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Home My WebLink About02-09-2006 Traffic Safety Commission AgendaCITY OF SARATOGA TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION AGENDA DATE: February 9, 2006 TIME: 6:30 PM LOCATION: Administrative Conference Room City of Saratoga 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070 Call to Order Roll Call: Ballingall, Biester, Bustamante, Kane, Guichard Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on February 2, 2006. Accept Agenda Items and Order: No additional items may be added pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2. Oral &r Written Communication Any member of the public may address the Commission about any matter not on the agenda for this meeting for up to three minutes. Commissioners may not comment on the matter but may choose to place the topic on a future agenda Approval of Draft Minutes Draft Public Safety Commission Minutes for November 10, 2005 New Business 1. Traffic Matrix #127 &z 128 - Tom Clerkin, Manfred Schabes Issue: Truck on neighborhood streets in El Quito North area Action: TSC will make recommendation 2. Traffic Matrix # 129 &r 134 - Aaron Katz &r Jeff Barco Issue: Traffic problems on Oak Street and Komina due to school traffic Action: TSC will make recommendation 3. Traffic Matrix #131 &r 133 - Rosalie Price &z Alesa Stallman Issue: Request for safer crosswalk on Saratoga Avenue at Crestbrook Action: TSC will make recommendation 4. Traffic Matrix # 136 - Daniel Onn Issue: Requests traffic light at Herriman &r Saratoga Avenue, also light at Montauk Way and Fruitvale Avenue Action: TSC will make recommendation 5. Traffic Matrix # 137 - Marcia Fariss Issue: Wants bike lane striping changed on Saratoga Avenue Action: TSC will make recommendation 6. Traffic Matrix # 138 - Peggy Anastasia Issue: Requests crossing signs with audio signal for friend with limited vision Action: TSC will make recommendation Staff Report - John Cherbone A. Aloha Avenue Announcements by Commissioners and Staff Commissioner's Term's of Office - Brigitte Ballingall &t Ken Biester'9 terms expire in April Adjournment to Next Meeting Thursday, May 11, 2006 In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you are a disabled person and you need a disability - related modification or accommodation to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 408.868.1269 or cbgyel@saratoya.ca.us Requests must be made as early as possible and at least one full business day before the start of the meeting. Certificate of Posting of Agenda: I, Kristin Borel, Administrative Analyst for the City of Saratoga, declare that the foregoing agenda for the meeting of the Public Safety Commission of the City of Saratoga was posted on February 3, 2006, at the office of the City of Saratoga, 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga, CA 95070 and was available for public review at that location. The agenda is also available on the City's website at www.saratoga.ca.us. CITY OF SARATOGA TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Draft Action Minutes DATE: November 10, 2005 TIME: 6:30 PM LOCATION: Administrative Conference Room City of Saratoga 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070 Call to Order - Meeting called to order at 6:35 p.m., Roll Call: Ballingall, Biester, Bustamante, Kane, Guichard Absent: None Staff: Analyst Borel, Director Cherbone and Traffic Engineer Rashid Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on November 7, 2005. Borel reported on posting of Agenda. Accept Agenda Items and Order: No additional items may be added pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2. No changes. Oral &¢ Written Communication Any member of the public may address the Commission about any matter not on the agenda for this meeting for up to three minutes. Commissioners may not comment on the matter but may choose to place the topic on a future agenda. None. Approval of Draft Minutes Draft Public Safety Commission Minutes for September 8, 2005 - Approved 2 -1 -0, Kane abstains. New Business 1. Traffic Matrix #105 - Steve Allen, 18710 Aspesi Drive (Follow up from meeting on 9/8/05) Issue: Speed bumps on Aspesi- Residents willing to pay for these Action: Report from Traffic Engineer, TSC will make recommendation MOTION: To install bot dots, chatter bars and break away sign in the middle of the road and stripes with reflectors along the shoulder. APPROVED 5 -0 2. Traffic Matrix # 101- Miller &r Kumar (Follow up from meeting on 9/8/05) Issue: Residents want permanent radar sign on Cox Avenue Action: City to receive radar sign from Santa Clara, TSC will make recommendation for placement MOTION: If the City receives the radar signs, one is to be placed on Cox Avenue, in the eastbound direction. APPROVED 5 -0 3. Traffic Matrix #111 - Julie Daniel, 12881 Pierce Road (Follow up from meeting on 9/8/05) Issue: Speeding and excessive volume on Pierce Road (TSC recommended installation of 2 sets of bolt down speed bumps. Action: Cherbone to report