HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-04-14 City Council (7)TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
DATE:APRIL 14, 2003 CMR:220:03
SUBJECT: NEIGHBORHOOD PACE CAR PROGRAM
This is an informational report and no Council action is required.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this report is to update Council on the status of the Neighborhood Pace Car
Program, which was first introduced in March 2002 as one of the elements of the
Educational and Enforcement Traffic-Calming Plan developed for Ross Road between
Loma Verde and Colorado Avenues. Staff decided to extend the program for citywide
implementation in June 2002, as an educational traffic calming measure. Palo Alto is the
first Bay Area city to implement a Pace Car program.
DISCUSSION
The Neighborhood Pace Car Program is a citizen-based initiative designed to slow traffic
and reduce car use. Started in Boise, Idaho and being implemented in cities like Salt Lake
City, Utah; Santa Cruz, California; and Boulder, Colorado, this idea is ingenious and
simple: it uses cars to calm cars, by encouraging motorists to abide by existing laws. The
Pace Car program promotes safe and courteous driving.
The two elements of the program are a bumper sticker and a pledge. Motorists are asked to
sign a pledge and implement it in their driving habits and lifestyles. A bumper sticker is then
sent to each participant, which identifies the participant as a pace car driver. Pace car drivers
set a prudent pace for drivers following behind them. If they drive within the speed limit, the
cars behind them will likely do the same. The central core of this program is that it puts the
responsibility to drive responsibly on motorists.
The program started in June 2002 and has been promoted through press releases in the San
Jose Mercury News, Palo Alto Weekly, Palo Alto Daily, and a television interview done by
NBC 11 local news. In addition, the neighborhood associations in Palo Alto were sent an
CMR:220:03 Page 1 of 2
information packet regarding this program. Staff also used Utilities bill insert to provide this
information to approximately 28,000 residential and commercial utility customers. People
who request traffic calming or sign a traffic-calming petition are also sent information
regarding the Pace Car program.
As a result of these efforts there are currently 240 people participating in the Pace Car
program. Out of the 240 participants, 168 joined the program through the Utilities bill insert
promotion.
On March 3, staff met with a number of neighborhood representatives to discuss more ways
to promote and market this program. The meeting generated a lot of ideas, which staff will
try to implement, including notifying the City/School Traffic Safety Committee and Palo
Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee, making brochures available in public places, creating
banners, and reaching all neighborhood newsletters. Staff is hopeful that implementation of
these ideas will generate increased participation in the program and result in slower speeds
and enhanced traffic safety.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Sample of Pace Care program pledge and bumper stickers
PREPARED BY:
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
I~UCHIKA AGGARWAL
Director of Planning and
Community Environment
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
Assistant City Manager
cc:Glenna Violette
Roland Finston
Pria Graves
CMR:220:03 Page 2 of 2
ATTACHMENT A
Neighborhood Pace Car Pledge@of Palo AltoCity
Realizing that my car use impacts the !ivability of other residents’
streets, just as theirs impacts mine, I hereby pledge to:
!)Drive within the speed limit.
2)STOP to let pedestrians cross.
3)Safely share the road with cyclists.
4)Display my PACE CAR sticker.
5)STOP at all stop signs.
6)Have fun while caring about others.
Signature:
Name:
Address:
Phone No
Date:
Choice of Sticker: V---1 A [---] B
Bumper Sticker: A
I respect this neighborhood
~I drive at a safe speed ~
Bumper Sticker: B
.o Alto Resident
I drive safely ~