HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/6/2024 Item 6a, Herndon
Erin Herndon <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:South Broad Street Safety Concerns
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Dear City Council,
I am writing to express my concern for the danger South Broad Street presents to that area's residents,
specifically those who choose to walk and bike. I am part of a group of concerned residents asking that
unallocated funds from the mid-year budget review, Item 6A, be set aside to hire a traffic engineer to update
the study that was done for the South Broad Street Plan, adopted in 2014, and make recommendations for
improving the safety of the South Broad Street Corridor, specifically as it relates to reducing the speed of
drivers and improving safety for all road users and access for those that walk and bike.
We are asking that the city take the first step to improving the safety of this travel corridor and work towards
addressing the following stated major city goals:
1. Climate Action and Sustainable Transportation: Making this street safer to walk and bike will reduce
car dependency and help the city achieve its climate action goals.
2. DEI and Housing and Homelessness: A number of the new housing units in the South Broad area
are affordable units. Implementing this would be a step towards removing barriers to safe
transportation opportunities and creates greater transportation equity in our community.
3. Economic Resiliency: Making this street safer will allow for better and more equitable access to the great
businesses that operate on South Broad Street.
My partner and I live on South Broad street, almost exactly halfway between the pedestrian crossings at Woodbridge
and Orcutt. With my office desk looking out on one of the busiest corridors in residential SLO, almost every day I witness
cyclists and pedestrians struggling with the lack of accommodations- having to ride on the sidewalks until it is safe to
cross, or risking their and others safety to cross Broad.
As an avid bike commuter myself, I have also personally struggled with the safety and stress of crossing Broad each time
I travel downtown. Since the implementation of the wonderful pedestrian crossing at Woodbridge, we have seen a
tremendous improvement in both safety and willingness to use non-car transportation for every-day trips. I
enthusiastically support these necessary accommodations for pedestrians along this road- making SLO a safer, greener,
and more friendly place to live.
Thank you,
Erin Herndon
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