on price of bolt down speed bumps MOTION: Implement speed lumps on Pierce; Traffic Engineer will determine placement. APPROVED 5 -0 4. Traffic Matrix #121- Terry Markle, 20690 Ritanna Court Issue: Through traffic on Ritanna from Via Roncole creating safety concerns Action: TSC will make recommendation MOTION: Move "Not a through street" sign to right hand side of street, and place bot dots through intersection to better direct traffic. APPROVED 5 -0 5. Traffic Matrix #123 - Marlona Gregerson,14642 Via de Marcos Issue: Parking between median and curb blocking road on Gypsy Hill Road; cars on Via de Marcos drifting out of lane due to S curves in road Action: TSC will make recommendation MOTION: Graphical, "stay to the right sign ", will be place at both ends of the median on Gypsy Hill Road. No action to be taken on Via de Marcos. APPROVED 4 -1, Ballingall opposed. . 6. Traffic Matrix #125 - C.A. Syvertson,14666 Springer Avenue Issue: Left hand turn and straight through lanes not clearly marked at Big Basin Est Hwy. 9 and Big Basin & Saratoga Avenue Action: TSC will make recommendation No Motion made; TSC recommends that Traffic Engineer work with Public Works to develop a plan to increase visibility of directional arrows at intersection. Staff Report - John Cherbone A. Project Reports Announcements by Commissioners and Staff Adjournment at 8:05 p.m. to the next meeting - February 9, 2006 In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you are a disabled person and you need a disability - related modification or accommodation to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 408.868.1269 or cboyer@saratoga.ca.us ca.us Requests must be made as early as possible and at least one full business day before the start of the meeting. Certificate of Posting of Agenda: I, Kristin Borel, Administrative Analyst for the City of Saratoga, declare that the foregoing agenda for the meeting of the Public Safety Commission of the City of Saratoga was posted on November 7, 2005, at the office of the City of Saratoga, 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga, CA 95070 and was available for public review at that location. The agenda is also available on the City's website at www.saratoga.ca.us. Signed this 7th day of November 2005, at Saratoga, California Traffic Matrix #127 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION — Traffic complaint Form DATE: NAME: ADDRESS: 11/3/05 Tom Clerkin 12480 Paseo Cerro PHONE: 406 -1657 EMAIL: tomclerkinna sbcgolobal.net DATE SENT TO F &P: DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR PSC MEETING: DATE ADDED TO TRAFFIC MATRIX: DESCRIPTION OF TRAFFIC ISSUE: Trucks on neighborhood streets ignoring signs DIAGRAM IF NEEDED: Kristin Borel Traffic Matrix x#128 From: Sohrab Rashid [S.Rashid @fehrandpeers.com) Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2005 3:59 PM To: Kristin Borel Subject: RE: Trucks on Neighborhood streets Have. not heard of this yet. I may not know the whole story, but I don't think we should change signage for one. truck in the neighborhood. If there have been several others, it may be worthwhile. I would prefer it if someone could find out the details and I am happy to discuss with him afterward if needed. Sohrab - - - -- Original Message---- - From: Kristin Borel [mailto:kborel @saratoga.ca.us] Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 5:42 PM To: Sohrab Rashid Subject: FW: Trucks on Neighborhood streets Sohrab, Did John talk to you about this? Here is the guy's info if you want to talk with him directly. You do not have to meet with him if you don't want to. Kristin - - - -- Original Message---- - From: Manfred.Schabes @hitachigst.com [mailto: Manfred. Schabes @hitachigst.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 200511:54 AM To: Kristin Borel Subject: Re: Trucks on Neighborhood streets Kristin, Thank you for the update. I look forward to your analysis. I also would like to let you know that I would be glad to set aside time and meet with the traffic engineer in the field to explain to him or her my concerns right on -site. Please let me know, if you,think this would be possible and, of course, helpful. Best regards, Manfred Dr. Manfred E. Schabes Hitachi San Jose Research Center Hitachi Global Storage Technologies 650 Harry Road San Jose, California 95120 USA tel. + +1- 408 - 323 -7289 fax. + +1- 408 - 323 -7334 e -mail: Manfred.Schabes @HitachiGST.com "Kristin Borel" <kborel @saratoga. ca.us> To (Manfred.Schabes @hitachigst.com> 11/08/200510:43 cc AM Subject Trucks on Neighborhood streets Manfred, John Cherbone wanted me to let you know that we are having the traffic engineer take a look at the signage. We will let you know when we have some information from him. Sincerely, Kristin Borel Public Works Analyst 408 - 868 -1258 - Original Message---- - From: Manfred.Schabes @ hitachigst.com [mailto:Manfred.Schabes @hitachigst.com] Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 9:52 AM To: Dave Anderson Subject: Interstate freight