HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/19/2022 Item 6i, Henderson
Delgado, Adriana
From:Laura Henderson <lauraahenderson@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 19,
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:July 19, 2022 5:00 meeting consideration
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Dear Council members,
It is my understanding that tonight the council will vote to approve pedestrian crossing improvements in the city with
the goal to eliminate fatal collisions citywide by 2030. Thank you for seeing this great need for safety of our citizens.
I would like to address the upmost importance of the crossing at South and King needing a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon
(PHB) similar to the ones on Broad and Foothill vs a RRFB crossing. The vehicles that travel South Street progress at a
high rate of speed, and South street is one of the highest volume streets in the city because South is a main connection
to 227. Additionally, the direction of the street puts the sunlight directly in driver’s faces during the afternoon commute.
Drives likely will not see a flashing light and will not stop for a painted crosswalk with a flashing light. Every day multiple
elementary school children risk their lives walking and biking in their commute to Hawthrone Elementary School when
they need to cross this intersection.
Additionally, community members walking and biking to Meadow Park, following the greenways the city has installed,
are left to cross at this very dangerous location. A painted greenway and painted crosswalk with a flashing light gives a
false sense of security. With vehicles traveling at such a high rate of speed and the volume of vehicles, a RRFB will not be
sufficient enough to signal vehicles to stop to allow the pedestrians to safely cross.
I have crossed at this location with my own two elementary children a number of times, and it really feels like a game of
frogger. Even if one of the oncoming vehicles does slow and stop for us to cross or continue crossing South, often a
vehicle behind that one will attempt to pass only to realize that we are in the street. There have been numerous close
calls with our family, and I have witnessed many with other people crossing at this location.
I strongly urge the members of the council to continue to pursue the goal of zero fatal collisions by starting design for a
signal at South/ King that is a PHB or a traditional signal, with construction scheduled AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. It is my
understanding that such a project is the #1 recommendation for SLOCOG’s Community Betterment Funding, that would
fully fund the project and save the lives of our community members.
Thank you for your consideration,
Laura Henderson
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