HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/21/2024 Item 4b, Finger
Helene Finger <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Active Transportation Committee Meeting- Madonna Shared Use Path
Attachments:projectlocationmap_SLO.pdf
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Dear Active Transportation Committee (ATC) members,
The Higuera Complete Streets project is the first Tier 1 project on the 2025-27 project list
(Item 4b, 11/21/24 ATC meeting). While bike/ped improvements on Madonna Road
overpass are repeatedly listed as critical needs addressed in the ATP grant application for the
Higuera Compete Streets project (see below attachments), Madonna Road bike/ped
improvements been separated from this project. Since the Higuera Complete Streets project
is the top priority/grant funded project, the Shared Use Path on Madonna Road Overpass
project should be identified as the next project at the top of the 2025-27 project list.
As an update on the Madonna Road shared use path, no additional planning or analysis has
occurred/been presented on this project since this ATC unanimously approved this project
component last May. This shared use path on the downtown side of Madonna will reduce
interactions between cars and bike/peds thus it will improve traffic flow, so I don’t
understand why the staff report for this meeting states that this project can’t be moved
forward because of its “projected traffic impacts”. As a Civil Engineer, I see the intersection
of Higuera and Madonna as a great example of how safety and traffic improvements will
result from this project. The shared used path configuration will not only be substantially
safer, but it will also enable bikes/peds to cross Higuera using the existing left-turn phase for
vehicles north-bound on Higuera, thus eliminating the separate signal phase that is currently
used by west-bound cyclists to cross Higuera.
Please prioritize the Madonna Rd shared use path project at the top of this ATC’s list for
2025-27 funding. Also, please ask staff to move forward on this project now (not waiting
until February), and to present an update on this project at the next ATC meeting.
Thank you for this opportunity to share my comments,
Helene Finger
__________________________________________________________________________
Attachments
See attached map and the following quotes from the city’s Higuera Complete Streets project
ATP grant application.
1
“The project includes improvements along Higuera St, Madonna Rd, South St. and nearby
neighborhood streets in South San Luis Obispo.”
“Project proposes to construct protected bike lanes on the Madonna Rd overpass of US 101,
which is a Caltrans facility.”
“This project will create an important North/South and East/West connection to existing protected
bike lanes in the city.”
“Parents were able to provide input on their needs at Hawthorne Elementary School’s Safe Routes
to School Bike Safety Event (4/24/22) where parents requested safer crossings at South & King St.
and South Higuera & Madonna Road. Parents also expressed the need for safer bike lanes for
middle school aged children biking to Laguna Middle School via Higuera Street & Madonna Road.”
“There are over 20 middle school students and staff who currently bike to Laguna Middle School
from this side of the US-101, some riding as much as 5 miles to school each day. These young
active students love to start their day with a ride to “wake up and get the energy out” before class.
However, they all agree that the route is dangerous from the Madonna & South Higuera
intersection, over US-101, to the Class 1 path on the other side. Many parents won’t let their
children bike through the area even though they’d like to give them more freedom.”
“Currently, there are adults of all ages bike commuting along the route for work, shopping, or
recreation. Middle school students also travel through the South Higuera & Madonna intersection
and along Madonna Road over US-101 on their way to school. The students and teachers that
commute this way all express worry about their safety when crossing through this zone. The bike
lane is narrow, and drivers are frequently distracted and drift into the bike lane. One teacher who
bikes remarked that his wife is afraid of him traveling this route since her own father was killed in a
cycling accident, but he needs to save money on gas. The couple has 4 children and many
expenses. There have been twelve incidents (one a fatality) in this zone of the project area in the
last 10 years.”
“At the intersection of South Higuera and Madonna Rd., cyclists must leave the bike lane and
cross two vehicle turn lanes to continue riding south along the route – a stressful maneuver for
even confident riders. It can also prove difficult to turn from Madonna eastbound onto South
Higuera northbound where another rider was hit and injured when the bike lane merged with the
driving lane. The City proposes to make a number of pedestrian improvements and bike
improvements at this intersection”
“Location: Intersection of South Higuera St. & Madonna Rd.
This intersection is difficult for cyclists to navigate, and students biking to Laguna
Middle School pass through here daily. There have been 4 bike collisions here and one
pedestrian collision. There have also been 4 bike collisions and two pedestrian
collisions (1 fatal) at the South St. intersection that is immediately north of this
location.”
2
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South Higuera
Complete
Streets Project
Project Location
Map
School
Project Site
Parks
Open Space
City Limit