trucks Dear Saratoga City Manager: This morning at about 8 AM I observed a large interstate freight -truck on Paseo Cerro in Saratoga. I stopped the truck and notified Saratoga police. Police officer with badge number 1666 was dispatched and handled the case. have been involved in Saratoga's recent NTMP for El Quito North. As a result of the NTMP, traffic signs have been posted on Quito road alerting trucks not to use the residential streets. Unfortunately, the new signs are verbal and black -on -white only, - -- hence hard to see. I would like to request further improvements to the signage. In particular, I would propose to add on top of the existing (verbal) truck prohibition -signs the usual round, red - encircled no- truck signs. This would not change the scope of the existing signage, but make it more visible. Secondly, if possible, it would also be good to add break -away signs right at the center - median of the corresponding intersections, making it more difficult for trucks to enter our residential neighborhood in the first place. Please let me know your thoughts on my proposals. I would hope that at least the colorful red - encircled signs could be added promptly, because through - trucks have been a recurring problem for us. I look forward to hearing from you. Best regards, Manfred E. Schabes Kristin Borel crom: John Cherbone ;ent: Friday, January 20, 2006 10:26 AM To: Manfred.Schabes @hitachigst.com; Dave Anderson Cc: Rick Torres; Kristin Borel Subject: RE: Traffic sign restored, but request further improvements Dear Mr. Schabes, We will add your traffic concerns to the next agenda of the Traffic Safety Commission. Kristin Borel will send you the time and date of the next meeting so you can attend and discuss the issue with the Commission. Sincerely, John - -- Original Message---- - From: Manfred. Schabes@hitachigst.com [ mailto: Marifred.Schabes @hitacMgst.com] Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 4:43 PM To: Dave Anderson; John Cherbone Subject: Traffic sign restored, but request further improvements Dear Mr. Anderson and Mr. Cherbone, I thank you for restoring the no -truck sign at the intersection Quito and Bucknall. Today I also appreciated a good telephone conversation with Mr. Rick Torres. Mr. Torres explained to me that the sign had been removed by vandals and that the sheriff's department has been notified. I discussed with Mr. Torres also my concerns about the poor visibility /readability of the existing verbal no -truck signs on Quito. Even though one symbol -sign has been added on Paseo Cerro (below the 25 MPH sign) recently, I.strongly believe that the signage on Quito needs further improvement. I very much agree with Mr. Torres perspective that an international format of the signage would serve us best, i.e. have a round, red - bordered 'truck -no- right -turn' -sign below which is a brief verbal qualifier, for example "On Paseo Flores / Over4 tons" with placement on Quito and a few yards north of the intersection Quito and Paseo Flores. The international signs should be installed on Quito a few yards north of the intersections of Quito /Paseo Cerro, Quito /Paseo Flores, Quito /Paseo Olivos, and Quito /Bucknall, respectively. 'lease note that large trucks have been cutting through not only on Paseo �,_erro, but also e.g. on Paseo Flores, and on Bucknall. Clearly, the signs in international format would not change the legal scope of the existing (non- international) signs, which are, however, hard to read and hard to understand by out -of -area truck drivers. Please let me know whether you would be willing to have the traffic safety commission consider my proposal. I am convinced, that, if approved, the signage in international format would very much improve the recurring problems with large trucks in our Saratoga neighborhood. Best regards, Manfred E. Schabes Dr. Manfred E. Schabes Hitachi San Jose Research Center Hitachi Global Storage Technologies 650 Harry Road San Jose, California 95120 USA tel. + +1- 408 - 323 -7289 fax. + +1- 408 - 323 -7334 e -mail: Manfred. Schabes @HitachiGST.com Traffic Matrix #129 Kristin Borel From: Skiing for Smarten [s4s @ix.netcom.coml Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2005 10:57 AM To: Kristin Borel Subject: Traffic /Safety/Trail Issues Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Red Hi Kristen and how are you? A couple of matters I would like to call to your attention: 1. The traffic situation on Oak Street adjacent to Saratoga School. It is absolutely abysmal. The traffic is ENCOURAGED to back up all the way up Bohlman Road making it in essence impossible for traffic coming down Bohlman during school drop off /pick up hours to safely navigate [the street is simply not wide enough]. I would suggest someone from the City coming out to monitor the situation so it can been seen for oneself. In my opinion this situation has been caused by the school district itself. When it did its massive remodel, it cavalierly thumbed its nose at the City's development