By Editorial

The Los Altos City Council was scheduled to discuss and possibly decide last night whether to go ahead with a plan aimed at putting a 10-foot-wide bike lane and sidewalk on the Loyola School side of Berry to benefit kids walking and biking to the school.

We like the idea and this particular plan is better than the roundabout proposal that residents groused about months ago. That plan, eventually dropped by council, had traffic at a four-way intersection, yielding but not coming to full stops, as they crossed, raising more concerns than allaying fears about traffic safety. The council eventually dropped the roundabout in April when it was determined the traffic circle was too big for the proposed intersection of Berry and Springer Road.

The plan before the council last night was spurred by a $500,000 Safe Routes To School grant. It called for construction of the bike lane/sidewalk along with some 11 bump-outs along the 2,000-foot stretch of improvements that supposedly narrow the street and slow traffic. They also shorten the distance of the street for pedestrians to cross.

But Berry residents are worried about the width of the path and right-of-way issues that might force them to give up their white picket fences that inadvertently cross into city property.

They have a point about the sidewalk/bike lane: Why so wide? Limiting the lane/sidewalk to say, 8-feet wide provides adequate space and possibly lets the residents keep their fences.

We’re mostly concerned about the $175,000 that this project will cost taxpayers over and above the $500,000 grant that prompted the plans in the first place. Do we want to take advantage of this federal grant or do we want it to take advantage of us?

Narrowing the bike/pedestrian path will certainly save some money, as will eliminating the number of bump-outs. The object is to provide the best possible safety and optimize the grant money without burdening the taxpayers - or the Berry Avenue residents.

Can we keep the project to $500,000 and still improve traffic safety? We think it can be done.

Unfortunately, time is running short and the city may have backed itself into a corner. Caltrans must approve plans by Sept. 30 or the grant funding is waived. The city has already been granted two extensions. Jim Porter, the city’s public works director, estimates he needs 60 days or more to go through the Caltrans process.

The roundabout discussions took time that proved a waste. The council is faced with approving a plan that still may not be the best, but one they might feel they have to approve to put the grant money to use.

Given that residents are still unhappy with the plans and the cost of the project, staff should be allowed one last effort to trim down the cost. Last night’s discussions may prove us wrong, but let’s go with the best option, not one we are forced to live with.