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Traffic & Pedestrian Safety

The MSIC Traffic & Pedestrian Safety Team (TPST) was formed in November 2003 with an initial grant from the City of Oakland to address the type of traffic and pedestrian safety issues that are beyond a single street's issues, or beyond a single neighborhood association's sphere of influence in the areas surrounding Montclair Village. Our main contacts for issues in this area are Midge Lester and Sue Piper, staff assistant to District 4 City Council member Jean Quan .

One area being addressed involves drop-off traffic issues at Thornhill School, Montclair School, and Montera/Joaquin Miller Schools. Individually these issues could be addressed by a local neighborhood association, the school representatives from PFA/PTA, and the school itself. Because there are three public schools and two private schools in the MSIC area, all with similar drop-off traffic issues, the MSIC Traffic & Pedestrian Safety Team can identify the COMMON issues for all of the schools, and work with the appropriate agencies (city, county, state, etc.) to effect solutions with the added weight of representing thousands of residents and proposing solutions that would work within all contexts.

One effort, already completed, is a mural on the wall of Montclair School that faces the intersection of Mountain Boulevard and Cabot Drive, where school children cross the street. This mural, executed by a group of MSIC and PFA/PTA personnel, reminds all drivers to SLOW DOWN at this busy intersection.

Another area being addressed is the numerous pathways and stairs throughout the hills neighborhoods. Each one of these can be addressed individually by smaller groups (as was successfully done with the Lower and Upper Merriewood Stairs). What the Traffic & Pedestrian Safety Team can add to the mix is addressing an overall plan for pathways and stairs that smaller groups either couldn't or wouldn't attempt.

Because of the larger physical area represented, and the added support of community activists, application to organizations for grants and the possible success of receipt of grants is improved greatly.

Further, because of the larger physical area represented along with the large population represented, it is anticipated that working with the city, county and state organizations will receive far better response than when individual neighborhood associations or individuals apply for action.

Click on the menu items to the left to learn more about our traffic and pedestrian safety activities.

How to Suggest a Safety Issue to the Team

The MSIC Traffic & Pedestrian Safety Team wants to know what safety issues you feel should be addressed in our neighborhoods, and what solutions you envision. Use our Opinions & Feedback form to let us know. Be sure to include the following in your comments:

• specifics of street intersections (i.e. northeast corner of Scout and Ascot)
• street addresses (i.e. 2921 Mastlands through 3109 Mastlands)
• type of problem (i.e. crosswalks, stop signs, speed limit signs, lack of enforcement of traffic laws)