Christopher Kao - East Palo Alto Sun (Page 2)

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

Can’t Find Parking in EPA? New Data Confirms You’re Not Alone

East Palo Alto’s streets are over-parked, with many neighborhoods exceeding 100% occupancy. Our drone study shows the crisis is structural, not anecdotal—and urgent action is needed.

July 16, 2025 - 14 min read

Palo Alto’s RPP Program Is Larger Than East Palo Alto’s Entire Road Network — What That Means for Us

Palo Alto’s residential parking permit (RPP) program spans 44 miles—more than the total road length of East Palo Alto. As our city considers its own RPP ordinance, this comparison offers insight into what’s possible and how we might scale it locally.

June 28, 2025 - 3 min read

Mega Mart in East Palo Alto: A Mismatch or a Market Strategy?

Mega Mart’s new East Palo Alto store may seem out of place demographically, but with 40,000 Asians nearby, no local Asian grocers, and high traffic, it’s a bold and strategic market move.

June 02, 2025 - 3 min read