Orinda's Traffic Safety Advisory Committee will take up a new pedestrian safety request for Manzanita Drive at its Monday, July 20, meeting, the first time the item has appeared on the committee's agenda.
The request, classified as Level 2 and Level 3, was filed in June 2026, according to the committee's posted agenda. The agenda does not describe the specific hazard reported. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Sarge Littlehale Community Room at 22 Orinda Way.
Bike and trails plan moves forward
The committee will also receive an update on Orinda's 2026 Bicycle, Trails and Walkways Master Plan Update, the city's first update to the plan adopted in 2011.
Senior Engineer Ryan O'Kane told the committee at its May 18 meeting that city staff had selected a consultant and planned to bring the contract to the City Council for approval in early July. Whether the council approved the contract as planned could not be confirmed from available records. "Data collection will start after the kickoff meeting, allowing the consultant time to review the current materials and discuss the best approach for data collection," O'Kane said at the May 18 session.
The updated plan will evaluate school zones and commuter routes serving Del Rey Elementary, Orinda Intermediate School, and Miramonte High School, according to the city's RFP. It will also propose stronger bicycle and pedestrian connections to Moraga, Lafayette, and Tilden Regional Park, and address the rise of e-bikes and scooters on local streets and trails.
Key corridors under review include the de Laveaga Trail, the EBMUD trail at Wagner Ranch, the St. Stephen's pedestrian and bicycle trail, and public trails in Wilder.
Budget spent, speed cushions on hold
The agenda shows the committee's FY 2025/26 traffic calming budget of $30,000 has been fully spent, with actual expenditures reaching $41,217. The June 2026 spending alone totaled $32,000 for Orchard Road traffic calming and striping on Coral Drive and Knickerbocker/Spring, accounting for most of the overage.
Seven speed cushion requests dating back to May 2018 remain on hold. The Moraga Orinda Fire District has said speed cushions will not be allowed in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, a position that effectively freezes those requests.
How to participate
Chair James Blaisdell will lead the five-member committee, which includes Vice-Chair Tandra Ericson, Nick Mitchell, Brandon Haydu, and Craig Beckerman.
Residents can submit written comments before the meeting by emailing [email protected] or delivering them to Orinda City Hall at 22 Orinda Way. Comments received before the meeting will be posted on the city's website. Public comment at the meeting is limited to three minutes per speaker.
The next regular TSAC meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 17, 2026.
