By City moves forward with traffic grant

The Los Altos City Council hired design consultant Kimley-Horn and Associates last week to evaluate traffic solutions for the Loyola School neighborhood before moving forward with a half-million-dollar federal traffic grant that could require the city to add its first roundabout as part of a list of street improvements intended to calm neighborhood traffic.

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the city a $495,000 “Safe Routes to School” grant earlier this year, after a group of Loyola parents prepared an application for street improvements, based on recommendations from a privately-funded traffic-planning consultant.

If the city accepts the grant, it must make the suggested improvements listed on the application or risk losing the money and incur the $59,929 cost for the design services. If the city chooses to move forward on the street improvements, it must be ready to award the construction contract by Sept. 30.

Under the grant, Caltrans will administer 90 percent of the design and construction costs of the street improvements and the city will be responsible for the remaining 10 percent, or $55,000.

Los Altos Hills

Sheriff’s department appoints commander

Los Altos

Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith last week announced the promotion of Commander Jeff Miles to police captain. Miles, a 29-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, will serve the West Valley Patrol Division, which serves Los Altos Hills and unincorporated areas.

Other department promotions include: Dave Tomlinson, Dennis Bacon and Stan Neugebauer to captains; Robert Linderman and Luther Pugh to lieutenants; and Kathy Watson, Larry Imas and Blayn Persiani to sergeants.

-Town Crier Staff Report