By Linda Taaffe

The Florida consultant whose opinion will more than likely determine whether the Los Altos City Council will move forward with final construction drawings for the Berry Avenue traffic roundabout submitted his report to city staff last week. The council plans to discuss the report Tuesday.

The council hired roundabout specialist Michael Wallwork last January to give the city a second professional opinion on the 80-foot roundabout planned for the Berry Avenue intersection before approving the plan, which must be in place by September in order to qualify for federal funding. Design consultants Kimley-Horn and Associates recommended and designed the roundabout, intended to replace the four-way stop signs and improve the level of service for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists.

“If we’re going to do this, we better make sure it works,” said Councilwoman Kris Casto.

Wallwork’s report is not intended to be a reconsideration of the roundabout, but rather a review of the proposed design. He was scheduled to review and possibly refine the roundabout to tailor-fit the intended intersection. His review was to include a look at the roundabout’s shape and impact on a vehicle’s possible entering speed and the traffic device’s overall design.

The roundabout is part of a list of street improvements intended to calm traffic and provide better pedestrian and bicycle safety in the Loyola School neighborhood under $500,000 federal “Safe Routes to School” grant. Sidewalks, bike lanes and a speed table are also included on the project list.

The council agreed to move forward with a roundabout last November based on reports that such a traffic device would potentially cut current traffic delays from approximately one minute to 13 seconds per car, would require less maintenance and no ongoing energy costs.

Hundreds of Loyola neighbors have publicly protested the roundabout, saying the city has not gathered enough data regarding the device’s impact on pedestrian and bicycle safety, on-street parking and emergency vehicle access.

A group of residents called the Los Altos Concerned Citizens for Safety said it was skeptical of Wallwork’s report since he conducted his review over the computer in Florida rather than personally inspecting the intersection.

The group also raised concerns about whether Wallwork, called “Mr. Roundabout” for his pro-roundabout opinions, will provide an unbiased review.

The council is scheduled to consider as a third opinion an independent report funded by residents last December that concluded a roundabout will not sufficiently control traffic at that site, as well as safety comments from the Santa Clara County Fire Department and the Los Altos Bicycle Advisory Committee.

“If the Florida consultant comes back and says ‘No, you shouldn’t do this,’ I’d be surprised if the city moves forward,” Public Works Director Jim Porter told residents earlier this year. But he added, “I do believe this is going to work.”

The Los Altos City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday in the council chambers, 1 N. San Antonio Road.