This is a meeting with two Vallejo City Council members and two members of the Board of the Vallejo City United School District (VCUSD).  Glen Cove’s City Councilmember Mina Loera-Diaz, Councilmember J.R. Matulac (who mentioned he used to work at Glen Cove Elementary), GCCA’s own John Fox, is a Board Trustee, and City Manager Mike Malone, were all in attendance, among others. 

John Fox had suggested that my speaking as President of GCCA and Ralph, as Safety Director and Vice-President, would be a good idea. Indeed, we were well-received.  The equipment recommended includes solar-powered dots and signage to really draw awareness to the traffic, and to avoid further accidents.

Here was my presentation, which I mostly stuck to:

I’m here in my capacity as President of Glen Cove Community Association and as a resident of Vallejo who lives near Glen Cove Elementary.  I want to advocate for higher visibility of crosswalks near Glen Cove Elementary School.

There has been a marked increase in traffic on the main artery of Glen Cove which passes right in front of the school.  The downhill road sharply turns just as one approaches the school entrance across the street from the intersection of North Regatta.  

Because of the line of sight and downhill momentum, there are unfortunately many vehicles that speed on this road and may not understand what causes the traffic to back up when it’s time to dismiss students. 

Anything we can do with lighted warnings and crosswalk enhancements to provide more warning of what’s around the corner and the vulnerability of the pedestrians, which includes elementary students, can only help to avoid serious incidents from occurring.

Some of the reasons why there are exponentially more vehicles traversing Glen Cove Parkway are:

1.            the consolidation of Beverly Hills school students that now attend Glen Cove Elementary.

2.            several businesses now situated in the Glen Cove Landing commercial buildings, which includes North Bay Pediatrics and other medical offices.

3,            The shift changes for staff for the Glen Cove Lodge, not to mention all visitors to the senior memory living facility.

4.            Glen Cove Marina itself yields a lot of traffic due to the residents and boat owners, not to mention the Lighthouse meeting space, Marina club members and marina visitors such as the Solano Rowing Club, which I’m personally a part of myself.

5.            Pickleball courts at Glen Cove Park are also very popular.

Due to regulations that began during Covid that are still in place, there have also been some dismissal protocols that have caused traffic to back up onto Glen Cove Parkway on the bend as one goes downhill, and which has likely caused accidents on Glen Cove Parkway.  These could be mitigated.  Fortunately, no one has been killed, but cars speeding down the parkway have now run into and destroyed a fire hydrant right outside of the gates of Glen Cove Elementary at least five times that we’re aware of.

Other schools have staggered dismissal policies that help in mitigating the traffic and allowing for teachers and staff to be curbside with the students during pickup.  We’re confident that there are ways that the school can implement better policies to avoid vehicles of parents standing in no-parking areas, such as in front of the bus stop, along Glen Cove parkway and North Regatta Drive.  

Enhanced lighting of the crosswalks would make the roads and heightened risk of this congested area during that time of day far safer.      Thank you for your time.