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City Manager announced City's presentation to be made by three City Department Heads, <br />Planning Director Ken Schroeter, Director of Public Works J. Louis Scherer, Police <br />Chief William Faulstich, each experts in their own respective fields to explain the <br />proposed design by the planning criteria, engineering aspects and traffic considera- <br />tions. It was felt this presentation would more easily make available to those <br />present a great deal of information which had been accumulated by the Staff over <br />a long period of time. He also reviewed improvements which had been accomplished <br />on Woodside thus far by completion of the Five Point Grade separation and the <br />four lane expressway between Bayshore Freeway and Cypress Street, all of which <br />had, however, compounded problems by more traffic being generated onto Woodside <br />Road, with an alarming increase in accident rate also. <br />City Manager stated because of conditions at present it was virtually impossible <br />for emergency vehicles to respond to calls made during rush hours, as narrow shoul- <br />ders and open ditches bordering Woodside Road prevent traffic from yielding the <br />right of way. He also advised it was felt the values of both dwelling units and <br />commercial enterprises were being adversely affected by existing traffic conditions, <br />and Staff at same time being well aware of the rightful concern of the property <br />owners and tenants of properties bordering on Woodside Road for proposed widening <br />plans, and for this reason meeting had been set for purpose of presenting the <br />proposed improvements in detail. He stated it was felt most important to pre- <br />sent a design which would please everyone, yet accomplish the major objectives; <br />that of moving traffic safely to the contiguous residential areas and providing <br />access to the commercial ventures bordering Woodside Road. <br />City Manager reminded that this project had been under consideration for many years <br />and the plan now proposed reflected the thinking and desires of previous Councils, <br />as well as the current thinking of City's professional Staff, the County of San <br />Mateo, and the State Division of Highways, believing it to be a reasonable compromise <br />between the realities of traffic problems and the necessities of those who <br />derive their livelihood from the businesses located along this thoroughfare. <br />City Manager asked the City Staff to proceed with the presentation: <br />Planning Criteria. Planning Director from illustrated map indicated present aspects <br />of Woodside Road and its importance to traffic flow of the City. He stated 9,000 <br />people in area on North side served directly by Woodside Road and 7,000 people in <br />area between this roadway and the City of Atherton, making a total of 16,000 people <br />within the total area with Woodside as its only arterial, besides 4,000 people <br />residing in Woodside area presumably using this as access roadway to their community. <br />Planning Director stated, at present, no satisfactory arrangement possible for use of <br />Woodside to connecting cross streets to ease traffic flow and described the four <br />principal intersections proposed, which would relieve this situation, together with <br />a review of the streets which would be restricted to right hand turns and for direct <br />crossing of Woodside, but which would result in easier and safer crossing by follow- <br />ing demonstrated traffic patterns. <br />