HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/8/2020 Item 20, Ellison
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Rick Ellison <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:December 8 City Council Study Session, Item #20
Attachments:201207 Council Study Questions (2).pdf
Dear Mayor Harmon and City Council Members,
Bike SLO County is pleased to provide the attached letter for Item #20 on the December 8 Agenda, City Council Study
Session on Draft Active Transportation Plan.
Sincerely,
Rick
--
Rick Ellison | Executive Director
rick@bikeslocounty.org
O: 805.547.2055 | Cell: 805.748.2733
bikeslocounty.org
1
December 7, 2020
San Luis Obispo Mayor and City Council Members
℅ City Clerk
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
December 8 City Council Study Session: Item 20, 2020 Draft Active Transportation Plan
Greetings Mayor Harmon and Council Members Pease, Christianson, Stewart, and Marx!
Bike SLO County is pleased to offer its support for the 2020 Draft Active Transportation Plan (ATP). We
assembled an ad-hoc committee a few short days ago so that we could assist in the evaluation process
performed by the Active Transportation Committee (ATC) and community collaborators in order to
promote a robust document that will serve our community as we move forward with our 2035 climate
goals. In general we support the format and content of the document while realizing that it is just a draft at
this point subject to further improvement before finalization. Your study session will conclude with the
following questions, and Bike SLO County offers these supplemental comments for your consideration.
Question #1. Does Council believe the policy framework of the Plan provides a suitable roadmap for
reaching mode share targets identified in the Circulation Element? If not, are there specific ways the
Council would like to see staff amend the policy framework of the proposed Plan?
Bike SLO County believes the Draft ATP, if funded and supported, will serve our community’s
goals in this regard subject to the refinements offered by the City ATC.
Question #2.Is Council satisfied with the overall organization of the Plan?Are there specific pieces of
information that are difficult to find,or not covered in the Plan that Council would like to see included in
the Final Plan?
Bike SLO County observed the meetings held by the ATC, and applaud their deliberations. They
requested modifications for utility, clarity, and general readability. When these changes are
incorporated, we feel this document will present well.
Question #3.Does Council have additional input on the proposed bicycle and pedestrian network?Are
there any projects not identified in the Plan where the Council believes improvements should be
recommended?
Bike SLO County believes that the local and regional routes identified within the plan are well
thought out. We are pleased that the plan identifies regional connections like the Bob Jones Trail,
Highway 227, and Los Osos Valley Road. Bike SLO County is committed to promoting bicycling
throughout the County and its cities. We will continue to work with the City and County to find
avenues to fund and build out these wonderful projects and encourage the City and County to
bridge to each other on these connected projects to enhance funding opportunities and faster
project builds.
Question #4.Would Council like to make changes to the proposed strategy for project Tiering (Tier 1-3)?
Are there projects that Council believes should be identified with a higher/lower priority?
With respect to cycling within the City of San Luis Obispo,Bike SLO County supports the current
listings within the classifications.
San Luis Obispo Mayor and City Council Members
Page 2
December 7, 2020
Question #5. Does the Council have concerns with establishing an ambitious target date of 2030 for
completion of the Tier 1 network?
Bike SLO County cannot represent Council’s concerns. We do believe that robust attention to the
completion of Tier 1 projects is the best way to achieve the overall goal. This timeline is short for
such important and valuable work for the benefit of the entire community. Many communities have
rapidly implemented similar bicycle and walking networks in a short period of time. We encourage
the City of San Luis Obispo to take on this ambitious endeavor.
Question #6. Is the Council satisfied with proposed Performance Measures and plan to monitor success?
Bike SLO County is concerned that with such a compressed timeline for completion more robust,
frequent, and comprehensive progress measures should be sought. Minor deviations in progress
might lead to exponentially growing deviation from achievement of goals. Careful monitoring of
progress is more vital than we feel this document identifies currently.
Respectively submitted for your consideration.
Gary Havas Rick Ellison
Board President Executive Director
Bike SLO County - 867 Pacific Street #210 - San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 547-2055