Mount Hermon Road will have to see changes once larger developments in the works move forward, or else it will be in violation of city policy and commuters might face delays.
To head off congestion caused by projects like the anticipated town center and Holiday Inn Express on Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley planners have presented a report to the City Council that proposes adding a second left-turn lane onto Whispering Pines Drive from Mount Hermon Road, based on a recent traffic study.
A second version of the report will be submitted at the next council meeting.
The report also suggests a second right-turn lane on Mount Hermon Road at La Madrona Drive for those getting off Highway 17 from San Jose.
“In the future, when more development comes, those intersections will need improvements to stay in line with (Scotts Valley’s) general plan and prevent delays for commuters,” said Ken Anderson, public works director.
Without improvements, the intersections will exceed holding capacity under city policy, Anderson said.
The city uses an “A”-through-“F” grading system for traffic, and the Whispering Pines and La Madrona intersections of Mount Hermon Road are allotted a “C” grade. More development would lower the grades to “D,” which would mean noticeable delays, though not gridlock, Anderson said.
As one of the county’s busiest roadways, Mount Hermon — which connects Highway 17 in Scotts Valley to Highway 9 in Felton — carries more than 33,000 cars each day, according to county statistics.
The proposed improvements come as Scotts Valley inches forward with its long-awaited 22-acre town center, which will have stores, restaurants, a library and homes.
Problems with the report — including incorrect numbers, ambiguity and missing inflation rates — left some confused at the Feb. 3 council meeting, and city leaders asked Anderson to deliver a modified report at the next meeting.
“It was confusing,” Councilwoman Stephany Aguilar said. “I would like to see a report with more clarity and one that includes how the inflation rate formula would work.”
Still, the concept was applauded by some community members during the public comment period.
While Paul Bach, head of the Responsible Local Development political action committee, bashed numerous mistakes in the report, he said he liked that the city would charge developers to improve the road.
Jim Sullivan, a land developer, said it was “forward-thinking,” because it gives some certainty in factoring the evaluation of the land.
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