City moves to manage sudden traffic increase after Oxford Preparatory Academy opens middle school at former San Joaquin site

City engineering staff told the Traffic Commission on Sept. 17 that Oxford Preparatory Academy opened a public charter middle school on Aug. 12 at the former San Joaquin Elementary site, creating larger morning drop‑off and afternoon pick‑up volumes than when the site housed an elementary school.

Staff observed arrival and dismissal patterns on multiple visits and recommended prohibiting one of the inbound movements for pick‑up circulation so all parents approach the site from a single direction; a sign to that effect has been prepared and bagged pending coordination with the district. Staff said the school is managing traffic actively and that the city will coordinate signage and circulation changes to reduce queuing and conflicts on adjacent residential streets.

The city engineer cautioned that middle‑school operations generate different circulation patterns — parents travel from wider catchment areas and queuing behavior differs from neighborhood elementary schools — and noted staff will monitor the change. Commissioners asked whether the pattern is similar to prior operation under the unified school district; staff said the middle‑school use generates larger volumes and more regional trip origins.

Next steps: staff will implement the posted circulation signage in coordination with the school, monitor operations during drop‑off and pick‑up, and return to the commission if further measures are required.