| The Palo Alto History Project |
| Embarcadero Road |
| Embarcadero Road: An Undesired Speedway As the connection road between the 101 and El Camino Real, Embarcadero Road has become a kind of psychological extension of the Bayshore Freeway. But for the residents who have the 110 odd driveways along the road, it is a constant battle to keep drivers aware that it is a residential street. Over the years in an attempt to slow down those who consistently treat Embarcadero as a freeway, the city has erected a dizzying array of "slow down" markers, flashing signs that tell you your speed and endless reminders that the road has a 25 mph limit. Police can now use radar on parts of Embarcadero, but before 2001 is was prohibited by state law. The 25 mph speed limit and 38 mph average speed would have designated it as a "speed trap" according to state law. When police asked that the speed limit be raised to 35 so they could get out their speed guns, residents were solidly opposed. Similar debates took place over the speed limits on Alma, Middlefield and Arastradero. Over the years, the city has come up with all sorts of ideas to slow drivers down other than tickets. At one point, the council seriously studied cutting the road to one lane in each direction and placing rotaries down its length, but the $3.5 million price tag slowed that plan down. Median strips and bike lanes have also been called for repeatedly. But still, the road remains the same --- a small morality test for drivers each day who must ignore a barrage of slow down reminders as they speed their way to and from the 101. -Matt Bowling |
| Palo Alto: Then & Now |
| The race is on |
| 2007 |
| circa 1900 |
| The map below shows the Embarcadero Road Area |
| The most serious speeding takes place near St. Francis Street as drivers exit the 101 Freeway and continue at Freeway speeds |
| However, it does not always work in slowing down drivers |
| The city has set up electronic speed limit signs that monitor speeds |
| In 1900, Embarcadero was a dirt road in rural Palo Alto. This shot was taken between Bryant and Emerson looking westward. |
| Over 100 years later Embarcadero is a major thoroughfare through Palo Alto, despite still having some of the qualities of a rural road. Castilleja Girls School is off to the left of this photo. |
| "Up to Newell or Middlefield, [Embarcadero] was 2 lane asphalt, no sidewalks. Wooden poles carried electric and phone lines. It was open land and orchards on the south side of Embarcadero. There were barns, cows, and horses and no 101. The road went straight to the Duck Pond. The new homes on the northside of Embarcadero were built by local realtor, Floyd Lowe. He had built homes earlier on Channing toward Newell." -Alice |
| Memories added by our readers: |
| Sources: Palo Alto Historical Association, Palo Alto Weekly, Palo Alto Times |