HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/8/2020 Item 20, Flickinger
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Sarah Flickinger <
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:CityClerk
Subject:City Council Communication - Flickinger 1 of 2
Attachments:Avila Ranch Cumulative LOS Map.pdf; Froom Ranch Specific Plan Circulation.pdf; Bob
Jones Connection Alignment.pdf
Sarah Flickinger
sarah@flickimc.com
City Council
City of San Luis Obispo
emailcouncil@slocity.org
cc: cityclerk@slocity.org
Attachments:
Avila Ranch Cumulative LOS Map
Bob Jones Connection Alignment
Froom Ranch Specific Plan Circulation
December 8, 2020
Good evening Council Members:
The following is the body of a comment previously sent to the ATC. I felt it important to share this perspective with
Council Members as well as they continue to study the Active Transportation Plan Update and prioritization of projects
in the City, agenda item 20. While I am involved with Friends of the Bob Jones Trail, I am writing today as a current City
resident and former resident of the Los Verdes Park 1 neighborhood for 13 years (2004-2018). I am also an LCI with the
League of American Bicyclists, and support increased adoption of accessible active transportation. I have attached a few
items to this comment from EIRs and other planning documents over the past 12 years for visual support. I am happy to
provide citations of additional documents, specific email communications and meeting dates for other points, if
necessary. Please feel free to reach out for any further information I can help provide. I recognize that this plan is
currently an informational item, and not being considered for approval.
My comments specifically focus on the movement of the Bob Jones Trail segment between LOVR and the Octagon Barn
in the Project Prioritization List provided in the ATC materials. I urge the Committee to include this segment among Tier
1 projects for a variety of reasons including: lack of recreation facilities in this region of the City, cumulative
considerations from a variety of projects where this segment has been included in transportation evaluations, and its
longstanding importance to residents in the City, particularly families, seniors and new/novice bicycle riders—all integral
segments for increasing modal shift adoption in line with the City’s targeted modal shift objectives. Much work has
already been done to support completion of this project over the years, and this segment is important for connecting
disparate trail segments already complete or in near term plans/approved projects. I have been engaged with the City
about circulation concerns in this particular area (South Higuera, LOVR, 101, Tank Farm, Suburban, Buckley) for more
1
than 10 years, and continue to remain deeply engaged in supporting circulation improvement for the southern portions
of the City.
This portion of town lacks City recreation facilities with the exception of the small existing segment of the Bob Jones
Trail that connects Prado and Los Osos Valley roads. While some private facilities may exist, there are no large City Parks
where those without private can recreate. As we continue to develop this area with small-lot, mixed-use and apartment
homes, these facilities become increasingly important public spaces that foster community between neighborhoods.
While not a perfect solution, off-street, ADA compliant multi-use trails can support active outdoor recreation including a
place for children to ride/learn to ride bikes safely, seniors to walk/bike to support health and others to walk/jog/run
amid nature for improved health and well-being. The addition of this segment expands on the existing trail and creates a
connection to other recreational opportunities, specifically the recently renovated Octagon Barn event facility and the
future complete connection to Avila Beach (BJT portion between Octagon Barn and Ontario Road is currently in
progress). Connecting the larger portions of the trail to the City requires this segment.
Beyond recreation, this segment of the BJT has been in City planning documents as a priority for many years based on
community input as well as circulation considerations. Several approved development projects in the vicinity actually
count on this portion of the BJT as a mitigation for impacts of development to pedestrian and bicycle facilities. There is a
lot I could say in this area, with specifics, but I will instead include a list of projects which cite this trail segment in
circulation plans, though it is not a complete list of those that do:
- Froom Ranch Area Specific Plan
- LUCE
- Avila Ranch Area Specific Plan
- Avila Ranch Development
- US 101 Interchange Project / Los Osos Valley Road
- Octagon Barn
I would be happy to walk Council Members and/or staff through any of these references with citations, as well as
additional ones. On-street facilities in this area are not a viable cumulative alternative as currently planned. Even with
the addition of the LOVR Bypass, on-street remains insufficient for active transportation modes according to accepted
traffic studies, and particularly in light of goals for increased modal split. Many new/novice riders are not comfortable in
high-traffic areas and, during the Avila Ranch circulation study, the portion of LOVR between S. Higuera and 450 feet
north of the Los Verdes drive would “operate at unacceptable LOS with the Project plus near-tern cumulative increases
in traffic,” (Avila Ranch Development Project, Final EIR, 3.12-79) with regard to active modes. Impact TRANS-14 in this
project is partially mitigated by a “Class I bike path from Los Osos Valley Road to South Higuera Street.” While there is
not currently large bicycle and pedestrian usage in this area, the lack of adequate facilities surrounding the high-volume
LOVR/S. Higuera intersection and multi-lane S. Higuera and LOVR corridors in the vicinity are a primary reason cited for
preferring motor vehicle use. Circulation and effective growth planning and improvement depend on consistency with a
long-term cumulative plan in place. This project is integral to such planning in this portion of the City. Several
EIRs/circulation plans may have to be revisited without it. Or, perhaps, an ADA-consistent crossing (or two) between the
NB 101 and S. Higuera intersections on LOVR as well as significant traffic calming and motor vehicle volume rerouting
would need to be added in lieu to remain consistent with near-term and cumulative project planning for projects already
approved.
