Envisioning a Great California Street
Great Streets Mountain View envisions a California Street that welcomes everyone: pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and motorists. A reduction in the number of automobile travel lanes from four to two, with a shared turn lane in the middle, will afford space for wider sidewalks, corner bulbouts and bike lanes separated from car traffic. This will calm the car traffic speeds and tremendously improve safety for everyone. The addition of improved landscaping, trees, seating and lighting will create a more pleasing and community-fostering environment.
Below is an illustration of the California Street & Mariposa Avenue intersection as it appears in our vision of California Street. Click on the icons to read more about key elements.
Green Landscaping
Rain that falls on the street is funneled straight to the bay, along with accumulated oil, grease, and grime. This pollutes the bay and local creeks. An effective and great solution is a large planter that allows rainwater to filter into the ground and get naturally treated by a mix of hearty plants before flowing into the drain and out to the bay.
Safe Intersection Design
Neighborhood streets that intersect with California Street would be raised and sidewalks extended to improve visibility and safety for people crossing the road. The widened sidewalks would provide opportunities for new landscaping, trees, transit shelters, and seating.
Improved Lighting
New pedestrian-scale light fixtures would be installed, ensuring that the path ahead is well lit and welcoming regardless of the time of day or the weather.
Neighborhood Bulletin Board
The intersection of Mariposa Avenue and California Street is a crossroads for the neighborhood. The corner market and Mariposa Park draw people from around the area, so it’s a natural location for spontaneous encounters with neighbors. Even in the digital age, a physical bulletin board can be an important element of our social fabric, and what better place to put one than this corner.