HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/5/2023 Item PC, Ayral
Odile Ayral <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Public Comment: Broad and Murray Intersection
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Public Comment: Broad and Murray crossing.
Mayor Stewart and Council Members,
I often walk on Chorro and Broad streets, and I am therefore able to view the extensive work that is going on. I
would like to bring to your attention a serious mistake made around the intersection of Broad and Murray. I had
been puzzled by the two “driveway drops” built on the sidewalks near the intersection because there were no
driveways, and they did not make any sense. Finally, another resident gave me the explanation I was looking
for, and this is why I am contacting you.
Most of the work done as of now concerns the old, the disabled, and parents pushing proms: lowering the
sidewalk corners to make things easier to manage when you push a walker or a wheelchair. This is important
because of the Senior Village located at the corner of Broad and Ramona. Many of these older people use the
sidewalks on one side or the other from Ramona to Murray and on, and they must cross the street if they are
going toward downtown because the sidewalk ends on the west side after Serrano Dr. The city staff found
themselves in a quandary when they had to deal with the Murray-Broad intersection because there are two
storm drains on each side (four total) at the sidewalk corners, and these storm drains appear to make it difficult
to lower the sidewalk corners (or perhaps it would be too costly to move these storm drains). Whatever the
reason, the staff came up with the idea of lowering the sidewalk like a driveway at a point further from the
corner, steering the old and the disabled into the street at that point, and forcing them to walk on the street until
they have crossed Murray. Once there they will be able to join the sidewalk again after the second storm
drain. Really? The old and the disabled on walkers and wheelchairs fighting cars and bikes on the street for
about half a block? I hope I misunderstood something because it sounds like a bad Monty Python skit. I know
there are unusual difficulties in that area, but this is far from being a solution.
I attach a sketch and a couple pictures to help you understand what I am saying, and I urge everyone on the
council to come and see this area. Only then will you be able to recognize the aberration of this design, and the
danger it represents for the old and the disabled.
Sincerely,
Odile Ayral
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