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From : Sue Barone[SMTP :SUEBARONE .SLO@GMAIL .COM]
Sent : Monday,October 18, 2010 12 :34 :40 P M
To :fstrong@prcity .com ; Council, SloCit y
Subject :Fwd : Important SLO Traffic Safety Issues email 1
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
Dear Council : Strong PR, Marx SLO ,
SLOCOG have done a good job gathering data however, there are some areas missed i n
regards to traffic safety and preserving our history, beauty and natural landscape . Pleas e
I hope you can take the time to review these 3 emails and help our community .
Thank you for your time .RECEIVE DSue Barone
OCT 18 201 0
Forwarded message
From :Sue Barone <suebarone.slo(a gmail .com>
SLO CITY CLER K
Date : Mon, Oct 18, 2010 at 11 :34 AM
Subject : Important SLO Traffic Safety Issues email 1
To :tferrara@a,arrovogrande .org,iohnshoals(a~aol .com,flamingos@charter .net ,
mreissna,pismobeach .org
Dear Mayor : Ferrara AG, Shoals GB, Peters MB, Reiss PB :
Thank you for your work to address San Luis Obispo's current and future roadwa y
needs . I believe this effort is very important for the safety of the public, visiting tourist s
and environmental protection to preserve the history, beauty and natural landscape of Sa n
Luis Obispo.
It is evident that great efforts have been made to capture accurate estimates and dat a
within the Draft SLOCOG 2010 RTP-PSCS . Missed opportunities of the past can b e
brought to light now for future planning and improvements which impact the publi c
living and visiting here in San Luis Obispo .
Please understand this additional traffic data I'm providing is very important for you r
review . It may help in the decisions you make that impact many of us living and visitin g
the San Luis Obispo community .
This is one email of 3 .
Thank you for your time ,
Sue. Baron e
546-042(}
RED FILE
ME ING AGENDA
AT E d / ITEM #/31
1810 Carpenter Canyon R d
San Luis Obispo, CA. 9340 1
October 14, 201 0
Steve Devencenz i
Planning Directo r
San Luis Obispo Council of Governmen t
1114 Monterey Stree t
San Luis Obispo, CA . 9340 1
Dear Steve :
Listed below are our comments and concerns related to the Draft SLOCOG 2010 Regiona l
Transportation Plan-Preliminary Sustainable Communities Strategy (2010 RTP-PSCS) Volume I
& II .
First, I would like to thank the SLOCOG Board Members for all their work to address San Lui s
Obispo's current and future roadway needs based on existing traffic conditions and projecte d
traffic increases to integrate and enhance the safe movement of the public and visiting tourist s
while protecting our environment .
The purpose of our letter is to bring the SLOCOG Board Members and your attention to th e
unsafe conditions relating to the terrain of and the traffic load on Highway SR 227 (Carpente r
Canyon Rd). This road was established sometime in the 1890s as a "Wagon Road", creating a n
access between Arroyo Grande and San Luis Obispo . It was adopted as a state route in 1933 ,
Legislative Route 147, and remained an unsigned highway until 1964 when the State o f
California renumbered routes, changing LRN 147 to SR 227 . However, except for the new rout e
number, the highway corridor has not changed .
Over the past several years we, our neighbors and the Highway Patrol Department hav e
witnessed countless auto accidents on Highway SR 227 . The Highway Patrol can provide the lis t
of accidents reported in this area . However, there are many accidents that have occurred which
go unreported . We know this to be true because we often are left to clean up the debris and
repair property damage from these accidents .
Back on October 22, 2009 : the following list of Total Collisions related to the primary route 22 7
and secondary roads was provided to the SLO Planning Commissioners .
