HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/4/2025 Item 7a, Metcalf
Lynn E. Metcalf <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:February 4th agenda item 7a | Higuera Complete Streets Project
This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond.
To: San Luis Obispo City Council
I am writing to register concern about the proposed Higuera Complete Streets project plan.
The plan calls for reducing the number of lanes on a major thoroughfare.
p.7 and p.10: both refer to decreasing Higuera to three (3) lanes
p.8 and p.9: both refer to protecting bike lanes with concrete barriers
Traffic has increased on all major streets in San Luis Obispo, as a consequence of
A growing population in San Luis Obispo (47,000+)
A growing student body at Cal Poly (22,279 students)
At least four new developments in the area (Prado Road, Madonna Road, Tank Farm & Orcutt,
Buckley Road)
At the same time, the city has made significant modifications to major streets in San Luis Obispo that
have reduced their capacity to accommodate the increased traffic resulting from a growing population.
Examples are South Street, Osos Street, Chorro Street, Johnson Avenue, and Grand Avenue.
The city's decision to reduce capacity of major thoroughfares by eliminating lanes and introducing
concrete barriers and additional bicycle infrastructure puts up to 70,000 people at risk in the event of a
major wildfire. This risk is high.
Before the city makes additional changes that reduces capacity on yet another major street, we need to
see a realistic plan to restore and to build up capacity on San Luis Obispo's major thoroughfares, so that
safe evacuation of a population impacted by wildfire is feasible.
1
Thank you.
--
Dr. Lynn E. Metcalf
Professor Emeritus, Entrepreneurship, Orfalea College of Business
Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA
_____
cell 805-748-8589
2