standards asserting exemption. Now look what we have! Here are some of my proposed solutions. a. Paint the entire curb red preventing stopping [as opposed to queing]. Even when school drop- off /pick -up is not an issue, people routinely park their vehicles on the curb which contributes to the same ill [the street is just not wide enough to safely accommodate parking and eggress]. b. Prevent any stopping on Bohlman Road prior to reaching Saratoga School. Perhaps a targeted sign needs to be installed telling vehicles they CANNOT stop to wait for the queing ahead to open up. Maybe augment the message with something like a minimum $325 fine and after a week or so of notice, start issuing some tickets. When the word spreads, I am certain the practice will stop. c. Tell the school district it MUST come up with a solution to the traffic /parking problem [the school created the problem - it should be made to fix it]. The problem has affected the City's streets and if the school intends to use the streets for child drop -off /pick -up, it must come up with a queing system that does not interfere with eggress of Oak Street/Bohlman Road. Ideally I would like to see the street widened [to the detriment of the sidewalk and set backs adjacent to the school (and at the school's expense)] which then allows Bohlman Road traffic to safely traverse. 2. The intersection of train tracks /pavement over a bike lane on Cox Ave. just west of Glenbrae. From discussions with Kathleen King the city is well aware of this dangerous piece of pavement. I led a bicycle ride over this stretch a week ago and we suffered another injury [a broken wrist and destroyed wheel set]. This intersection simply MUST be repaired NOW. Kathleen advised me this dangerous intersection was scheduled for repair months ago. I don't understand what is the problem, but to my knowledge, it is the most danger stretch of pavement for bicycles in the City. 3. I've seen a blurb in the newspaper seeking volunteers for a hiking/bicycle /other trail committee in anticipation of the City's 50th anniversary. No I don't want to volunteer [thank you very much], however, does the City have a series of officially recognized bicycle trails that allows for egress from one point to the other? If the answer is "no" and the City is interested in recognizing some, .I am willing to help out. In my mind this would be along the lines of where to ride a bicycle in the City if you're looking for a certain level of ride. For instance, the ride up Bohlman Road is noted by our bicycle club as being one of the most challenging stretches in the County for a work out. There is another up Sanborn. And yet another up Peach Hill/Canon Roads. We have another less challenging yet challenging nonetheless ride that goes through Stevens Canyon, up Mt. Eden/Pierce. We have another [far less challenging] route called the "Maze' which starts at the International Coffee Roasting Company, turns right on 6th Street, and then meanders through the neighborhoods basically ending up on Pierce Road. We then have another one that continues on Pierce, turns on Comer and then meanders all the way to Prospect. We have another that goes from Quito Road to West Valley via Sobey. We have another that meanders from Congress Springs Park up to the Village. We have another that goes up to Montalvo. Most of these rides stay off of busy streets and can answer the question: are there places to ride your bicycle wholly within Saratoga? If you think this would be something of interest, I could supply some routes which could be published on the City's web site. Thanks for your help and interest. Best regards, Aaron Katz Kristin Borel______________.__ From: John Cherbone 'ent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 10:32 AM ro: Jeff Barco Cc: Kristin Borel Subject: RE: Aloha Closure - -And Bigger Issues on Komina Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Orange Hi Jeff, Traffic Matrix #134 Thanks for the email. I could not agree with you more about the safety of the children. As part of the Aloha issue the City's Traffic Engineer is working on a plan to improve the traffic situation near the school. I will forward your idea of speed humps on Komina to him. Most likely this issue will be agendized at the next Traffic Safety Commission Meeting. We will notify you of the meeting so you can attend if you desire. I look forward to working with you to improve traffic safety in your area. Sincerely, John - - - -- Original Message---- - From: Jeff Barco [mailto:jbarco0l @comcast.net] Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2005 4:37 PM V John Cherbone Subject: Aloha Closure - -And Bigger Issues on Komina I live on Komina Avenue and consider the exit from Aloha to Highway 9 to be a serious safety hazard and I'm fully supportive of the permanent closure to traffic existing on Highway 9. Bravo! My neighbor Art Anderson and I have worked with the city's safety committee to resolve traffic management issues around Saratoga elementary school