HomeMy WebLinkAbout102-1. Memo from Fehr & Peers.pdf
!!!"#$%&"’(
MEMORANDUM
Date: December 7, 2009
To: John Cherbone, Public Works Director, City of Saratoga
From: Franziska Church/Sohrab Rashid
Subject: Review of On-Street Parking on Old Wood Road, Saratoga, California
1025-446-1
Fehr & Peers has completed an evaluation of traffic concerns on Old W ood Road near Marshall
Lane Elementary School in Saratoga, California. Specifically, this memorandum addresses traffic
and parking concerns on Old W ood Road during the school’s peak pick-up and drop-off periods.
A resident brought this item to the attention of the Saratoga Traffic Safety Commission (TSC) at
the November 12, 2009, meeting. After review of the item and input from Fehr & Peers, the TSC
recommended extending parking restrictions on the east side of Old W ood Road for an additional
250 feet south (towards Cordwood Court). This memorandum addresses traffic and parking
concerns on Old W ood Road during the school’s peak periods and our recommendation for
additional parking restrictions on Old W ood Road.
Old W ood Road is two-lane local roadway looping between Sobey Road on the south side of
Marshall Lane School to Sobey Road south of the 10 Acres Road intersection. Parking is
currently restricted Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (school hours) on Old W ood
Road for approximately 325 feet on both the east and west side of the roadway south of Sobey
Road at Marshall Lane School.
During the school’s peak drop-off and pick-up periods Old W ood Road is used by some parents
to park and walk their students to school. As is typical for residential neighborhoods in Saratoga,
no sidewalks are provided on Old W ood Road. The roadway is approximately 27 feet wide, and
with vehicles parked on the both sides of the road (in the area south of the parking restrictions),
only about 16 feet of pavement is available for two-way vehicle and pedestrian travel. As shown
in Figure 1 on the following page, the remaining 16 feet width on Old W ood Road is not sufficient
to accommodate two-way travel, and vehicles and pedestrians traveling on Old Wood Road need
to weave in and out of the parked vehicles.
To allow for adequate travel lane width, improved visibility, and added width for pedestrian travel
the TSC recommends that current parking restrictions on the east side of Old Wood Road be
extended for an additional 250 feet south towards Cordwood Court. The parking restrictions
should be the same as existing and be prohibited during school hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) on
weekdays that school is in session. Outside of the school’s peak periods, vehicular travel on Old
Wood Road is minimal and can be accommodated by the existing roadway width. At non-peak
times, adequate gaps in traffic flow are available to allow vehicles to pull to the side and let
another pass even with vehicles parked on the west side of the road.
John Cherbone
December 7, 2009
Page 2 of 2
)
!!!"#$%&"’(
Figure 1: Parked Vehicles on Old Wood Road (South of Marshall Lane School looking
southbound)