The city of Sunnyvale is holding a community meeting to gather input on a comprehensive funding program for long-range transportation infrastructure improvements.

According to Jack Witthaus, traffic manager for the city, updated land-use forecasts show that 16 to 19 intersections will become congested in the next two decades due to new development projects. Without funds for improvements to the city transportation system, traffic congestion could negatively affect the city's economy, neighborhoods and environmental health, he said.

The meeting to gather public input will be held on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Sunnyvale Community Center, located at 550 E. Remington Drive. For more information, call the city's traffic engineering division at 408.730.7415.


Historical society begins fundraising

The Sunnyvale Historical Society and Museum Foundation raised more than $160,000 in community donations at a fundraising kickoff on Oct. 17.

The new historical museum will be built on Sunnyvale Community Center grounds, at 550 E. Remington Drive. The society hopes to break ground on the project by 2005. It will feature a rotating exhibit hall, classroom space and four period rooms decorated with furnishings taken from a historic home that was demolished in 1961.

For more information, call Pat Castillo at 408.734.0552 or Laura Babcock at 408.736.4713.


City seeks input by Nov. 15 on pedestrian signal system

In order to make it safer for pedestrians to cross busy intersections, the city's traffic department has installed new "countdown" pedestrian signals at the intersection of Hollenbeck and Homestead roads in a pilot test to determine if they are helpful to Sunnyvale residents.

If Sunnyvale residents find the new system helpful, the signals will be permanently installed in areas of heavy pedestrian traffic and near schools across the city.

To provide input and rate the new system, call 408.730.7415 by Nov. 15.


Poll workers needed for Nov. 5 general election

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters is seeking more than 700 poll workers to work on in many cities, including Sunnyvale, on Nov. 5 for the general election. The county especially needs bilingual poll workers who speak English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Tagalog. Poll workers are paid a stipend of $85 to $115 for working from approximately 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Training will be provided.

A poll worker must be a U.S. citizen, a registered voter in Santa Clara County and at least 18 years old. For more information, call 408.299.POLL (7655) or visit www.sccvote.org.


Sunnyvale public safety hotline will address residents' issues

The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety has set up a new hotline, 408.524.COPS (2677), for the public to call and talk directly with personnel about public safety issues and provide feedback. The hotline is available to all members of the community on a 24-hour basis seven days a week. The service is not a replacement for dialing 911 in the event of an emergency.

Anonymity and confidentiality of any information provided on the hotline will be honored at the caller's request, officials say. For more information, call Lt. Chris Carrion at 408.730.7156 or Lt. Dave Pitts at 408.730.7122.