during the remodel of the school. Given that I live on Komina Avenue and my home office faces the street, I see the driving behavior of parents in very close proximity- -and there's not a week that goes by that I'm not reacting to the incredibly poor driving "decisions" parents make that put children who walk on Komina at serious risk. What makes the traffic safety issues so acute on Komina is the substandard road width, parking on each side of the road, frequent parking violations in the red zone, large SUVs, and the hectic (brief, but intense) morning and drop off periods. I'm not a safety expert - -but Komina Avenue represents one of the worse child safety zones in the city of Saratoga. I've been witness to multiple situations that simply make you cringe. So, though I applaud the city for taking action on Aloha, I haven't seen any noticeable changes to the traffic issues on Komina. In my view, the far more serious safety issue is the traffic congestion mixed with very young childr- en- -w -ho- arepr-ese -n- t each -week day walking to school on Komina -Ave. John, I'd like to recommend one additional safety "investment" that would significantly reduce the risk near the school - -road undulations. To be specific, installing two undulations on Komina Avenue would force car traffic to travel at a rate much more consistent with the conditions and our precious assets -- children. The City knows the risks on Komina and has not acted -- which will become the legal issue when the City is sued after a child is injured or killed which is sadly, inevitable. From a risk mitigation point of view, installing traffic undulation demonstrates tangibly the city's commitment to safety for the children who attend Saratoga school. John, if you would like to talk to me further about solutions for Komina -- please don't hesitate to contact me. Thank you. Best regards, Jeff Barco 408- 858 -4665 (M) - - - - ,Traffic Matrix #131- -- October 10, 2005 City of Saratoga 13777 Fruitvale Ave. Saratoga, CA 95070 To The, Honorable Mayor King, City Council Members, and The City Manager: On Monday evening October 3, around 7:30 p. m., I experienced a horrific event. It is the beginning of the scared Jewish observance of Rosh Hashanah. My friend, Mrs. Emmy Lavenstein and I are residents of the newly opened Saratoga Retirement Community located at 14500 Fruitvale Ave. I am still learning this area because my husband and I only recently moved from our home of forty one years in Palo Alto. . Mrs. Lavenstein offered to drive me to Congregation Shir Hadash's special location for their High Holy Days services, Sacred Heart Church of Saratoga, 13724 Saratoga Ave. Large crowds of people were expected and information sent explained that parking at the church would be a problem. We parked in St. Andrew Episcopal Church lot using my disabled placard. We found it impossible to walk down to the traffic light at the corner of Fruitvale and Saratoga because St. Andrew's construction fence would have required us to walk out into the oncoming traffic. . We walked through the parking lot and found we could safely walk along the bike path lane to a pedestrian crosswalk at what I believe is Crestbrook Drive. We waited until the traffic light was holding back the traffic on our left, and believing that the lights of the traffic in the far right lane was a long, long way off, we proceeded to cross. When we were only a few feet away from the safety of the far side, a car traveling so fast that he, I believe, did not see us, was suddenly was upon us! He struck Mrs. Lavenstein, missing me by millimeters. I thought my friend had died before my eyes. Good people came to our help immediately, and the very best news, Mrs. Lavenstein was seriously injuried, but alive. This crosswalk has no street lighting! There is no pedestrian island in the middle of this very wide street. It is a crossing hazard for anyone day or night. Measures should be take immediately to improve street lighting - -a pedestrian traffic light would be the best solution - -or the crosswalk should be painted out completely. No one should ever experience what happened to us again. Sincerely yours, Rosalie Price -,::, 6 //0 14500 Fruitvale Ave. _ Saratoga, CA 95070 408 741 7670 Traffic Matrix. ##133 .__ November 9, 2005 Dear Safety Commissioner of Saratoga, a. I have a request for Crestbrook Crosswalk on Saratoga Ave. I live at 19740 Braemar Dr., go to school at Sacred Heart, and often walk to school. I feel that drivers crossing across the crosswalk do not feel the need to stop or pay attention to pedestrians trying to cross the street. I would appreciate it if you would put a crosswalk sign in the middle of the street. About a month ago, I witnessed a crash and was terrified for the rest of the week. One car stopped for me but the car behind did not and crashed into the car that had waited for me. I wish for you to consider my request and make Crestbrook Crosswalk much safer. Sincerely, / Alesa Stallman Traffic Matrix *136 Kristin Borel From: