Purdue in 5 Years

The University & Purdue Ave intersection in East Palo Alto has seen 13 vehicle crashes since 2020, with a rising trend in 2025. This unsignalized 35mph crossing endangers drivers and clogs regional traffic. A signalized solution is overdue.

August 01, 2025 - 2 min read