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- 🗳️ Embarcadero Road Traffic Improvements and Los Altos New Voting System
🗳️ Embarcadero Road Traffic Improvements and Los Altos New Voting System
Plus summer concerts, Movie on the square, and many more events!
Greg Kemper
August 13, 2026
Sponsored by
Good morning neighbors!
Welcome to this week's Palo Alto Scoop! This week, we have details on Los Altos’ new voting system, the train horn quiet zone is facing new delays, and traffic improvements around town moving forward. Plus, the Pacific Islander Heritage Festival returns and we have summer concerts, art in the garden, tai chi in the park, plus many more events!
Let's get to it!
In this week’s edition:
Local Updates: New Los Altos voting system for November, train horn quiet zone faces delay, and Embarcadero and Crescent Park traffic improvements moving forward
Business Updates: Townhome project near Chef Chu’s approved
Events: Pacific Islander Heritage Festival, summer concerts, art in the garden, and tai chi in the park
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Palo Alto Avenue train horn quiet zone faces another delay
Residents near Palo Alto Avenue will have to wait longer for relief from Caltrain horns after the city's planned quiet zone was delayed over concerns about traffic backing up near the railroad crossing. The city has completed most of the required safety work at the crossing, including a median, bicycle-related road markings and an expanded protected left-turn lane, but additional reviews are needed after Caltrain's RailSentry system detected vehicles queuing back toward the tracks. The city is increasing police enforcement around the crossing and working with Caltrain and state and federal regulators to address the safety concerns, with additional road markings still expected as part of the project in fall 2026. The quiet zone would allow trains to stop routinely sounding their horns at the crossing while maintaining enhanced safety measures, potentially improving quality of life for nearby residents who currently hear horns from early morning through late night. The delay is specific to Palo Alto Avenue; quiet-zone efforts at Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive and Charleston Road are proceeding on separate timelines. Read more here.
Traffic improvements are underway along a busy stretch of Embarcadero Road
Palo Alto is moving ahead with long-planned improvements along Embarcadero Road between Emerson Street and High Street, following a City Council decision to expedite the work earlier this year. The first phase includes a raised crosswalk at Emerson Street, removal of the slip lane at Kingsley Avenue, wider sidewalks and a separated bike lane, along with redesigned intersections intended to slow turning vehicles and improve visibility. For locals who regularly travel this corridor, the project should ultimately create a safer and more predictable route for people walking and biking, although construction-related disruptions will continue in the short term. Read more here.
Los Altos moves to district-based City Council elections this November
Los Altos will hold its first district-based City Council election this November, replacing the city's previous system in which voters across the entire city selected all five councilmembers. Under the new system, residents will vote only for the councilmember representing their district, and candidates must live within the district they hope to represent. Districts 2 and 4 will be on the November 3, 2026 ballot, while Districts 1, 3 and 5 will hold their first elections in 2028. The change follows a 2024 notice alleging that the city's at-large election system violated the California Voting Rights Act, prompting Los Altos to develop and ultimately adopt a five-district map. For residents, the most important takeaway ahead of November is to check which district they live in, since their City Council ballot and the candidates they can vote for will depend on that boundary. Read more here.
Townhome project near Chef Chu's in Los Altos approved
A new townhome development near Chef Chu's in the North San Antonio Road area of Los Altos has received approval, adding new housing to one of the city's busiest commercial corridors. The project is located near 1067 N. San Antonio Road, where Chef Chu's sits alongside other businesses and restaurants near the intersection with El Camino Real. The area is already a major destination for shopping and dining, with the San Antonio Shopping Center and numerous restaurants nearby, so the new homes will bring additional residents within walking distance of many existing services. The development is part of a broader pattern of adding higher-density housing to established commercial areas rather than expanding into undeveloped land, although new residents will also add activity and demand to an already busy road network. For nearby neighbors and businesses, the project means keeping an eye on construction impacts, parking and traffic as the development moves forward. Read more here.
Stanford drops Flock but will continue using license-plate cameras
Stanford University has ended its contract with Flock Safety following concerns about the company's handling and sharing of data collected by automated license-plate readers. The university plans to replace the system with Genetec Cloudrunner, which Stanford says is designed for use within a single institution; photographs taken at campus entrances will initially remain in a cloud server for less than an hour before being transferred to a Stanford-controlled server and deleted from the cloud. Stanford police began using Flock cameras in 2024, and the change comes as cities including Mountain View, Santa Cruz and Los Altos have ended their own Flock contracts after questions arose about outside agencies' access to data. At the same time, law enforcement agencies have argued that license-plate readers are an important investigative tool, citing cases solved and reported reductions in certain crimes. Read more here.
