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Drivers on Middlefield Road could be facing new stoplights in Atherton at the intersections of Watkins Avenue and Fair Oaks Lane.
During commute hours, traffic on both side streets can become congested with queues of vehicles waiting to turn onto busy Middlefield Road. Results of a traffic study conducted for the town earlier this year suggest that adding stoplights to these intersections could help control the flow of traffic.
The study, approved by the Atherton City Council in January, examined adding traffic control devices like stoplights or pedestrian crossing signals to both intersections. Currently, there are stop signs at the ends of Watkins and Fair Oaks, but none on Middlefield Road at those intersections.
At the June 17 City Council Meeting, Councilmember Bill Widmer said a stoplight at the Watkins Avenue intersection would be useful, but not necessary at Fair Oaks Lane. “You don’t necessarily have that same impact at Fair Oaks,” Widmer said.
Councilmember Eric Lane, who said he frequently drives in the area, agreed with Widmer’s assessment. “I never use Fair Oaks towards Middlefield, ever,” Lane said, citing the left turn onto Middlefield as “too unreliable.”
Lane called the left turn from Watkins “flat-out dangerous.”
Based on the data, Atherton’s Transportation, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee recommended a follow-up evaluation to determine the impacts of adding a traffic signal at both intersections. Members will first investigate the effectiveness of a stoplight at the Watkins Avenue intersection and then see if a light at the Fair Oaks Lane intersection would have a significant additional impact.
