East Palo Alto’s push for safer streets meets mixed reviews from residents
- David Rages, II
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Presentation at ribbon cutting on April 7, 2026 for roundabout ribbon cutting at Pulgas and Runnymede in East Palo Alto. Photo - David Rages, II
East Palo Alto is trying a new way to slow traffic near school locations - the installation of roundabouts on several city streets. Recently, the city installed a roundabout at Pulgas Avenue and Runnymede Street and another at Pulgas and Beech Street. A ribbon cutting for the Runnymede roundabout took place this April 7.
The city’s roundabouts were completed as part of the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) School Travel Fellowship Program, whose purpose is to foster collaboration between cities and their local schools to make it safer for students to walk or bike to school.
Five cities were selected for the program -East Palo Alto, Redwood City, South San Francisco, San Mateo and Daly City - after they presented work plans for their proposed projects at the 2021-2022 School Travel Fellowship Capstone event, which was held on October 20, 2022 at the San Mateo County Office Building in Redwood City.
The City of East Palo Alto’s website lists the benefits of the roundabouts, stating that the roundabouts force drivers to slow down, reducing the frequency and severity of crashes that may occur and reducing the number of drivers exceeding the speed limit. The website states that they also “reduce the potential for ‘T-bone’ and head-on collisions, …function like traffic signals and …are sometimes a better option for a location than a traffic signal at an intersection.”
So, the goal is simple: get drivers to slow down and make intersections safer. But, some residents who live near the roundabouts, have mixed feelings about how they’re working so far.
One resident, Richard, who lives in the area and gave only his first name, supports the idea. He said anything that slows drivers down is a good thing. He said he hopes the city adds another roundabout at Fordham Street in the future.
Kevin, another resident, saw some benefits. He said that the [new] roundabout is better than a speed bump and he expressed surprise that there wasn’t a stop sign at either intersection.
But other residents were not so sure.
Monisha McCall, questioned why there are no stop signs at the roundabouts and saw more downsides than benefits right now. “People don’t know how to use them,” she said. She also questioned why the city held a ribbon cutting for the project.
Rodney Mason, a member of Law ’em Low Car Club, talked about how the design could be improved. He said there should be a stop sign on, at least, one side of the intersection. He also said the crosswalks are placed too far back—about 10 feet from the corner, which doesn’t work well on narrower streets. In his view, speed bumps could have solved the problem more simply.
Alejandra Juarez, who works at the Little Blue House on the corner of Beech and Pulgas, feels the same way. She said many drivers don’t know how to yield when entering the roundabout. She also said that the changes have reduced parking near the Little Blue House, making it harder for staff and parents to find a spot. Like others, she believes speed bumps may have been a better option.
Joyce Jones was concerned about the size of the roundabouts. She pointed to the one at Beech and Pulgas and said that it feels too large and takes up too much of the street. She thought the circle should be smaller.
Another resident, Ndeya Berryman, agreed. She said the middle island is not needed and that the design reduces available parking in the area.
For now, the community continues to adjust to the city’s traffic roundabouts. Some residents see them as a step toward safer streets. While others feel the design needs changes and drivers need more education so they can use them correctly.
For more information on the roundabouts project visit the website https://www.cityofepa.org/publicworks/page/pulgas-avenue-mini-roundabouts
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