Thousand Oaks reports 2025 crossing‑guard counts; 10 locations fall short of two‑year threshold

Thousand Oaks staff told the Traffic and Transportation Advisory Commission on May 28 that the city completed its 2025 pedestrian and vehicle counts for staffed school crossings and that the results will trigger the planned removal of several crossing‑guard locations.

The counts, conducted and verified on May 6, 2025, covered 24 intersections currently staffed with crossing guards. Staff reported that 13 locations met the city’s 2023 crossing‑guard policy thresholds; 11 did not. Of those 11, staff said 10 have failed to meet the city’s standards for two consecutive years and are scheduled to be discontinued before the 2025–26 school year. Staff noted that seven of the locations failing the standard have not met it for four straight years.

The report matters because the city’s 2023 policy, adopted after Traffic Commission input and public outreach, uses more generous qualifying thresholds than the state standard — typically about half the state counts — and includes a two‑year consecutive review to avoid removing locations after a single low count. The policy also allows four alternative criteria that can lower the minimum thresholds in specific circumstances.

Graham Watts, program administrator for the crossing‑guard program, said the city has 24 staffed intersections, 20 of which are adjacent to Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) campuses; 15 are at elementary schools, five at middle schools and one at a K–8 campus. Watts told commissioners the counts are performed in coordination with published bell schedules during “blue sky” conditions and use a professional engineering firm.

Commissioners pressed staff on next steps, public notification and possible transfer of program oversight to CVUSD. Watts and Public Works Director Nadar Hadari said that, following a May 20 city council direction, staff has initiated discussions with CVUSD and the city manager’s office about whether the school district might assume some or all program oversight. No firm parameters or transfer terms were established; staff described the discussions as exploratory.

Commissioners also asked about specific locations flagged for removal, including an intersection near a strip mall and gas station that some commissioners said feels hazardous despite low pedestrian counts. Staff said the policy’s alternative criteria consider roadway speed, traffic volume and lane width; that particular location went through that analysis but still did not meet the thresholds. Staff added the intersection ranks high on the city’s traffic signal prioritization list and said a future signal or other engineering changes could be considered.

Watts said the city notifies CVUSD administration, which in turn is expected to notify affected schools and principals. Commissioners urged broader outreach to parents and community groups and requested status updates as discussions with CVUSD progress. The commission recorded the item as informational only; no vote or recommendation was required or taken.

Staff emphasized that the crossing‑guard program is adaptable and locations have been added and removed over the decades based on counts and changing traffic patterns. The city will continue outreach through its walktoschool.org materials and pursue infrastructure improvements where feasible.

The commission asked staff to provide updates at subsequent meetings while the CVUSD discussions continue.