As an aside, I remember a meeting of the Los Verdes Park residents and a City traffic planner where the neighborhoods
were told that this particular trail extension would be the mitigation for unsafe left turns onto LOVR toward S. Higuera
from Los Verdes Park 1 and unsafe left turns into Los Verdes Park 2 from LOVR during the LOVR interchange project.
These movements are currently extremely dangerous, requiring crossing of three lanes of congested traffic, in proximity
to a major multi-lane intersection, with vehicles frequently moving in excess of posted speed limits. Only the most
confident/experienced riders feel comfortable navigating scenarios such as these. Over the years many residents in the
area expressed desire to be able to ride more frequently instead of driving, particularly to neighborhood services in the
Trader Joe’s/Food 4 Less center, but felt unsafe doing so. The addition of pending developments’ impacts exacerbates
2
the condition. The neighborhoods argued for a HAWK type signal to improve the safety, but it has repeatedly been
found to not meet signal warrants based on current approved planning (including project mitigations approved as part
of recent development project approvals).
In addition to local residents within the S. Higuera / LOVR area and Los Verdes neighborhoods, city residents have
consistently ranked completion of the Bob Jones Trail from within the City to Avila Beach as a high priority. Existing
segments are used regularly by residents and visitors throughout the County. Removing this segment removes
connection to City residents/visitors and would leave a gap between planned in-process portions of the trail and the
existing Prado/LOVR segment. While an underground crossing of LOVR would be ideal, an on-street crossing is a safe
and viable alternative, and is a preferred alternative for similar trails in the City (i.e. Railroad Safety Trail) to assist with
public safety and visibility.
This trail segment has been planned since at least 2008, with a Final Study completed in 2013 and an MND issued in
2016. The Los Verdes Parks 1 & 2 provided the City of SLO with a Constraints Analysis of the neighborhood’s preferred
feasible alignment of the potential LOVR Bypass in 2016, which takes into account, is compatible with and enhances
public safety of this planned trail segment.
It is possible, City residents have expressed that it is a priority, and it should be ranked as a Tier 1 project for a Class 1
Trail connecting LOVR and S. Higuera at Buckley Road.
Sincerely,
Sarah Flickinger
805-215-2561
sarah@flickimc.com
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3.12-28
Froom Ranch Specific Plan
Preliminary Transportation Analysis
Project Trip Distribution
The project trip distribution was based on a select link procedure in the City's Travel Demand Model,
which indicated that 30% of the project trips would travel towards Madonna Road and 70% would
travel towards US 101. A plot showing the daily trip distribution is below. The Traffic Analysis Zone
structure and roadway loading in the City's model should be modified when it is applied for project -
level analysis to more closely match the proposed site plan loading points.
Daily Trip Distribution
°Io of Daily Trips)
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Central Coast Transportation Consulting June 2017
9
Draft Bob Jones Pathway Octagon Barn Connection Study
�- Southern end of existing Bob
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Jones Traii [City of San Luis Obispo] a
A t �
Potential pathway under Los Osos Valley Road
Planned pathway connection (separate project)
Pathway would connect with planned
crossing improvements at the Los OsosVa€ley
Road 1 US 101 on and off ramp intersection
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Pathway users would continue south along a
•• �I widened bridge over San Luis 0bi5po Creek
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Preferred pathway
alignment along San
Luis Obispo Creek
Existing agricultura
access mad
New agricultura
access road
Preferred Pathway Alignment
Along San Luis Obispo Creek
Existing Land Use Features
Marsh
0 Riparian Vegetation
Approximate Creek Centerline
Approx. 6V Creek Easement
— - City/ County Limit
Property Line
Existing Roadway and Bikeway
Features
Bike Lane
Bridge
d Traffic Signal
Proposed Bikeway Features
Los OSO5 VALLEY — ' Bike Path
Bike Lane
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measures on S.
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Future San Luis Obispo 0ctagon Barn Center andTraiIhead
s Future access road and left tum I
lane for The Octagon Barn Center
Existing agricultural Future Bob Jones Pathway (separate project) currently
access road under environmental review, south of the future Buckley
�• Road extension, the pathway alignment may be on east or
r # west side of S. Higuera Street
The preferred crossing location is at the
future Buckley Road intersection
Figure 1-9: Preferred Pathway Alignment
City of San Luis Obispo 1 1-21