Daniel Onn [danielonn2002 @yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 3:49 PM To:. Kristin Borel Subject: Feb 9th meeting Dear Ms.Korel, It was nice speaking to you on the phone. I would like to bring up the issue of installing a traffic light at Herriman and Saratoga Avenue at the crosswalk since it is used not only by elementary students,high school students and those walking to West Valley College it is also used by walkers and those going to the bus stop accross the street.It's an accident waiting to happen. Also for those trying to turn onto Saratoga Ave it makes is very difficult as the cars must wait until the cars clear especially during rush hour it can be hard to make the turn. The cross walk at Herriman and Saratoga Ave is very dangerous for the visually impaired as they won't know when to cross this busy intersection and it would do them no good walking almost a mile to the village to cross at a cross walk. This crosswalk should also offer the "chirp" for the visually impaired. Also a cross light needs to be installed from the area around Montauk Wy. to West Valley College so one can cross Fruitvale Ave safely without walking all the way down to the road leading to the Civic Center area. I appreciate you taking the time to add this to the agenda. Thanks, Daniel Onn 13770 Beaumont Ave. Saratoga CA 95070 Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 1/24/2006 Kristin Borel ____ _ __ _ __ Traffic Matrix #137 From: John Cherbone Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 9:38 AM To: Kristin Borel Subject: FW: bike lane as turn lane - - - -- Original Message---- - From: City Hall Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 8:34 AM To: Marcia Fariss Cc: John Cherbone Subject: RE: bike lane as turn lane Good morning Marcia: Thank you, as always, for your informational emails regarding safety in our community. message on to Public Works Director John Cherbone for follow -up. Ann Sullivan Executive Assistant to City Manager - - - -- Original Message---- - From: Marcia Fariss [mailto:Marcia @Gizmology.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 8:40 PM To: City Hall Subject: bike lane as turn lane . I have forwarded your Approximately 2 (maybe longer) years ago, southbound Saratoga Avenue between Westview and Cox Avenues was re- striped. Previous to the new striping, it was obvious that the the narrow curb lane was a bike lane and that the right turn lane portion (onto Cox Avenue) began south of Palo Oaks. The new configuration put dotted line most of the way from Westview to Cox; the consequence is that southbound drivers wanting to turn right onto Cox put their car in the bike /curb lane as far north as Sun Valley Court. Not only are they driving too fast, but they pay no attention to people attempting to enter Saratoga Avenue from the neighborhood streets and there have been many many near misses, the most recent being this morning. I had already pulled into the bike lane, to enter southbound Saratoga Avenue traffic when an unobservant driver nearly T -boned me. So, I'm requesting, (and I can assure you that I speak for several hundred of us in the area) that the bike /right turn lane on Saratoga Avenue be re- striped to its original configuration. That is, in such away that it is once again obvious that it is not a 3 block long turn lane, but a bike lane and that no cars should enter that lane until a few feet from Cox Ave. Thank you very much for following through with this request. Marcia Fariss Traffic Matrix #138 February 1, 2006 I am writing this letter for my neighbor, who lives at the Vineyards of Saratoga. She is a young 65 years old and has been diagnosed with macular degeneration. She has been able to purchase devices that help her read small print at home and when shopping. The disease has progressed to the point where she can no longer drive a car so her way of. being independent is to walk. She walks to Gene's Market on Cox, the Saratoga Library to get books on tape and to the post office on Allendale. ' I have noticed in my travels that signals lights at or near De Anza College have a device attached to the pole that emit a sound to alert visually impaired people that it is time for them to cross the street. This device would be very helpful for my neighbor to cross the street. She tells me that she feels unsure and can't read the walk/don't walk signs at intersections. Her routes are as follows: Gene's Market, she crosses Saratoga Ave. at the Vineyards. This is, the only signal light used for this route. Saratoga Library, she walks down the west side of Saratoga Ave. all the was down to Fruitvale and crosses Saratoga Ave. at Fruitvale. She crosses both freeway exits on the west side of Saratoga Ave. She also crosses the intersections of Saratoga Ave. and Scotland Drive, where there is also a signal. Saratoga Post Office, she crosses all the same intersections as going to the Saratoga Library and also crosses at Allendale and Fruitvale intersection. Sincerely, Peggy Anastasia