The Cupertino Courier

News

Council to take wheel in solving gridlock at schools

By Cody Kraatz

The city's public works department and the local elementary and high school districts have been unable to steer through the traffic snarls and safety problems in the tri-school area around McClellan and Bubb roads.

So, the city council is taking the wheel.

The council on Feb. 20, with Councilman Richard Lowenthal absent, backed a proposal by Mayor Kris Wang not to commission a task force but to start work on a city-operated bus service during school commute times around Monta Vista High, Lincoln Elementary and Kennedy Middle schools.

The buses would be contracted to the Valley Transit Authority, according to Wang's proposal. VTA estimated the cost to be $200,000 to $250,000 per bus, she said.

Other cities in the state have used state transit grants to solve school commute problems and other mayors around the state recommended this solution, said Wang.

"We've done pretty much what we can do," said Glen Goepfert, assistant director of public works, of the traffic problems that exist around the schools.

The problems stem from parents driving one student to school in one car and the districts' lack of funds for busing services. Monta Vista is in the Fremont Union High School District, and Lincoln and Kennedy are in the Cupertino Union School District.

Already, a drop-off area at Monta Vista, in-pavement crosswalk lights, warning beacons, road bumps, increased ticketing and parking restrictions have failed to solve the problem.

Neighbors talked about the intensity and urgency of the tri-school traffic problem and proposed some solutions.

"There's certain times of day you don't try to get out of your yard with a car. Around 8:15, there's no use in it," said resident Louise Levy, who lives on Wilkinson Avenue near Hyannisport Drive, behind Kennedy Middle School.

"Two years ago my toddler son and I were hit by an inexperienced driver commuting to school and our family is still suffering. Pedestrian safety is vital, particularly in school areas," said resident Rhoda Fry.

David Greenstein, a former city bicycle pedestrian commission member who walks four to five children to school each day, said parents need to be educated on their options and choose not to drive.

"This is practically an intractable problem," he said.