The City of East Palo Alto has announced the opening of a pedestrian overcrossing to the public at University Avenue and Highway 101, aiming to prevent collisions.
The project aims to improve safety after 26 bike collisions occurred within one block of University Avenue and Donohoe Street between Jan. 1, 2024, and June 18, 2025. The City of East Palo Alto raised $15 million to fund the project in December 2022.
According to East Palo Alto City Engineer Anwar Mirza, even though construction is still occurring nearby, the pedestrian walkway is safe and available to the public for use. Mirza estimates the entire project to be complete by the end of September.
Access to the overpass from Woodland Avenue is on the Four Seasons Hotel side, and the entrance on the Donohoe Street side is across from Ikea.
Members of the community feel much safer traveling across University Avenue.
Sofia Zamora, a student at St. Elizabeth Seton School in Palo Alto, recalls her experience trying to cross from Donohoe Street to Woodland Avenue before the overpass was built. Prior to the structure, pedestrians used a narrow sidewalk with no guardrails to protect them from cars.
“I’ve only walked this [overpass] once,” Zamora said. “Before, we had to try to stay on the line that [separates the cars and the wall]; You just stay there and go fast.”
