HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/7/2023 Item 6a, Nelson
City of San Luis Obispo
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805)781-7100 Main
(805)781-7230 Parking Services
https://www.slocity.org website
emailcouncil@slocity.org email
Adam Fukushima, Active Transportation Manager afukushima@slocity.org
November 4, 2023
RE: Changes for the worse for SLO Traffic
My wife and I moved to the City of San Luis Obispo (SLO) in 2006. There have been several changes for the
worse regarding SLO traffic that we are concerned about. We came to SLO to retire. These changes call into
question the wisdom of our choice.
1. The SLO decision-makers apparently believe we are driving our cars too much. SLO has decided in
unilateral fashion in their active transportation plan that we should be walking and bicycling more. It
doesn't matter how old we are. Fifty years ago, I would have agreed with the decision-makers. Not now.
While bicycling five decades ago in southern California, I wore a reflectorized sign reading, "SMOG KILLS"
over my backpack. However, since then, my reflexes have slowed and my back now gives me grief. I
recognize that at my age, I am much more likely to be injured while riding on my bicycle instead of driving
in my automobile. Even with bike lanes, I may be "doored" on my bicycle by a careless occupant exiting
their vehicle.
2. SLO has been spending our tax dollars to make our roads more congested, which makes them less safe.
The first move was to change South Street between Broad Street and North Higuera Street from four lane
to two lanes. Then, in downtown, both Marsh and Higuera recently had a lane taken away. The third lane
was converted into bike lanes and parking. SLO is in the process of changing the lane markings on Santa
Barbara. Apparently, the lanes will get narrower and the bike lanes wider. Automobile traffic will suffer.
3. What infuriates us most is SLO's $9 million plan to change a major north-south arterial road, South
Higuera Street between Margarita and Church from a four-lane road to a two-lane road. We already see
how bad the rush-hour congestion is on the two-lane section of Higuera between High Street and Marsh
Street. We plan our rush-hour travel to detour around that congestion. However, we and about 1,000
other SLO residents using South Higuera's cross streets from Margarita Avenue and to the north will have
no option to detour around the congestion created by SLO's Higuera Complete Streets Project. (The other
rationale offered by SLO for this plan is to reduce our emissions. More stop-and-go traffic and more vehicle
congestion equals higher emissions, not less.)
4. The "icing on the cake?" The recent doubling of downtown parking rates, eliminating the free first hour
at two of the three SLO parking structures, and the expansion of parking fee hours from 6:00 PM to 9:00
PM. These changes are allegedly to help defray the cost of a new parking structure. The actual effect is to
reduce to an absolute minimum our trips downtown. We shop at locations other than downtown
whenever possible. We don't think we are alone. We already see restaurants and shops downtown closing
their doors.
Instead of SLO government making changes to the use of our streets (also known as "circulation elements")
based on "top down" decisions, listen to all SLO residents instead.
See on pages 2-3:"SLO to Get $6.95M to Improve Higuera Street Corridor" December 8, 2022
https://www.slocity.org/Home/Components/News/News/9384/
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SLO to Get $6.95M to Improve Higuera Street Corridor
On December 7, 2022, the California Transportation Commission awarded the City of San
Luis Obispo $6.95 million from the Active Transportation Grant Program to construct active
transportation improvements on the Higuera Street corridor.
Post Date:12/08/2022 4:30 PM
The City of San Luis Obispo will soon receive $6.95 million in State grant funding to make the
Higuera Street corridor safer.
Yesterday, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) awarded the City $6.95 million
from the State Active Transportation Program to complete street improvements along the
Higuera Street corridor between Marsh Street and Los Osos Valley Road, including
accessibility and safety enhancements for walking, bicycling, and driving.
In addition, the grant will fund improvements to bicycle and pedestrian links east and west of
the Higuera Street corridor to benefit safer bike and walking routes to Hawthorne
Elementary and Laguna Middle School.
“We are excited to receive these grants to further the City’s climate action and active
transportation goals,” said Active Transportation Manager Adam Fukushima. “The
competition for these State funds is extremely fierce with over 433 projects submitted for
grant consideration and just over 20% awarded.”
Originally identified in the City’s 2021 Active Transportation Plan and prioritized based on
input from local parents and proponents for safe routes to school, the Higuera Complete
Streets Project will enhance a 2.5-mile route between Marsh Street and Los Osos Valley Road,
providing protected bike lanes, pedestrian crossing enhancements, traffic signal upgrades and
measures to reduce illegal speeding and improve safety for all road users.
The project funding will also be supplemented by a $750,000 Community Betterments
Grant recently awarded by the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG), which
supports the Higuera Street corridor improvements as well as a new Pedestrian Hybrid
Beacon crossing at the intersection of South Street/King Street near Hawthorne Elementary
School.
“We are super pleased we could use limited regional funding to leverage state funding for a
four-fold increase in the project scope,” said Pete Rodgers, Executive Director for SLOCOG.
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The Higuera Complete Streets Project represents one of the highest priorities in the City's
recently adopted Active Transportation Plan and will help make progress towards the
community’s sustainable transportation objectives and goal of reaching carbon neutrality by
2035, as envisioned in the City’s Climate Action Plan.
The State’s Active Transportation Program’s goals include reducing greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions, improving safety for vulnerable road users, strengthening the economy, and
improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Along with the award to the City of San Luis Obispo, the CTC awarded over $1 billion to 93
projects statewide.
The Higuera Complete Streets Project is currently in early design and will include more
public outreach opportunities in 2023, leading to an anticipated construction in 2024/2025.
For more information about this project contact Adam Fukushima, Active Transportation
Manager at afukushima@slocity.org.
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