22. Commission update on safe routes to schoolOFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
CUPERTINO
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE AVENIJE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255
TELEPHONE: (408} 777-3212 • FAX; (408) 777-3366
davek@cupertino.org
STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item Number '2'O~
SUBJECT AND ISSUE
Agenda Date: December 15, 2009
Receive an update on Public Safety, Bicycle Pedestrian, Parks & Recreation, and Teen
Commissions participation iri safe alternate routes to school.
BACKGROUND
At the November 30th meeting, City Council asked for a report on what these four
Commissions were doing to encourage safe alternatives to the automobiles around schools.
Parks and Recreation Commission: The corr~mission has not worked on these issues. The
City Council did not refer the issue of safe alternative routes to schools or encouraging walking
and biking to school to this particular commission.
Teen Commission; Council referred the issue: of encouraging students to walk or bike to
school to the Teen Commission along with the Public Safety and Bicycle and Pedestrian
Commissions. At this time the Teen Commission has created asub-committee of five members
who share the responsibility of researching, cont~~eting, and informing schools about Walk -To-
School programs. In their initial efforts, the subcommittee members discovered that many
campuses have existing programs. The Teen Commission is working on getting all Cupertino
schools to participate on the same day so there can be a highly visible, citywide effort to
walk/bike to school.
Public Safety Commission: The Public Safety Commission has developed and is actively
administering aWalk/Bike/Carpool incentives program with the schools in Cupertino. The
primary focus is to reduce automobile traffic, and thus improve pedestrian and bicycle safely, at
the school sites. Currently, the schools have been provided with letters to explain the program
and grant applications to apply for money to purchase items that will provide incentives to the
students to WalkBike/Carpool to school. Several applications have been received and
approved already.
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In addition, the Public Safety Commission has developed a uniform method to collect
information for traffic hazards in and around schools. It considered radar speed signs, but found
that there was little concern for speeding around the schools. There was more concern for
traffic hazards and congestion management. The Commission came up with a form to hand out
at schools to evaluate perceived problems. The Commission will collect these forms and go
through a process to determine what projects would be most beneficial. It would then work
with the concerned parties, the Sheriff Department and Public Works to reduce hazards. The
intent is to provide a simple tool for the schools (staff, students and parents) and other citizens
to report and resolve traffic problems.
Bicycle Pedestrian Commission: The Commission discussed safe alternate routes to school
most recently at its November 1 S meeting, where the question of opening the Scenic Circle
gate to Blackberry Farm was aired. The underlying pxemise is that the safety of the tri-school
commute might be enhanced if walking and cycling students had an alternative to McClellan
Road. This was not an action item, so no action was taken.
For a number of years, the Commission has discussed safe alternate routes to school directly
and indirectly in the forms of sponsoring Walk/Bike to Work/School week in May of each year,
reviewing and formally endorsing Safe Routes to School grant applications, and sponsoring and
supporting bicycle education days at Cupertino schools.
Respectfully submitted;
David W. Knapp, City Manager
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