HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/16/2024 Item 5, Nelson
From:Gene Nelson, Ph.D. <
To:Advisory Bodies
Cc:E-mail Council Website; Fukushima, Adam
Subject:ATC Agenda Item 5 - OPPOSE Blocking 2 lanes of South Higuera Between Bridge and
Margarita
Attachments:GAN Comments for SLO Active Transportiaton Committee 05 16 24.pdf; SLOCOG
Regional Transportation Plan Foreword 06 07 23.pdf
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City of San Luis Obispo City Clerk
990 Palm St.,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
advisorybodies@slocity.org
May 14, 2024
Hello, Active Transportation Committee (ATC) Fukushima, and the SLO City Council:
Attached are my comments in opposition to the blocking of two lanes of south Higuera street
between Bridge and Margarita. I have a schedule conflict so another Chumash Village resident will
be reading my comments into the record during the public comment period for ATC agenda item
5 on Thursday, May 16, 2024. I'm also attaching the two-page foreword from the SLOCOG 2023
Regional Transportation Plan dated June 7, 2023.
I look forward to learning this controversial element of the Higuera Streets Complete Project is
eliminated.
Sincerely /s/ Gene Nelson, Ph.D. Chumash Village Resident San Luis Obispo, CA (805) 363 - 3597
cell c0030180@airmail.net email
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Comments for May 16, 2024 SLO City Active Transportation Committee Meeting
Hello, SLO City Active Transportation Committee. My name is Dr. Gene Nelson. I live in
Chumash Village in the City of San Luis Obispo. These comments are a extension of my previous
criticisms before the City of San Luis Obispo City Council of the so-called Higuera Streets
Complete project, Agenda item 5.
I call for abandonment of the most controversial aspect of the project, which is to block
off two of the four lanes of South Higuera Street at the geographical choke point between
Bridge Street and Margarita. If this traffic impediment is installed at a cost of many millions of
dollars, I forecast it will be later ripped out with the expenditure of additional millions in
response to angry taxpayers. So, lets just avoid the needless expense.
I grew up in southern California. I'm old enough to remember when Orange County was
mostly orange groves instead of the heavily urbanized region it is now. Based on my
experience, I anticipate that between now and 2045, much of the agricultural land in the Edna
Valley and the Los Osos Valley will become urbanized. Don't just take my word for it. The SLO
Council of Governments issued a Regional Transportation Plan for the SLO region on June 7,
2023. From the foreword, 42,000 new residents are anticipated by 2045. There will be 18,000
new homes and 17,000 new jobs. There is a projected SLO regional transportation funding
shortfaII (currently $3 billion with a total need that exceeds $5 billion) Quoting from the
foreword:
Addressing the transportation needs for the San Luis Obispo region comes with
significant challenges. Our population is expected to continue to grow and with it, the
demands on our transportation system will only increase. Already, traffic and
congestion are growing, and San Luis Obispo County residents spend an increasing
amount of time stuck in traffic.
The next paragraph confirms the cost of living here is high.
On the next page, there is the pie-in-the-sky verbiage regarding reducing our reliance on
the automobile that I've heard from California government leaders for decades. Finally, in the
final paragraph is the proposal for a regional transportation-specific sales tax that will ...raise
nearly $1 billion to invest in our system... Now this plan makes sense. Use taxpayer dollars to
create congestion so that taxpayers will support a massive increase in regional taxation!
Instead, I support the no project alternative to protect this vital north-south arterial road.
One of the alleged benefits of blocking these two lanes is that it will purportedly reduce
rush hour congestion at the critical Madonna - Higuera Street - South Street intersection. This
would only occur if there were alternative inbound pathways for northbound traffic to reach
downtown SLO in the morning. The alternative routes are already congested.
Currently the inventory of lanes includes two lanes on South Higuera for northbound
traffic to the Madonna Road intersection. North of this intersection, Higuera is choked down to
a single lane until it reaches Marsh. I observe the two lanes of northbound 101 are already
congested when I'm traveling south on 101 during the morning rush hour. Northbound
2
Madonna Road between Los Osos Valley Road and South Higuera is congested with numerous
traffic lights slowing traffic. The single lane portions of Highway 227 are bumper - to - bumper
during the morning rush hour. The two-lane portion of Broad Street is choked at the north end
during rush hour because all three roads that carry traffic away from the intersection of Broad
and South Street are now single - lane roads. Finally, Johnson Avenue has already been reduced
from four lanes to two lanes along much of its length to the south of French Hospital. So, the
best case analysis shows a northbound lane inventory of 9 lanes, realistically 8 lanes. The Prado
Road interchange will provide no benefit, as it is south of the geographic choke point. With
planned development south of the choke point, congestion will only get worse.
Since one purpose of arterial roads is to facilitate commerce, blocking two lanes of
South Higuera will deter commerce and increase rush-hour congestion. This is a compelling
reason to leave South Higuera Street at four lanes at the geographical choke point.
