Traffic signals coming to Foothill Traffic signals coming to Foothill (March 12, 2004)

Lights to be installed in time for next school year
by Teresa C. Brown

Pleasanton Unified School District trustees learned during their regular meeting last week that traffic signal lights will be installed at Foothill High School by the fall term to help provide a more orderly arrival and departure for the 2,000-plus students who attend the school at 4375 Foothill Road.

Three weeks ago, the City Council approved advancing the $75,000 funding for the purchase of the signals so the lights can be installed prior to the beginning of the next academic year, said Sandra Lemmons, PUSD assistant superintendent of Business Services. Once ordered, the signals have a five-month delivery time.

With the light installation, some traffic flow changes will occur.

"A major change in terms of operation that has been worked through with the school staff is that the drop off in front of the science building and the administration building will reverse directions," Lemmons said. The new traffic flow will enter from the north and exit toward the south.

"I am concerned about the reverse drop-off," said Trustee Kris Weaver. "At least they are big kids. I hope it works."

Lemmons added that if the new drop-off pattern does not work, it can be changed back.

Another change will involve teacher parking. "They will be exiting to the right," Lemmons said.

"I know it'll be a problem for the staff to turn right," Weaver said. "I wish there was a way to fix that. That to me is the only unfortunate thing, but I'm glad we're doing something," she said of the light installation.

Lemmons cautioned that the signals would not solve the congestion problem at the school but would help provide a safer means for students turning left into the parking lots.

"I think this is a great step forward," said board President Gloria Fredette.

With bidding beginning in April, construction is expected to begin in May with the hardware delivered in summer.

The congestion around Amador Valley is also under review.

"We're looking at some signage and striping to try something there in the intermediate period," said Superintendent John Casey. "(The city) wants to do something about that as well. It's a little more complicated."
City lights

Three new traffic signals have been recently completed in Pleasanton: West Las Positas Boulevard/Dorman; Bernal/Vineyard/Tawny; and Bernal/Pleasanton Avenue. The signals on Vineyard Avenue and Montevino should be activated within the next two weeks, said Traffic Engineer Jeff Knowles, if the weather stays nice.

The signal will be installed on Foothill Road at the high school, hopefully in mid-August. After that, the city is planning for a traffic light on Bernal on the west side of I-680. "It depends on Caltrans and the budget," said Knowles, noting that as the new homes are constructed west of the freeway it will become harder and harder for vehicles to turn on and off the freeway on that side without a signal.

The intersection of Main Street and Bernal is under discussion but no stoplights are in the plans now, said Knowles.

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