Parents from San Jose elementary school protest proposed overpass
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU) - Parents at one San Jose school are at odds with the city over a proposed overpass, the city said, will ease traffic congestion. Parents said it will put their children's safety at risk and demand the project to stop.
The overpass will essentially end behind the school near classrooms and playgrounds. Parents said they already deal with traffic problems especially with diesel trucks in front of the school. The superintendent foresees a nightmare.
Dozens of parents from Orchard Elementary School in north San Jose showed up at a community meeting voicing their concerns.
They’re upset with the city's plans to build an overpass called the Charcot Avenue extension. It’s a two-lane road that starts at Charcot, crosses over Interstate 880 and widens to four lanes on Silkwood Road, which is behind Orchard School.
The district superintendent said the overpass will encroach into school property, 20-thousand square feet, taking away the playground and baseball field. The paramount concern is children's safety.
“It’s disappointing to think that the city would need to put a road through a school,” said Wendy Gudalewicz, Orchard School District Superintendent. “You're essentially jeopardizing 900 students passage to school. It's just not okay.”
For parent Robin Roemer, his concern is pollution. He handed over 600 signatures from parents and neighbors in support of ending the project.
“This is just plain wrong,” said Roemer. “No matter which school they would do it too.”
“It’s an east west connection across a freeway,” said Colin Heyne with the City of San Jose’s Department of Transportation. “Freeways become barriers in cities and divide neighborhoods.”
The city said the $50 million project is part of the city's 1994 General Plan funded by Measure B to help alleviate the region's traffic problems given population growth. In order for the project to be halted, it must need city council's approval.
“I’m leaning towards let's come back after the study,” said San Jose Councilman Lan Diep. “This is what today is here for. We have people who are concerned but concerns alone aren't enough to end a project unless those concerns cannot be addressed.”
Parents said the project was proposed before the school was built and now that the school is here, they hope the city makes adjustments.
The city has proposed adding a pedestrian activated traffic signal to help with safety. The city will be taking feedback from the community until May 31. If the project moves forward, construction would begin no sooner than late 2020.