Burma Spice in Redwood City
Burma Spice brings Burmese cuisine to Redwood City with a menu spanning salads, noodles, curries, seafood, meat dishes and vegetarian options. One of its most recognizable dishes is the Tea Leaf Salad, a Burmese classic. Other menu items include Shan tofu made from yellow beans, palata served with chicken or vegetarian curry, garlic noodles, samosas and coconut rice. Located at 490 El Camino Real, Burma Spice serves up traditional flavors with a focus on fresh ingredients!
The Yard Coffee in Redwood City
The Yard Coffee is a specialty coffee shop at 1018 Main St. in Redwood City that describes itself as a neighborhood “third place” designed for coffee, community and gathering. The shop roasts its coffee beans in-house in small batches using a Bellwether roaster, with the company highlighting its zero-emissions roasting process and locally sourced green coffee. Alongside espresso drinks and brewed coffee, the menu includes specialty beverages such as seasonal lattes, matcha and chai, with pastries and baked goods also available. The space includes indoor seating as well as an outdoor yard, and The Yard hosts community events and private gatherings. Its focus is as much on the coffee-making process and creating a gathering space as it is on serving a quick cup of coffee.
Click here to feature your business in front of over 10,000 local residents!
🎬 Movie on the Square: Lilo & Stitch and Jurassic World: Rebirth | Redwood City | Courthouse Square | 8/13 | more
Grab a blanket and settle in on Courthouse Square for a free double feature — the live-action Lilo & Stitch at 6pm followed by the dino-sized thrills of Jurassic World: Rebirth at 8:30pm.
🎶 Summer Concert Series | Palo Alto | Village Eats | 8/13 | more
Wrap up Town & Country Village's Village Vibes series with a live set from The Complements while you shop, dine, and soak up the summer evening.
🎨 Free Make and Take Projects | Redwood City | Eureka Gallery & Studio @ Center for Creativity | 8/13 | more
Drop by downtown Redwood City for a free, no-registration art session with all supplies included — a perfect 30-45 minute creative break.
🎸 Summer Stage Concert: Fleetwood Mask | Woodside | Filoli | 8/14-16 | more
Watch the sun set over Filoli's meadow as Fleetwood Mask brings the iconic '70s sound of Fleetwood Mac to life — VIP tickets & special packages still available!
🎤 Magical Series: Summer Concert Series | Palo Alto | Magical Bridge | 8/14 | more
Bring the whole family for an interactive evening with award-winning kids' performer Andy Z, blending music, puppetry, and storytelling for all ages and abilities.
🎵 Rock the Dock | Redwood City | 459 Seaport Court | 8/15 | more
Head to the waterfront for a free live set from Club 90, spinning pop, Motown, soul, and rock favorites.
🥂 Picnic en Blanc | Redwood City | TBA | 8/15 | more
Dress in white and keep the secret location under wraps for Redwood City's beloved annual fundraiser, featuring lawn games, a picnic dinner, and a dance party for a good cause.
🌺 Pacific Islander Heritage Festival | East Palo Alto | Bell Street Park | 8/15 | more
Celebrate Pacific Islander culture with live performances, food, and community vendors at Bell Street Park.
🐾 Peninsula Humane Society & UpDog Fundraiser | Palo Alto | Patagonia | 8/15 | more
Bring your pup along for a feel-good fundraiser supporting the Peninsula Humane Society, hosted at Patagonia's Palo Alto store.
🛠️ Kidmakers | Redwood City | Schaberg Branch Library | 8/15 | more
Beat the summer heat with a free, hands-on maker session at the library — a fun way to get the kids creating together.
📖 Book Launch Event: See You At Sunset | Los Altos | A Novel Affair | 8/16 | more
Celebrate the release of See You at Sunset with a special launch party at this cozy Los Altos romance bookshop.
🎶 Summer Stage Concert: The Alex Lucero Band | Woodside | Filoli | 8/17 | more
Get ready for country soul, funk, and feel-good energy as The Alex Lucero Band takes the Summer Stage at Filoli.
🎨 Art in the Garden | Palo Alto | Gamble Garden | 8/18 | more
Sip a glass of wine as Gamble Garden transforms into an open-air artists' studio for an evening in partnership with the Pacific Art League.
🌴 Summer Stage Concert: Pacific Mambo Orchestra | Woodside | Filoli | 8/18 | more
Dance the night away to the Grammy-recognized Latin rhythms of Pacific Mambo Orchestra at Filoli's Summer Stage.
🧘 Tai Chi | Redwood City | Redwood Shores Branch Library | 8/19 | more
Join a free, gentle Tai Chi session at the library — a calming way to build balance and flexibility.
🏎️ Movie on the Square: F1 | Redwood City | Courthouse Square | 8/20 | more
Watch Brad Pitt tear up the track in F1 at this week's free outdoor movie night on Courthouse Square.
🎨 Free Make and Take Projects | Redwood City | Eureka Gallery & Studio @ Center for Creativity | 8/20 | more
Stop by for another free, drop-in art session downtown — no registration needed, just show up and make something.