RT227/Noyes Rd Oct . 2004 — Oct . 2009 26 Collisions
RT 227 / E .Fork Pismo April 2002 — Dec . 2007 2 Collision s
RT 227 / Patchett April 2002 — Dec . 2007 9 Collision s
RT 227 / Cold Canyon Landfill April 2002 — Dec . 2007 2 Collision s
RT 227 / Tolosa April 2002 — Dec . 2007 5 Collision s
RT 227 / Corbett Canyon April 2002 — Dec . 2007 11 Collision s
RT 227 / Price Canyon April 2002 — Dec . 2007 8 Collisions
Recently documented in the San Luis Obispo County Trauma System Plan revised in Marc h
2010 .The EMS Agency reviewed data from San Luis Obispo Council of Government s
(SLOCOG)/CALTRANS . To measure the highway safety in the county, SLOCOG analyze d
Caltrans data on state highway accidents to compare the number and type of accidents occurrin g
to accident rates occurring on similar highways throughout the state . The comparative analysi s
was performed by tabulating accidents by type (fatal, injury and property damage) and pe r
Million Vehicle Miles (MVM) over three years (2000-2003 and 2003-2006). SLOCOG reporte d
the findings in its 2007 Transportation System Performance Indicators Report and summarized
the following major conclusions about the safety of the state highway system in San Lui s
Obispo :
•Fourteen highway segments maintain an accident rate higher than the state .
•The number of segments of Route 227 with an accident rate higher than the stat e
increased from 2 to 4 .
•The number of segments of Highway 101 with an accident rate higher than the stat e
decreased from 3 to 1 .
Please do not forget about the two recent fatalities which happened at the intersection of SR 22 7
and Noyes Rd back in September of 2009, which were not tabulated in the 2007 Transportatio n
System Performance Indicators Report and the March 2010 San Luis Obispo County Trauma
System Plan.
There are two areas that have become very dangerous . The first area of concern is the Noyes Rd
intersection . The traffic volume is growing and many drivers traveling down Noyes Rd toward s
Highway SR 227 run the stop sign because they don't see the stop sign until it is too late . It is
located directly around the last corner before entering on to Highway SR 227 . This is a poorl y
designed intersection . Please review pictures provided under Tab A .
The second area of concern is the stretch of Highway SR 227 between Via Chula Robles, th e
Noyes Rd intersection and on to Patchett Rd . There are many types of drivers that use this road .
Besides our visitors, local, and commuting drivers, many large vehicles traveling this segmen t
are usually going to and from the current landfill. While traveling North or South on this sectio n
of road during peak and off peak hours drivers can often find themselves stuck behind a
commercial semi truck, garbage truck, composting hauler (single or with combination trailers),
and/or residential truck . Please review pictures provided under Tab B .
Because of SR 227 terrain and the numerous tight corners, driver's visibility of oncoming traffi c
is extremely limited . Many large trucks have no choice but to cross the double yellow line whe n
making some of these sharp turns, especially those trucks that turn up onto Noyes Rd . O n
occasion several trucks have driven up and over the corner to avoid an accident . Please revie w
pictures provided under . Please review pictures provided under Tab C .
This stretch of road restricts the driver's speed and freedom to maneuver . This can caus e
impatience, which may lead some to make poor driving decisions such as passing over th e
double yellow line into oncoming traffic in hopes of freeing themselves from a force d
bottleneck .
Chapter 2 Regional Growth Trends documented on April 6, 2005 (page 2-8) clearly outlin e
HWY SR 227 in figure 2-9 2004 Highway Segment Level of Service to be a "D" as bas e
condition during peak hours . With the documented 2005 SLOCOG trend and with the Tota l
Collision count reported by the Highway Patrol the 2010 RTP-PSCS Volume I — 3 .1 3
Transportation and Circulation Pg 3,13-30 & 3,13-31 should outline SR 227 between Via Chul a
Robles, Noyes Rd intersection towards Patchett Rd as exceeding Caltrans LOS thresholds . Thi s
segment (Via Chula Robles, Noyes Rd intersection towards Patchett Rd) should be listed in th e
Table 3 .13-5 as exceeding Caltrans LOS Thresholds (2035).
Since there have been no improvements made to this stretch of highway between 2004 and 2010 ,
how can it be stated in Volume II Chapter 4 page 4-30 that Segment 3 - Arroyo Grande cit y
limits to Price Canyon Rd functions at a LOS A . The traffic counts are only being taken fro m
Price Canyon Rd and AG city limit .The 2003 traffic counts (AADT) in this segment ignore th e
tremendous amount of traffic traveling from HWY 101 through Oak Park to Noyes R d
intersection connecting with SR 227 .
