Saratoga News Questions remain in debate over traffic safety at schools Letters express concern over congestion, speeding By Steve Enders Since the beginning of the new year, letters from residents have been trickling into the city's Public Safety Commission about traffic safety on streets around Saratoga schools, especially Saratoga School on Oak Street. And while most letter writing in the city pertaining to schools recently has centered on trees, the district's and the city's attention is now shifting to concerns over cars and trucks that, residents say, are speeding by the schools. They're also congesting narrow streets, letter-writers say. And now, various committees throughout the city and school district are beginning to do something about it. On Jan. 19, Saratoga Union School District Superintendent Mary Gardner and a panel of guests addressed concerns about district-wide traffic issues and those at Saratoga School to an audience primarily of residents from Komina Way near Saratoga School. Representatives from the city's Public Safety Commission and Alternative Transportation Solutions (Altrans) were also on the panel. Altrans has been successful at starting carpooling, busing and shuttle programs at area colleges, and is now focusing on elementary schools including Saratoga's. The panel agreed that they would like to implement a busing system in Saratoga that would alleviate traffic backups near schools. However, busing is expensive, they said, and will require extensive surveys to determine exactly what is needed. Another problem is that Saratoga School District is not the only district that serves the city's children. Any city busing plan would also have to include those school districts. The Sheriff's Department is also throwing itself into the fray at the request of the Public Safety Commission. Deputy F.W. Zanker is conducting a traffic survey on Oak Street, among other places, and gave a preliminary report to the commission at its last meeting. "The problem's very similar to all the schools in the West Valley," he said. "Since the '50s, kids have been bused in and dropped off on the corner, and that's not happening anymore. Now you've got parents who are dropping off and picking up their kids all at the same time. And what you have now is a horrendous traffic situation." One letter the commission received two weeks ago asked for a stop sign on Oak Street, and others in the commission's packet call attention to increased traffic problems near two Saratoga private schools. Pete Gonda, the Public Safety Commission's administrative analyst, said that the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department is still conducting traffic surveys along Oak Street near the Saratoga School. When the results are compiled, he said, the Public Safety Commission will likely begin seeking a solution to the problem. Gonda also said that the commission hasn't made any concrete decisions on adding traffic-calming devices or stop signs on Oak Street because of construction scheduled to start at the school this summer. "We'd like to hear from others in the neighborhood to see what they're thinking," Gonda said, adding that he'll also compile information from the sheriff when it comes in. Gonda also said the commission may begin looking at a request for a stop sign on the street now, however. The request calls for a stop sign at Third and Oak streets, mainly to slow cars down when they cross the intersection. Deputy Zanker said another stop sign may not help there, because he's seen many parents drift right through existing stop signs to hurry their children to school. When he sees people who don't stop, Zanker said, he'll cite those drivers. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, January 27, 1999. ©1999 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.