Safe Routes to School Project for Encinal Elementary School

Project Description:

The Safe Routes to School Project for Encinal School will develop safe routes to school plan for Encinal School to encourage increased walking and bicycling to school among the school children. The plan will propose constructing facilities that will enhance the safety for pedestrians and bicyclists on pathways, trails, sidewalks, and crossings.

History:

Encinal School currently is a Grades 3–5 elementary school located in the Town of Atherton, near the intersection of Middlefield Road and Encinal Avenue. Encinal School is part of the Menlo Park City School District and serves students from Atherton, San Mateo County, and Menlo Park. Currently, there are approximately 350 students enrolled at Encinal School.
The Encinal School area has been identified as a location needing improvements to facilitate safe pedestrian and bicycle movements. At the City’s Joint Transportation and Bicycle Commissions meeting on November 16, 2005, the City received specific concerns from parents of students enrolled at Encinal School about the lack of safe routes to Encinal School, particularly on parts of Laurel Street and Middlefield Road. The City also received specific complaints that bicycle lanes were being blocked by parked cars on Laurel Street and that drivers were speeding on Encinal Avenue. Currently, a majority of the crosswalks within the project area are not easily accessible for pedestrians and not very apparent to drivers. Some sections of these streets have no or limited sidewalks and bikeways.
The Safe Routes to Encinal School project will be multi-jurisdictional in that it may include roadways in Atherton, San Mateo County, and Menlo Park.

Current Status:

The City Council has authorized the Menlo Park City Manager to enter into an agreement with DKS Associates to Develop a Safe Routes to School Plan for Encinal Elementary School.

Next Steps:

The first community meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 10, 2007 at the Menlo Park City School District, 181 Encinal Avenue Atherton, CA 94027 at 9:00 A.M. and at Encinal School, 195 Encinal Avenue, Atherton, CA 94027 at 7:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. to seek input from residents.

Two additional community meetings will be scheduled at later dates.
A meeting with the Bicycle Commission and Transportation Commission will also be scheduled to provide a forum for discussion of the plan.
A Meeting with the City Council will be scheduled to present a final draft of the Safe Routes to School Plan for review and consideration

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