From a City of Piedmont press release on Sept. 26, 2025
Two new short videos feature technical experts answering common community questions about traffic on Moraga Avenue and wildfire evacuation in connection with the Draft Moraga Canyon Specific Plan.
Building on a previous video introduction to the Specific Plan, these videos provide clear, accessible information on key issues ahead of the City Council’s October 6 meeting, when they will consider adoption of the Specific Plan. The Planning Commission voted to recommend the Council adopt the Specific Plan at a public hearing on Sept. 8.
Traffic analysis explains roadway capacity and planned safety upgrades
In the first video, Sam Tabibnia of Fehr & Peers — the transportation consultant leading traffic engineering work on the Specific Plan — explains what real-world traffic counts and industry-standard modeling show about Moraga Avenue today and with new development.
The video covers:
• how traffic counts and nationally recognized trip generation models project daily trips on Moraga Avenue to rise about 5% — within the day-to-day fluctuations we already experience
• how proposed roadway improvements — sidewalks, a buffered uphill bike lane, and a new traffic signal with pedestrian refuge island at Red Rock Road — would slow vehicle speeds and improve safety for everyone
• how the Specific Plan would require future development proposals to demonstrate that each driveway meets Caltrans stopping sight distance standards before approval
Watch the traffic video HERE
Wildfire evacuation planning reflects modern systems and regional coordination
In the second video, Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan explains how evacuations are planned, managed, and regionally coordinated today – and how the Draft Moraga Canyon Specific Plan supports community safety.
The video explains:
• Why evacuation planning looks at an entire regional network, not a single street
• How alerting, real-time monitoring, and multi-agency coordination make evacuations today very different from 1991
• How the Specific Plan includes fire-safe construction standards and vegetation management requirements that reduce wildfire risk
• How evacuation modeling that includes new housing was completed as part of the City’s 2023 Housing Element
Watch the wildfire evacuation video HERE
A vision for the future of Moraga Canyon
The Draft Moraga Canyon Specific Plan details development locations, site improvements, and infrastructure requirements for the construction of an anticipated 199 units of new housing on City-owned land in Moraga Canyon, 60 of which would be affordable to lower income households.
The Draft Specific Plan is available for download and review HERE, along with presentation materials, reports, and video from past meetings and events.
Community members can share comments:
• online at piedmont.ca.gov/MCSPComments
• by email to MoragaCanyonNews@piedmont.ca.gov
• by mail to: Kevin Jackson, Planning & Building Director, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611
Comments submitted by Oct. 2 will be included in the agenda packet for the City Council public hearing on Oct. 6.