Laserfiche WebLink
Chair Allen stated that several speakers brought up safety concerns on Junipero Street and <br />the park. She inquired if staff has any current data about traffic incidents or pedestrian <br />incidents in those areas. <br />Mr. Tassano replied that one of his first traffic - calming projects back in 2002 was to work <br />with the Junipero Street residents. With respect to the level of safety at that park, he stated <br />that there is no accident data. He added that there is no difference as compared to any <br />other parks that are next to residential streets. He noted that the City of Pleasanton does <br />not have a pedestrian and bicycle accident pattern that shows clear patterns of bicycle and <br />pedestrian accidents. <br />Mr. Tassano stated that every neighborhood park in the City has sports that occurs after <br />hours, parking that occurs, children who run across the street, site distance issues when <br />children run in between cars to get out to their car, parents that drop off in the road <br />because there is nowhere to park, and cars that park in the red zone because they are <br />there last. He noted that those things all occur in every neighborhood and he does not see <br />anything unusual about that. He indicated that the road on Mission Park is a little bit wider; <br />a request was made to stripe a center line, and staff will look at that although he is not sure <br />what safety benefit that would provide. He noted that people tend to drive more slowly <br />when there are cars coming opposite directions around a bend, and sometimes putting a <br />center line in makes them feel safer so they go faster around that side; sometimes it <br />pushes them closer to cars when there is no on- coming traffic and then doors open. He <br />indicated that it is more of a traffic - calming issue than a safety benefit, which is more up to <br />the residents. <br />With respect to comments made raising concerns around the loop and maybe some people <br />in one neighborhood going through the other, Commissioner Piper inquired if the main <br />purpose of looping the East/West connector and Lund Ranch Road is to split the burden of <br />traffic. <br />Mr. Dolan said yes; it would split the traffic but in a way that did not divide the <br />neighborhood. <br />Commissioner Balch inquired how Hanifen Way compares to Junipero Street from a traffic <br />perspective. <br />Mr. Tassano replied that the one most significant difference between the two roadways is <br />the width: Hanifen Way is 32 feet and Junipero Street is 40 feet. He explained that it is <br />somewhat difficult to determine the difference between the two, but a way to visualize it is <br />that residential streets can sometimes go as narrow as 10 foot per lane with a 7 -foot <br />parking lane, for a total of 17 feet in each direction and 34 feet for both. He pointed out that <br />Hanifen Way is tighter at 32 feet, and vehicles will get closer to the parking lane and closer <br />to the car coming the opposite direction. He noted that it is not a condition where the driver <br />would necessarily stop and let the other car go through, but some people will still do that; <br />whereas at 40 feet on Junipero Street, drivers can pass without having to slow down, and <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, February 25, 2015 Page 33 of 46 <br />