Community Traffic Safety Message from Mayor Kou & Police Chief Binder

Published on September 15, 2023

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We are all greatly concerned to hear that there have been two injuries to young people in our community within the past week resulting from traffic collisions. Community safety is our number one priority. With schools back in session, we must all heighten our awareness and support the safety of our streets.  

The City of Palo Alto is committed providing a safe environment. As we have since the start of the school year, overtime traffic enforcement will focus around schools. We are also working to review traffic controls around schools, including deployment of our 30 crossing guards.  We provide pedestrian and bicycle safety education to PAUSD K-8 students, reaching over 5,850 youth through Safe Routes to School programming and hope these lessons come home. We encourage parents to participate and take an active role to increase youth safety. 

Transportation and community safety are the responsibilities of all of us.

  • Anyone (drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, etc.) using the roadways must look for pedestrians and bicyclists and obey speed limits. Expect traffic laws to be enforced for all modes of transportation.  
  • Parents talk to your kids about walking and cycling safely. Further their learning by walking and biking with them and share bike safety tools and resources with them. 
  • If you are walking or cycling, stay aware and always follow traffic laws. 
  • Notify the City of safety concerns. Report a transportation safety issue or contact the Palo Alto Police Department’s 24-hour communications center at (650) 329-2413. 

Transportation safety is community safety. Please slow down. Be aware and stay alert.

Update as of September 21, 2023

Share Community Traffic Safety Concerns 

As a forum for the community to share additional school traffic concerns, the City/School Traffic Safety Liaison Committee meets regularly and reinforces our work together to ensure safe streets. The next meeting is set for September 28, 2023 at 10 a.m. and will be discussing Escondido School safety. Interested in participating? Go here to register for the Zoom link or email saferoutes@paloalto.gov. Starting Tuesday, September 26 a crossing guard will be stationed at the Escondido Road and Stanford Avenue intersection. In addition, the Safe Routes to School Partnership (City of Palo Alto, Palo Alto Unified School District, and Parent Teacher Association) will review collision details, signal timing, and the traffic context.

Resources & Reminders 

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