The Saratoga City Council and the Campbell Union School District are now trying to make life easier and safer for the children at the school.

The council, at a meeting on June 16, heard a proposal by city staff regarding traffic improvements around the school and gave the go-ahead for a new construction and traffic plan.

According to the plan, a new access road, drop-off and pickup area about 1,000 feet in length will be built inside the school grounds. This area will hold about 50 cars. The Sobey Road pickup and drop-off area will be eliminated once the new construction is complete.

The gate at the Sobey Road area will then be accessed for emergencies only.

The plan also suggests building of new pathways along Marshall Lane and Sobey Road. "This will allow safer access to the school," said John Cherbone, public works director for Saratoga.

The right-turn lane from Quito Road onto Pollard Road will be extended to the Sobey Road intersection.

The city and the school district plan to get rid of the traffic problem that exists around Quito Road and Marshall Lane by constructing a left-turn lane.

The proposed plan also talks about future traffic patterns in the area and indicates that construction of the new drop-off area near Sobey Road will ease some of the pressure off the existing drop-off area at Marilyn Lane.

"This plan is about kids being dropped off internally on the property of the school. The line of cars that will form will also be inside the school. This will help everyone," said Matthew Nagle, Marshall Lane principal. "With only one proper entrance and exit on Marilyn Lane right now, we are gridlocked most of the time."

A meeting was held on April 6 at the school to explain the new plan to neighbors and parents.

The report indicates that all construction work inside the school property will be funded by the Campbell Union School District. All work on city property will be funded by the city. The school district is expected to spend about $376,000 on the project. The city will add about $150,000 and fund it through the Capital Improvement Project.

"All this is for the safety of the children," said Mayor Ann Waltonsmith at the meeting.