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2023-2045
Regional Transportation Plan
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FINAL ADOPTED
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JUNE 7, 2023 https://www.dropbox.com/s/2zp8vhil9q4n9l5/00-%202023%20RTP%20Final%20Adopted.pdf?e=1&dl=0 Archived 05 14 24
2023 11111
Regional Transportation Plan
FOREWORD TO THE 2023 RTP
TO: SLOCOG BOARD
FROM: 2023 RTP STEERING COMMITTEE
Foreword to the 2023 RTP
The Steering Committee for the 2023 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP, or the Plan), is represented by local residents
from various backgrounds, spread geographically across the region and with varying arecs of focus including Business,
Tourism, Housing, Economic Development, Environment, Bike & Walk, Transit, Agriculture, Health, and Disadvantaged
Communities. The Committee is proud to have participated in the development of the Plan through review & input on
goals, policy objectives, action strategies, and investment priorities to maintain, manage, and improve the
transportation system in the San Luis Obispo region to year 2045.
The Committee participated in eight meetings with SLOCOG Staff and guest speakers over a period of 18 months
leading up to the final draft of the RTP. Guest speakers from around the region included representatives from SLO
County Air Pol lution Control District, SLO County Publ ic Health Department, Caltrans, SLO RTA, Bike SLO County,
SLOCAL, and from SLOCOG sister agencies including SBCAG and TAMC. The Committee received background and
information on various issues affecting transportation in the region, chal lenges and constraints, and post efforts. The
Committee provided input on the Plan's goals, which then gained consensus from SLOCOG Staff and approval by the
SLOCOG Board and formed the foundation and road map for the Plan. The Committee then reviewed and provided
input on al l chapters of the draft RTP and provided recommendations for funding levels by transportation mode.
The Committee was introduced to key issues which need to be addressed by the Plan:
• Housing and transportation needs through 2045 including:
o 18,000 new homes
o 17,000 new jobs
o 42,000 additional residents
• Roadway operations and maintenance, congestion, and safety
• Availability of modal options - walk, bike, bus, car, and rai l
• Available funding shortfa I I (currently $3b with a total need that exceeds $5b)
• State goals for reducing average distance of travel and greenhouse gases production
• State and Federal funding opportunities to advance RTP goals
• Balance priorities of transit, active transportation, system efficiency, and local road maintenance while
addressing hotspot issues on major roads and highways.
Addressing the transportation needs for the San Luis Obispo region cornes with significant challenges. Our
population is expected to continue to grow and with it, the demands on our transportation system wil l only increase.
Already, traffic and congestion are growing, and San Luis Obispo County residents spend an increasing amount of
time stuck in traffic.
The cost of l iving here is high, and there are diverse opinions and expectations on the transportation needs — some
on safety, maintenance, supporting new growth and jobs, improving opportunities for walking and biking, investments
in publ ic transit, or lowering overal l cost to home affordabi l ity.
State and federal highway funds are inadequate and competition for funds is increasing. The historica I fund source for
transportation — the gas tax — has not kept up and is fal ling further and further behind due to new efficiencies and
technologies. Increasing restrictions that the state and federal government have placed on their limited available
SLOCOG 2023 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN
Page x
d
2023 11111
Regional Transportation Plan Foreword to the 2023 RTP
transportation funds, has led to a deterioration of our existing streets, roads and highways, and little to no avai lable
funding to expand our transportation network.
San Luis Obispo County offers its residents and visitors a unique qual ity of life with its natural beauty, moderate climate
and laid-back atmosphere. The Plan should seek to embrace the region's existing resources and culture while
accommodating new residents and economic growth. The desired outcomes of the Plan stem from a reduced
reliance on the automobile and the following benefits:
• The opportunity to l ive, shop, work, and play in transportation -efficient communities
• Communities which include neighborhoods, commercial corridors, town centers, downtowns, and other arecs
where residents have non -auto mobility options l ike transit, walking, and biking; and where housing, jobs, and
other key destinations are located near each other
• lmproved air qual ity, local economic benefits, more sustainable communities, and improved qual ity of life
• Reduced financial burden, better access to opportunities and improved public health
• Simultaneously address housing affordabi l ity, social equity, and cl imate goals
To achieve these desired results, the Committee encourages SLOCOG member agencies to adopt planning
policies which discourage sprawl and facilitate a greater diversity of housing and development types including
mixed-use and transit-oriented development. Local governments must also either generate revenues to expand our
system and maintain our investments or watch the system degrade and endanger the health, economy, welfare and
safety of al l San Luis Obispo County residents. A new funding stream for transportation is needed that is not control led
by the State or Federal government and is not tied to the antiquated gas tax.
The Committee also recommends SLOCOG explore the feasibility and necessary path to secure support from
voters fora transportation-specific sales tax for the region, simi lar to those that exist in the Monterey, Santa Cruz,
Santa Barbara regions in order to:
• Raise nearly $1 B to invest in our system to advance ai l goals
• Recapture taxes we send to the state (nearly $1 m/yr)
• Improve competitiveness to secure more state/federa I competitive grants
• Del iver needed investments and improvements faster and with safeguards to protect our funding and
guarantees the publ ic where the money wil l be spent
• Assure tourists to the region contribute their fair shore to the problem they add to
SLOCOG 2023 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN
Page xi