HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/6/2024 Item 6a, L. Lorian
Lori Lerian <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Fund South Broad Street Project
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Dear Mayor Stewart and City Council members,
I have lived in the Stoneridge neighborhood for over 12 years and have witnessed the problems on Broad Street get
progressively worse.
No matter what time of day, it is risky to turn left onto Broad Street from Stoneridge Dr., Perkins Lane, or Sweeney Lane.
To solve the problem, I often turn right and travel miles out of my way to get to my destination—not very
environmentally friendly, but I feel it’s necessary. Even though the Broad Street speed limit is 40mph at the Stoneridge
intersection, I think most cars are traveling 5-10mph faster and, with parking allowed on our side of Broad, my view to
turn out is blocked significantly. The most dangerous part is the middle turn lane. While I'm making left turns into that
lane, cars turning left from the east side of Lawrence are doing the same. I can’t tell you how many times I have almost
had a head-on collision in the center lane.
I understand a plan was done in 2014 that included traffic calming on the section of Broad between South Street and
Orcutt, but to date that part of the plan has not been addressed. It seems to me a traffic light, meridians, less travel lanes
and lower speeds would answer the problems. I was hopeful the pedestrian lights at Woodbridge would help, but it
hasn’t, and I think it's only going to worsen when the construction is completed on the mixed-use project on the east side
of Broad at Lawrence.
I believe it was a mistake to build the Stoneridge development without access out through the neighborhood to the
northwest of us, but since it wasn't, now is the time to address the problem before even more are seriously hurt. I am
asking the Council to consider using any additional funds from this year to start the planning process and to keep this
issue top of mind when developing the budget for next year.
Thank you,
Lori Lerian
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