By Joan Garvin

Town Crier Correspondent

Consultants delivered a revised traffic-calming program for El Monte Avenue to the City of Los Altos last week. The city allocated $25,000 last June for the consulting firm TJKM to study the El Monte traffic flow and create a mitigation plan.

According to Bill Crook, chairman of the City Schools Traffic Committee, the first proposed traffic mitigation report submitted three mitigation alternatives, all of which required budgets of $750,000 to $1 million.

Mayor King Lear suggested that the cost was too high and suggested the city should receive low-, medium- and high-cost proposals.

In response, Crook anticipates that TJKM will present at least one lower-cost option.

Specifics of a revised plan were not given. Such a plan could include raised intersections and crosswalks, the narrowing of the street at intersections and the addition of center islands, based on a list of possible improvements previously suggested.

The Santa Clara County Fire Department, although supportive of traffic-calming measures, expressed concerns with the original proposals. One solution could have caused fire engines to veer into oncoming traffic going around a barrier.

Public Works Director Jim Porter said that he expects to schedule a public meeting on the report within the next two to four weeks.

His office needs to review it internally before a public hearing.