HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/9/2020 Item 4, Nett
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Jim Nett <
AM
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Agenda Item #4 - Draft Active Transportation Plan
Dear Planning Commissioners,
Looking over the Draft Active Transportation Plan that you are reviewing tonight, I noticed a proposed project exists on
the map that was reviewed by the City Council several years ago, when David Romero was Mayor. It involves a proposal
to build a bridge across Brizzolara Creek at Montalban St. Mayor Romero and the Council voted unanimously to have
the proposal taken out of the transportation plan for several reasons. Mayor Romero, with his experience as Director of
Public Works stating, "There is no way we should put in a bridge there!" He assured the citizens in the Chamber that
had raised many concerns that, "It will never happen.....I don't care if the bridge sits in the City Yard and just rusts."
The current draft plan that you are being asked to vote on has the same exact element proposed in it. I do not
understand how, or why the same proposal is in the new Active Transportation Plan, but I strongly feel that it should not
be. I am asking you to direct staff to remove that element from the Transportation Plan whether it is a clerical mistake,
or not. This issue was decided already.
The same conditions and situation exist at the site today. Only the safety concerns and potential impacts have changed,
becoming worse.
There were many concerns expressed about safety (too many to list here), blocking access to a major sewer line running
directly under the site, riparian wildlife and nests, and no identifiable need when there are numerous other access
points for cyclists and pedestrians to move between Santa Rosa St. to N. Chorro St., two of them within a quarter of a
mile from this location. Connecting the quiet, children filled Anholm neighborhood with the busy commercial Santa
Rosa corridor, especially directing pedestrians and cyclists to try and cross Santa Rosa St. at the "most dangerous
intersection in the City", as staff members then referred to Montalban and Santa Rosa intersection, was seen as a bad
idea. Traffic on Santa Rosa Street has increased greatly since then.
Please save the City some time and money by having this unsafe and unneeded proposed element removed from the
Transportation Plan this evening.
Many other elements proposed in the plan I happily endorse, as I have been riding my bike to work, stores, etc. in the
City for decades.
If you need more information, I would be happy to be part of a more detailed discussion on the matter with you at any
time.
I would appreciate hearing back from somebody representing the Planning Commission about this issue.
Please contact me at jimnett57@gmail.com
Respectfully,
Jim Nett
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