City Manager Weekly Update - October 7, 2016

Police

Walk to School Day 2016
The Los Altos Police Department was pleased to participate in the 20th Annual National Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. Police personnel attended Walk to School Day events at several local school sites, providing traffic control as well as encouragement to participants. To view photos, visit our Police Facebook page.

Public Works

Loyola Corners Traffic Signals
Traffic signal lights in Loyola Corners which had previously been flashing red while the Loyola Bridge project was underway were recently reactivated. Following reactivation of the signals, the City received reports of traffic back-ups in the area during morning and afternoon commute hours. City traffic engineers have been observing traffic patterns over the last week and have made modifications to signal timing in order to optimize traffic flow. Police Officers in the traffic division also visited the site to observe the traffic situation and made recommendations to further optimize the signal timing. Based on the City’s most recent observations yesterday evening, the traffic flow in Loyola Corners has improved. Engineering staff will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed.

The City will be conducting a traffic study in the next few months in this area as part of the Loyola Corners Specific Plan Update. In response to recent community input, the City will ensure the traffic study also includes an analysis of the safest, most effective means to move traffic through these intersections. Based on results of the traffic study, staff will plan to take the appropriate steps to ensure the safest mode of travel through Loyola Corners.

Parking Plaza 3 Drive Aisle Improvement Project
Asphalt grinding will take place beginning Monday, October 10, 2016 in Parking Plaza 3. Work is expected to continue into Wednesday, October 12 to allow time for repaving and striping. Access to Plaza 3 from San Antonio Road and some parking in this Plaza will be temporarily impacted as a result of the required work. Alternative access routes and parking is encouraged during this time. Prior work recently completed by contractors did not meet City standards, which is why this follow-up asphalt work is planned. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work to complete the project as expeditiously as possible.

Annual Concrete Repair
The primary focus of this annual project is on the replacement of damaged, broken or uplifted sidewalks which pose potential public safety hazards. This week, the contractor is working in the Los Altos Avenue area and has been performing demolition and replacement of sidewalk. Due to the number of repairs required along this stretch of street, work in this area is anticipated to be completed in two weeks.

Welcome New Junior Engineer, Zubair Trabzada
The Engineering division is happy to welcome Zubair to the engineering team. Zubair joins us from the private sector and has knowledge of many aspects of civil engineering. He has worked both in the field, coordinating work on  construction projects, environmental remediation, and soil and groundwater investigations as well as in the office writing technical reports such as Phase I ESA, daily field progress reports and final engineering reports. Zubair will assist our Associate Engineers in the completion of capital improvement projects, front counter service at City hall and development plan check review.