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Residents urge stronger traffic calming at Oak Knoll School; staff cite design, ADA and drainage limits
Summary
Neighbors pressed the Complete Streets Commission to add speed‑reducing measures between the last speed hump and the Oak Knoll crosswalk and requested a field meeting; staff said a raised crosswalk is not part of the current design because of drainage and ADA constraints but will consider other measures.
Residents near Oak Knoll Elementary told the Complete Streets Commission on Dec. 10 they are worried drivers are speeding through the approach to the school and urged more immediate calming measures between the last speed hump and the crosswalk.
A long‑time resident told commissioners, "It has become a veritable raceway and really dangerous," and urged the commission to consider adding signage, more visible speed‑hump markings and an additional speed element closer to the crosswalk. Another resident said he has video evidence of drivers running the stop sign and asked staff whether the specific Oak Knoll intersection design was on the agenda for further discussion.
Staff response: Assistant Public Works Director Michael Fu and Public Works Director Azalea Mitch said the current design for the intersection does not include a raised crosswalk, citing drainage and ADA grade constraints, but pledged to review other preventive measures such as additional signing and striping and to discuss options with neighbors before bidding. "The current design does not propose raised crosswalk... the drainage was an issue, and... the grades have to work," staff said, explaining the engineering limitations.
State standards and maintenance concerns also influenced staff recommendations. Transportation Manager Joanna Chan said the city has discussed use of raised pavement markers ("bot dots") but that "as a state standard, they are moving away from bot dots" because of maintenance, loose markers posing tripping hazards and slipperiness in rain.
Commissioners and neighbors also discussed enforcement limits: a resident noted the Police Department's limited traffic‑enforcement resources and said engineering solutions are required because enforcement capacity is constrained.
Next steps: Residents asked staff to meet neighbors in the field before the project is bid. Staff said they will consider additional signing, striping, or other preventive measures and follow up on the request for a site visit; the Safe Routes to School intersection work is scheduled for design and bid in January 2026 with construction in summer 2026.
This article reflects public comment and staff engineering responses; no formal action altering the Oak Knoll design was recorded at the meeting.
