City of Calabasas to manage traffic when new school opens

By Michael Picarella Acorn Staff Writer

The city of Calabasas has a plan to solve a potential traffic problem once the new Alice C. Stelle Middle School at 22450 Mulholland Drive opens on Jan. 5.

Four schools are located on Mulholland Drive within a distance of about two miles, according to Calabasas City Councilman Barry Groveman. Once A.C. Stelle becomes the fifth school when it opens, traffic will become an even worse nightmare, he said.

"This is a problem with very unique circumstances," Groveman said. "But that’s what we have to work with."

The No. 1 priority in this situation, Groveman said, is child safety.

"We’re dealing with wall-to-wall kids," Groveman said.

The city is trying to create incentives for children to walk or bike to school instead of parents dropping them off and picking them up. This will reduce the volume of traffic, but it also means more young pedestrians.

The city will install a berm between the sidewalk and street in front of the school to keep kids away from traffic, according to Groveman. This will enhance public safety, he said. A white-glove officer will help direct traffic adjacent to the school’s main entrance.

The city will also provide striping modifications near the campus, allowing for stacking and queuing lanes.

A new "smart crosswalk" will be installed near the school. It will include lights that are illuminated when pedestrians cross the street. Motorists can more visibly see smart crosswalks because of the lights, according to Calabasas traffic and transportation manager Robert Yalda.

For those who continue to drive their kids to and from school, school staff will monitor a student pick-up and drop-off area. Like airport officials who oversee vehicle traffic at airline terminals, school monitors will perform the same kind of duties, according to Groveman.

Speed trailers will be placed around the campus that display vehicle speeds. This should reduce speeding.

Calabasas recently committed for three new traffic enforcement officers with the sheriff’s department. But they won’t be on the job for several months due to the department’s hiring procedures.

But when they start, ticketing will increase. "There’s no substitution for violations," Groveman said.

The city will present Phase Two of its traffic management plan later next year, according to Groveman. It will include carpool programs, and shuttle and bus services. A local business has already donated one bus to the city for one year, according to Groveman. Calabasas may soon have two more, he said.

"Ordinary situations call for ordinary action," Groveman said. "This is an extraordinary situation and it calls for extraordinary action."

Groveman requested that Calabasas motorists be patient as the city experiments with traffic management. Parents should watch for information from schools and the city regarding ways to help reduce traffic and help keep Calabasas streets safe.