Palo Alto city transportation manager Gayle Likens met with the Gunn administration and staff on Sept. 17 in order to discuss the planned changes for Arastradero Road.

Likens spent the majority of her visit explaining why the plan will be implemented. The City Council and the planning commission debated various methods to control traffic. Likens explained that statistical information pointed out that traffic was particularly congested and that by adopting the plan, the roads would become less dangerous. “Either adopting a four-lane plan or our hybrid configuration are better than doing nothing,” Likens said at the conference.

The school’s reactions were mixed. While some people still felt that the plan would hurt traffic around Gunn, others felt that the plan would help. “It may sound counterintuitive, but reducing lanes may actually help traffic problems,” math teacher Peter Herreshoff said. Herreshoff remained worried, however, that the plan would not benefit bikers on Arastradero. “As long as the plan makes it safer for bikers, it is a good idea,” he said.