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Published on 08/04/1999 All articles from this issue

Local traffic cops answer questions in new column

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Traffic Talk

The two Los Altos motorcycle traffic officers, who began Jan. 1, are making a difference. The numbers of speeding tickets have doubled. And unlicensed drivers are being found and taken off the road.

At the same time, the presence of the traffic officers and the ever-increasing traffic concerns, are evoking questions.

In a partnership with our traffic officers, the Los Altos Town Crier will be running a regular question and answer traffic column. We invite readers to send in their questions. One of the traffic officers will respond.

Here's the first, a real question. It arrived at the Town Crier about the same time there were two accidents, within 30 minutes, at this very corner.

Question: Why isn't there a stop sign at Second and Main and Second and State streets? These are disaster areas at lunch time and on weekends. The rest of the time, the traffic is moving too fast anyway.

Sharon Clayton

Downtown employee

Answer: According to city traffic engineer Dave Donahue, Main and State streets are considered "primary" streets while Second Street is a "secondary" street. The volume of vehicle traffic on the primary street is much higher than it is on the secondary street. Consequently, if a stop sign were to be placed controlling traffic on Main and State streets, the amount of vehicles stopped on the roadway would back up to the next block in either direction because vehicles would be "honoring" the stop sign.

This has an effect on parking in the area as well. Vehicles are allowed to park either diagonally or along the curb on Main and Second streets. If traffic was stopped on the roadway, these vehicles would not be able to leave their parking spot until traffic clears or the driver of another vehicle gives the driver of the vehicle wishing to leave the parking stall room to enter the roadway.

Paul Arguelles

Los Altos Police Dept.

Send your Traffic Talk question to Joanne Griffith Domingue, c/o the Los Altos Town Crier, 138 Main St., Los Altos, 94022. Or e-mail her at joanned@latc.com