HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/13/2021 Item 1, Brooks
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Lea Brooks <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Thank you Letter to City Council
Attachments:City Council Thanks.docx
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Lea Brooks
San Luis Obispo
1
To: Mayor Harmon and Council Members Christianson, Marx, Pease and Stewart
From: Lea Brooks, San Luis Obispo Resident
April 12, 2021
Thank you for the privilege of serving on the Active Transportation Committee,
previously the Bicycle Advisory Committee, for two terms. My eight-year tenure flew by,
and I am going to miss participating with peers to review projects that affect active
transportation and make recommendations to the Planning Commission and City
Council.
I’m pleased with so many positive changes, including the city’s commitment to fight
climate change with major investments to active transportation infrastructure. More
people will bicycle and walk if they feel safe and facilities are pleasant and connected.
One example is the city’s determination to save its Active Transportation Program grant
for the Railroad Safety Trail extension south of Cal Poly to Pepper Street by keepi ng the
pressure on Union Pacific. The city has more protected bike lanes, multiuse pathways
and signal improvements because of your support.
Hiring a full-time active transportation manager and other staff with expertise and
commitment to active transportation was another leap forward as was the transition
from the BAC to the ATC and adoption of the city’s first -ever Active Transportation Plan.
I will closely follow the ATC’s activities as a city resident and continue advocating to fill
the gap on Tank Farm Road between Higuera and Broad streets. Only experienced
bicyclists typically ride the narrow shoulders on Tank Farm along the Chevron property
linking the sprouting businesses and housing units at either end . I’m also deeply
concerned about the gap on Buckley Road east of Avila Ranch where the Class II bike
lanes will abruptly end at the development boundary, leaving bicyclists on a narrow road
and significant increase in vehicle traffic. I will continue to keep pressure on the County
Public Works Department to find a fix to the gap, but political will and funding remain a
challenge.
One of my favorite little projects was removal of a bolla rd at the west end of a tiny city
park between Exposition Drive and Bridge Street that enable s people riding adult
tricycles or pulling trailers behind their bikes to choose low-traffic neighborhood streets
over South Street. It’s amazing how little changes make a difference.
Increasing trips by bike and foot remain my passion as does completing the Bob Jones
Trail to the Octagon Barn to fulfill the community’s dream of a City-to-Sea Trail and the
city’s segment between the Octagon Barn and Los Osos Valley Road. The Friends of
the Bob Jones Trail of which I am a board member regularly picks up trash along the
city’s segment between Higuera Street/Prado Road to Los Osos Valley Road and is
looking for ways to increase use so people feel safe. Thank you again for the
opportunity to serve.