HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/27/2024 Item 1, Ayral
Odile Ayral <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Foothill Boulevard
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To: Members of the Active Transportation Committee
The decisions the city will take for Foothill are very important to me, but unfortunately, I have a conflict that
evening, so I won’t be able to attend the meeting. I am therefore sending this email.
I have lived on Ferrini Road since 1978. I know all the quirks of the neighborhood, its dangers, and its
limitations. For decades both Ferrini and Foothill needed serious help, but nothing was done no matter what
happened. Recently, Ferrini finally received the help it needed: a median on Highland took care of the
downhill speeding, and a bicycle greenway seems to be encouraging a more responsible attitude from
drivers. While far from being perfect, Ferrini is improving, and I thank you for it.
Foothill, on the other hand, has been neglected for a long time, and it shows. As you know, three deaths took
place at this location during the last seven years, two being cyclists. The last one especially, the death of
Andreas Kooi, has had a profound effect upon me because I fought tooth and nail against the monster building
at 790 Foothill, and I saw the mess its construction created. Without this building, Andreas would still be alive,
and I will never forget it. Please, do not forget it either and do your utmost to avoid another tragedy of this
type.
Here is my first concern: You give two concept alternatives plus “future consideration”. It is evident that the
second alternative provides more safety to all the cyclists who go to Cal Poly every day, but it is more
expensive, so you call the cheaper one “recommended alternative”. COST SHOULD NOT PREVENT YOU
FROM MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION. Your committee did not hesitate to spend $6 million on a highly
questionable project for Chorro and Broad, where there had not been any deaths, and where the number of
cyclists was significantly lower. I do not want to hear “sorry, we spent all our money on Chorro, so we can’t do
the right thing now.” I do not want to see Foothill sacrificed again, and another young man killed, because the
city cannot put its priorities in order. Foothill is where all the bikers ride when they go to Cal Poly. Not Chorro
and not Broad. And the reason why you don’t see more pedestrians on Foothill is because it’s hell to walk
there. I know, I tried both biking and walking on Foothill, but I gave up because of the danger, the smells, the
pollution, and the speed of the cars nearby. Therefore, I urge you to choose Alternative 2. Some people are
going to complain about the loss of parking, but boulevards generally do not provide parking. The only parking
on California boulevard is along the train rail by Cal Poly. Otherwise, there is no parking there. It should be
the same thing for Foothill.
Among your concepts is what you call “future considerations”. I know what “future considerations” mean. I
have been there. It took me 30 years to convince the city to finish the sidewalk on North Chorro, and if the
county had not interfered, I would still be waiting. Foothill needs upgraded sidewalks with trees and greenery
to slow down speed and dilute car pollution, it needs more space between cars and pedestrians, and it greatly
needs to be more welcoming. It is not something that can wait thirty or forty years, it is something that must be
done now. Consider creating bonds if you have to, but do it now.
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Sincerely,
Odile Ayral
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