TRAFFIC COMMITTEE

YEAR-END CAP -- by Doug Moran, Chairman

Safety

Reminder that cars and pedestrians share the streets. Drivers need to observe the speed limit. Pedestrians and bicyclists need to ensure that they make themselves visible with lights and reflectors.

Enforcement

The Palo Alto Police Department is expanding the traffic enforcement unit and re-instituting motorcycle police. This will allow an increase in the number of locations targeted for enforcement of the speed limits, and permit an expansion in the hours of enforcement. This increased enforcement is expected to begin in early 1996.

The BPA has monthly liaison meetings with the PAPD, and traffic problem areas is a frequent topic. Speeding on the major feeder streets is a continuing problem. Having more specific information (for example, time of day) helps push for increased enforcement at a location. Street Rebuilding.

The section of Los Robles between El Camino and La Donna has been widened to provide bike lanes meeting official guidelines (Los Robles is a major school corridor). This is the first major street work in Barron Park since the adoption of the design guidelines, and you can see an example of the "valley gutters". The gutters stop abruptly at the Rudolfo's property because there would likely be an increase in the right-of-way when the site gets a new occupant.

There is no major street work scheduled for 1996. Matadero Avenue is scheduled to be rebuilt in 1997. The city staff plans to start, this spring, consulting with residents: they recognize that the issues are complex.

Improving Safety

We have talked to the city staff about the need for design changes to the curve on Barron Avenue and the Kendall-La Donna corner, but there are not yet any proposed solutions.

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