Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/6/2024 Item 6a, Steenson To:E-mail Council Website Subject:Safety on Broad Street This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond. January 25, 2024 Dear Members of the San Luis Obispo City Council: We understand that the City Council will discuss the safety issues involving traffic on Broad Street between South/Santa Barbara Streets and Orcutt Road at your meeting on February 6, 2024. We have long been concerned about the safety of drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians on that stretch of road. We’ve lived toward downtown, off Nipomo Street, for more than 25 years. We’ve seen the traffic on Broad Street increase exponentially during that time. We travel on Broad Street several times a week to go shopping, to medical appointments, to visit friends, and to go to the airport. Traffic is heavy and people often drive too fast. We feel like we’re taking our lives in our hands when we visit friends who live on Lawrence Drive and Stoneridge Drive and have to turn left on Broad Street to return home. There is no question that this is a dangerous stretch of road and something must be done about it before a truly tragic accident occurs. We urge the City to take action soon to remedy the major problems that make Broad Street unsafe. We understand there is a possibility of funding that could address this dangerous situation and we urge you to allocate that funding to update the 2014 Broad Street Plan and to approve changes that will make this area safer for everyone. Suggestions for improving Broad Street include:  Traffic lights: add a traffic light at Lawrence Drive and change the traffic light at Woodbridge to operate like a conventional traffic light. This would calm the flow of traffic and give pedestrians and bicyclists a safe place to cross Broad Street.  Meridians: add meridians to give drivers more defined places to pull out into traffic and make it safer for both those turning onto Broad Street and those traveling on Broad Street.  Parking: reduce parking on Broad Street near the cross streets to improve visibility for drivers on the south side of Broad Street turning left onto Broad Street. Tall vehicles, SUVs and vans, often block drivers’ visibility of oncoming traffic. 1  Speed limit: reduce the speed limit to 35 mph. This is a populated stretch of road with a great many places – not only streets and driveways, but also parking lots for shopping areas – where drivers can turn onto Broad Street. A lower speed limit would calm traffic and make it safer for everyone. Thank you for listening to us and to other citizens of SLO who are greatly concerned about the safety of Broad Street and who rely on our city’s leaders to correct the situation. Sincerely, Gary and Vallerie Steenson 572 Dana Street San Luis Obispo To help protect your privacy, Virus-free.www.avast.com Microsoft Office prevented 2