Photograph by Kathy De La Torre

Officer John Jennings gives a motorist a warning during the morning commute on Winchester Boulevard near the Daves Avenue intersection. Jennings says he patrols the area nearly every weekday because of heavy traffic and speeding. It's also an area where youngsters must cross on their way to Daves Avenue School.

The clock is ticking on federal safety funds

By Michelle Alaimo

Federal funding could be the key to safer streets for children near Daves Avenue School. The Los Gatos Town Council will vote Nov. 6, on whether or not to join Monte Sereno in securing $200,000 for a traffic study from Caltrans Safe Routes to School program.

The safety of children crossing the intersection of Daves Avenue and Winchester Boulevard prompted the need for a traffic study, Monte Sereno Mayor Suzanne Jackson, said. The application deadline is Nov. 9.

"There are very little kids crossing a very big street with a lot of traffic," Los Gatos Union School District board member Steve Glickman, said.

The main issue of concern is speeding and increased traffic congestion at an intersection where many children cross on their way to and from Daves Avenue. Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Sgt. David Gravel confirmed that speeding is a problem in the area.

"The number of citations being issued in that area for speeding has increased since the beginning of the school year," Gravel said. He adds that more than 15 speeding tickets have been issued near the Daves Avenue and Winchester Boulevard intersection in the past few weeks. Gravel notes that much of the speeding occurs before the arrival of crossing guards at 7:45 a.m. each day and after the crossing guard leaves in the afternoon.

"That is why people are driving kids to school," Jackson said. "It is not safe for them to walk to school."

The posted speed for Winchester Boulevard is 35 mph or 25 mph when children are present. Gravel attributes some of the speeding to the width of the road that allows drivers to pay less attention to what they are doing while picking up speed.

LGUSD Superintendent Mary Ann Park sent a letter to both Los Gatos and Monte Sereno on Oct. 1, detailing the need for traffic remedies at the intersection, including a request for a three-way traffic signal. Her letter states that a study was conducted on Winchester at the Daves Avenue pedestrian crossing that showed nearly 1,000 cars cross the intersection each hour.

"With drivers' attention focused on making a turn onto Winchester Boulevard from either Daves Avenue or Farley Road West, it would be very easy to miss seeing a small elementary student attempting to cross Winchester or Farley Road West," Park said in her letter.

When Park wrote the letter, she said she was unaware that Jackson and the Los Gatos Town Council were also looking for ways to improve the dangerous traffic hazards existing in the area.

Monte Sereno Vice Mayor Barbara Nesbet explained that under AB1475 that created the Safe Routes to School Act, the city, not the school district, must apply for the funding. Because Daves Avenue falls under Monte Sereno jurisdiction and Winchester Boulevard is under Los Gatos jurisdiction, Nesbet said the two cities must apply for the funding jointly.

The act allows up to $500,000 funding for each project. Jackson said it is estimated the traffic study will cost approximately $100,000. The remainder of the funding would be used for implementing whatever recommendations the traffic study suggested, Nesbet said.

With a Nov. 9 application deadline looming, Jackson is concerned about getting the Los Gatos Town Council to vote for the issue. Jackson sent the town a letter about obtaining federal funding on July 25. The issue was placed on the town council agenda three times before making the final cut for Nov. 6.

However, Nesbet said she expects Los Gatos will agree to jointly applying for the federal funds because it is a "win-win situation" for both cities. Los Gatos Mayor Steve Blanton agreed that the funding seemed like a good thing for both cities.

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