By Town Crier Staff Report

Street improvements planned for the Covington-Springer intersection will mean a shorter walk for pedestrians, but longer delays for motorists.

The Los Altos City Council approved street upgrades for the intersection at Springer and Covington roads that include a bumped out curb on the southern side of the four-way stop. The curb is designed to extend into the right-of-way near the corner, shortening the crossing distance for pedestrians.

The extended curb will more than likely restrict a driver’s ability to use the current shoulder area as a right turn lane, forcing cars to wait in a single lane before turning, according to a city staff report. The result could mean a longer line of cars at the intersection.

A city study showed that about 512 cars use the intersection during the peak morning commute. Of those vehicles, about 92 traveling north turned right on Covington. The extend edcurb could increase the current line of waiting cars by 20 percent, according to the report.

The improvements are tied to a land subdivision at the corner of the intersection and are intended to separate through traffic on Springer from vehicles turning onto Covington.

The city opted for a bulb out rather than a separate right turn lane that would have extended the pedestrian crossing distance. Members said a shorter pedestrian crossing was more desirable than optimum peak traffic operations due to the large number of students who use the intersection en route to nearby Blach Junior High School.

Other improvements include the continuation of the 6-foot bike lane on Springer and some on-street parking spaces.