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Portola Valley committee advances wildlife-signage competition, plans council presentation
Summary
Committee members approved developing a wildlife-signage and public-art competition (targeting youth and local artists) to improve road safety and wildlife awareness; a short presentation will be prepared for the town council and a cross-committee selection panel proposed.
The Portola Valley Bicycle, Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee agreed to advance a proposed wildlife-signage and public-art competition intended to increase driver awareness and incorporate youth artwork into roadway signage and markings.
Committee members Angela Haye and Pat Benon outlined concepts including animal footprints across roads, fluorescent/reflective markings and "white ghost animals" at collision sites in the spirit of ghost bikes. "We're thinking of animal footprints going across the road... and maybe white ghost animals near the site where they got hit," Angela Haye said as she described options to make locations more meaningful to drivers.
Members proposed forming a selection committee that would include conservation and other town committees and asked staff to work with the town manager to confirm budget and logistics. The group aims to prepare a short presentation for the town council; committee materials show a timeline that the presenters said would be refined before the council update.
Why it matters: members said a simple, highly visible slogan and creative treatment will reach through to nonlocal drivers who may not realize they're in a wildlife corridor. The committee emphasized that the program should do more than place another sign — it should use creative treatments and outreach to change driver behavior.
Next steps: Angela Haye and Pat Benon will draft the council presentation and circulate it to committee members before the council meeting; staff and the town manager will confirm budget and rules for call-for-entries and selection criteria. No formal budget was approved at the committee meeting.
