The City of Malibu needs to step up and use its powers to force SMMUSD to develop a better plan for traffic at Juan Cabrillo Elementary and Malibu High School that puts safety first. What SMMUSD calls its “Off-Site Project” that was presented in January to Public Safety and Public Works Commissioners is awful. SMMUSD plans to put a roundabout on Morning View Drive, which is a city street. SMMUSD needs the city to grant a number of permits and variances as part of overall renovations, some of which are not related to the traffic problem. The City should not grant permits or variances until and unless there is an acceptable safety plan.
Many other Malibuites have criticized the proposed traffic flow and parking plan for doing nothing to solve the safety problems in and around Cabrillo and MHS. Malibu is receiving less than half the funds it should be getting from Measure BB. With over $280 million available to them, SMMUSD has the money to fix the problem. Instead the money is going into night lights, stadiums, tennis courts, and schools not in Malibu.
Here’s a summary of the issues. The parking and traffic flow plans do nothing to reduce the traffic backup on Morning View, PCH and other streets surrounding the schools, including the streets behind the schools. The parking and traffic flow plans do nothing to create a safe and quick passage for emergency vehicles to access the school. SMMUSD will say that the fire department has signed off on the plans, but the FD only looks at the plan once they access the property and not the ability to get to the property.
The parking and traffic flow plans do nothing to allow parents at Juan Cabrillo to enter a queue to drop off and pick up their kids without completely blocking Morning View. Without a safe place for parents to line up on school property, little kids will continue to battle rushed drivers and big SUVs on their way to and from school.
The parking and traffic flow plans do nothing to allow emergency vehicles to access the streets around the school during pick up and drop off times in order to reach residences in the event of an emergency.
Bob Brager and his staff have been making a terrific effort to fix safety problems. Now it’s time for City Council to help Bob.
Cindy Vandor