HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/20/2021 Item 4 & 6, Brooks
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Lea Brooks <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:May 20 ATC meeting items 4 & 6
Attachments:ATC May 20 Items 4 and 6.docx
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Please share with the Active Transportation Committee.
Thank you.
Lea Brooks
San Luis Obispo
1
May 19, 2021
To: Active Transportation Committee Chair Roberts and members Arndt, Dunaway,
Jouet, Martines, Mills and Ogden:
From: Lea Brooks, San Luis Obispo
Re: Item 4: Anholm Neighborhood Greenway Status Update; and Item 6: Bo b Jones
Trail Lighting
First, congratulations to new ATC member Audrey Ogden and best wishes to the rest of
the committee members. It was a pleasure serving with you and I will now follow your
meetings as a bicycle advocate who hopes for quick implementation of the newly
adopted Active Transportation Plan .
I am commenting on two specific issues:
Item 4: Anholm Neighborhood Greenway: I am thrilled that SLO received a $1.7 million
grant from the California Natural Resources Agency to complete this project. My
concern is an "administrative staff" recommendation to the Revenue Enhancement
Oversight Commission (REOC) that $1.7 million in Measure G sales tax funds
earmarked for Anholm be placed in reserve if the grant application was successful. On
March 31, REOC supported the recommendation, which will be considered June 1
when City Council adopts a budget for the next two fiscal years.
I support allocating these funds for ATP Tier 1 projects in the budget now rather than
holding them in reserve. Staff has told the ATC that there are projects ready to go if
there is funding. Many Tier 1 projects fit into the “quick build” category that will increase
trips by bike. With what anecdotally looks like the resumption of motor vehicle traffic
with the lifting of pandemic restrictions, bike projects are needed now that fill gaps and
help people feel safe bicycling.
Reserving this funding for the future when the need is now makes no sense if the City is
serious about reducing greenhouse gases and traffic congestion by replacing car trips
with bike trips. There is also a real concern that these funds will be diverted to non
active transportation projects.
Item 6: Bob Jones Trail Lighting
I want to clarify that Friends of the Bob Jones Trail was as surprised as anyone to learn
that city staff made a recommendation to allocate $1.45 million to install solar lighting on
the Bob Jones Trail and Railroad Safety Trail. This project was supported by REOC at
its March 31 meeting.
As far as I can recall, solar lighting on the Bob Jones Trail between South Higuera
Street/Prado Road and Los Osos Valley Road was never brought before or discussed
by the ATC. In REOC’s staff report, this allocation was listed under “Safe and Clean
Public Areas” to improve mobility and address concerns about safety.
The Friends of the Bob Jones Trail does not believe that solar lighting will increase
active transportation trips at night. There are few trips during daylight hours because
this segment of the trail currently does not go anywhere and there are safety concerns.
It is hard to believe that solar lights will generate an increase in night trips. This money
should be allocated to Tier 1 projects that result in more bike trips ASAP. Hopefully
there someday will be a need for night lighting on this segment of the Bob Jones Trail
when it is better connected to the bicycle transportation network.
FYI: I filed a Public Records Act request to hopefully find out who requested this funding
and why the ATC was not advised or asked for a recommendation. Public trust requires
communication and transparency.