Volume II Chapter 4 page 4-29, Table 4-8 and Chapter 7 page 7-8, Table 7-3 should outline a
new segment for the following system condition "SR 227 between Via Chula Robles, Noyes R d
intersection towards Patchett Rd .Segement #3 Printz Rd — Price Canyon Rd Segment does no t
accurately capture the entire traffic impact of this heavily traveled route . Volume II Chapter4
page 4-29 should also include Noyes road as a contributing factor to the traffic volume to thi s
route .(Note : Price Canyon, Corbett canyon, Buckley, Orcutt and Tank Farm Rd are not the onl y
contributing traffic routes .) Please review pictures provided under Tab D
Volume II Chapter 4 page 4-29 "State Route 227 serves local and commute traffic between SL O
and the five Cities area ."It should also be stated that "The State Route 227 also serves a
growing number of commercial trucking companies Call sizes - small and large). San Lui s
Garbage Company uses this route strictly for traveling to and from the landfill for most garbag e
picked up and disposed of by most SLO county communities located south of Price Canyon Rd .
Tab E
Volume II Chapter 4 page 4-30 : Emerging Issues mentions nothing about how Caltrans and the
County will progress toward improving the public safety between Via Chula Robles, Noyes R d
intersection towards Patchett Rd . Are there any discussions or plans to improve this dangerou s
corridor? Ignoring the problem will not resolve the dangerous traffic issues which have alread y
taken precious lives . Please review pictures provided under Tab F
Could the County and State promote a safer traffic route by requiring large commercial sem i
trucks, San Luis Garbage trucks and commercial composting haulers through the lightl y
populated Price Canyon corridor when traveling to the landfill and/or the city limits of San Lui s
Obispo ?
Because of the history, beauty and the natural landscape between Arroyo Grande and Edna, w e
would propose the county to move forward and nominate SR 227 as a Scenic Highway . Thi s
scenic corridor could be enjoyed by many travelers for years to come . It is a one of a kin d
picturesque area and it deserves our respect and protection . Please understand that we as a
community will all lose if we don't move forward to preserve and protect this one of a kin d
scenic corridor . Please review pictures provided under Tab G
Our hopes are that by successfully meeting the official designation of "Scenic Highway", th e
County and State will be able to begin promoting a safer traffic condition for all residents ,
visitors, and bicyclists traveling on SR 227 . Please review pictures provided under Tab H
Attached are some pictures, which we hope clearly outline some of the current traffic dangers .
These traffic dangers impact many citizens living and driving on SR 227 . We hope that this dat a
will help you to make informed decisions that will impact all of us living and visiting th e
beautiful Edna Valley area of our San Luis Obispo County .
Sincerely ,
William and Susan Baron e
Phone : 805-546-042 0
Cc : Tom O'Malle y
Bruce Gibso n
Frank Mecham
Adam Hil l
Katcho Achadjia n
Jame Patterso n
Tony Ferrar a
John P Shoal s
Janice Peter s
Fred Strong
Mary Ann Reis s
Jan Howel l
Rich Krumholz
Tab A : Noyes Rd Stop Sign Issues :
Stop sign is located directly around the corner .
End 45 sign indicates you can speed up . (This has been taken down and put back up again )
Van just stopped in time before colliding with a Caltrans car
Skids at the Stop sig n
Sand and Debris builds up at stop sign which impact many drivers' ability to stop at the stop sign
Accidents from not seeing Noyes Sto p
sign
More Property Damage from missing the stop
TAB B : Many Types of Vehicles Travel 5R227 Daily
Tab C : Large trucks can't always make the sharp turn up Noyes Rd
Tab D : Noyes Road contributes heavy traffic volume on and off SR 227
TAB E : San Luis Garbage uses this corridor as a main rtoute to and from the landfill
TAB F : Can the County Improve public safety?
Two fatalities occurred right here
One fatality right here
Blind corner traveling down SR 22 7
Blind corner traveling up SR 227
Very limited visibility
TAB G : Carpenter Canyon 's History, Beauty and Natural landscape deserves our respect an d
protection .
TAB H : Our scenic corridor is currently in danger of incompatible land use . Many mitigated measures
go ignored which is destroying our community's identity and scenic character .
$1000 FIN E
FO R
LITTERING
THE END