In a recent city council meeting, officials discussed the enhancements to the crossing guard program and pedestrian safety initiatives in Thousand Oaks. Currently, the city has 24 campuses, including 15 elementary schools and 5 middle schools, with 18 of these locations directly adjacent to school grounds. The crossing guard program is staffed by a program manager, a lead guard, a senior guard, and over 30 crossing guards when fully operational.

The city council directed staff to collaborate with the traffic commission in late 2022 to revise the crossing guard program policies. This effort culminated in the approval of a new crossing guard policy in February 2023, which introduced more generous local standards compared to the state requirements. The updated policy aims to ensure that crossing guards are deployed based on objective data, enhancing safety for school-age pedestrians.

Thousand Oaks stands out as the only municipal agency in Ventura County with its own local standards for crossing guard placements, which are notably more lenient than state guidelines. The city boasts the highest number of staffed crosswalk locations in the county, despite not being the largest city by population.

In addition to the crossing guard program, the city has invested over $20 million since 2010 to improve walkability and pedestrian safety. Recent projects include enhanced pedestrian crossings, new sidewalks, and upgraded ADA ramps. The city has also focused on improving bicycle facilities to ensure safe access for cyclists, particularly those commuting to schools.

To further promote walking and biking to school, the city launched a comprehensive website, walktoschoolt0.org, which provides resources for organizing walking efforts and raising awareness about pedestrian safety. The initiative has garnered significant digital engagement, with over 20,000 impressions on social media in the past year.

These efforts reflect Thousand Oaks' commitment to enhancing transportation safety and accessibility for its residents, particularly children traveling to and from school.