HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/4/2025 Item 7a, Luo
Yiming Luo <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:CC Public comment - 2/4/2025 Item 7a
Attachments:Higuera Complete Streets CPU Response 2-3-2025.pdf
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Hello council,
I am writing today on behalf of Cal Poly Urbanists, a student organization focused on human-centered
urban design at Cal Poly. Please see the attached letter.
Thank you,
Yiming
1
Cal Poly Urbanists
City & Regional Planning, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo,
CA 93407
February 3, 2024
Mayor Stewart, Councilmembers, City Manager McDonald:
Cal Poly Urbanists is a student club at Cal Poly that focuses on advocating for human-centered
urban design, especially projects that pertain to active transportation and that promote equity in
urban planning. We strongly support the implementation of the Higuera Complete Streets
Project as-is to avoid changes in scope that would risk losing valuable grant money.
This project is supported by students. In its role as the student government at Cal Poly, the
ASI Board of Directors serves as the voice of the students. At the start of the planning process
in 2022, the ASI Board of Directors endorsed this project1, and a letter of support from our
Board of Directors was sent to Caltrans as part of the grant application. Furthermore, the Board
of Directors passed a resolution in 2023 supporting the expansion of active transportation
infrastructure on campus and urged coordination of campus facilities with the City “to better
protect students using active transportation methods throughout the Cal Poly community.”2 A
transportation demand management survey commissioned by Cal Poly found that 28% of
students who live off campus use active transportation to get to campus,3 and university policy
mandates that all first-years are prohibited from bringing cars. The changes proposed for this
project are consistent with these goals, and would create a safer environment for students and
residents alike.
This project is consistent with the General Plan and the Active Transportation Plan, and
furthers the city’s goals. In 2021, this body adopted the Active Transportation Plan and
explicitly designated this project as Tier 1 because it is one of the corridors having “the greatest
potential to increase bicycle and pedestrian mode share.” Completing Tier 1 projects is the first
Priority Action of the ATP. The transportation goals (1.6) of the Circulation Element specifically
aims for the reduction of use of single-occupancy vehicles and the promotion of the safe
operation of all modes of operation.
This project will prioritize the safety and mobility of all residents. 390 crashes have occurred
on South Higuera between 2014 to 2023, including 41 bicycle and 13 pedestrian collisions.
3 Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan: Existing Conditions Report, p. 25
2 Resolution #23-06: Resolution to Promote the Expansion of Active Transportation Infrastructure on the
Cal Poly University Campus
1 Endorsement #22-03: Endorsement of the Proposed San Luis Obispo City Active Transit Committee
Higuera Complete Streets Project
Protected bike lanes have been shown to increase the use of active transportation where they
are built and, in this implementation in tandem with a 4-to-3 road diet, the new configuration will
actually increase safety for all road users by reducing illegal speeding. The project also includes
unequivocal safety benefits such as ADA upgrades and crosswalk safety enhancements.
This project will enable sustainable development across SLO. If every single resident of new
developments like San Luis Ranch drove to get everywhere, they would increase traffic and
congestion. Providing safe alternative transportation facilities such as protected bike lanes
reduces congestion by replacing single-occupancy car trips with trips on active transportation,
allowing everyone to get where they want to be safely.
This project will not worsen emergency response. The Federal Highway Administration has
specifically debunked this myth; a road diet could even improve emergency response by
allowing a clearer bypass for emergency vehicles.4
Regarding direction for the project, Cal Poly
Urbanists supports:
a) the proposed road diet as proposed in the
ATP and Draft Vision Zero Action Plan,
which will lower traffic speeds and increase
safety for all road users;
b) the recommended mix of permanent and
quick-build materials for vertical separation
on bike lanes. While using solely concrete
would be preferable for safety, having the
concrete only on wider portions of the bike
lane maximizes value for money, as that
concrete portion will act as a visual cue that
might linger as people who drive are
continuing on Higuera;
c) Option 2 on the Higuera/LOVR intersection as recommended by the Active Transportation
Committee, as this maximizes safety for inexperienced cyclists and is consistent with ATP
design guidelines;
d) directing staff to continue further planning on the protected bikeway at the Madonna/Higuera
intersection and Madonna overpass. There is significant community support for this and
additional research should be undertaken to assess the feasibility of adding a shared-use path
here. Furthermore, SB 960, just enacted this last September, requires Caltrans to consider
alternative modes of transportation when repairing and maintaining roadways; this could remove
barriers from the planning process for a bikeway.
Personally, I would be excited if I were able to ride from campus to Target and Trader Joe’s
without having to rely on my roommate driving me. I have never ridden down Higuera past
4 Road Diets and Emergency Response: Friends, Not Foes
Bridge St because cars travel way too fast and the gutter bike lane feels like an afterthought.
One of our members remarked that he views Higuera south of Bridge “as kind of a barrier that I
don't feel comfortable biking past, which prevents me from biking down to Trader Joe’s and
Food for Less.”
As Cal Poly increases enrollment and doubles the number of beds on campus from 2015 to
2035, having these safe modes of alternative transportation will ensure that people are able to
go places without having to drive, take more cars off the road and align with the city’s
modeshare goals. Ultimately, this project will allow people to get where they need to go, quickly,
conveniently, safely, and in an equitable manner, by removing barriers to lower-cost
transportation options.
Sincerely,
Yiming Luo
Outreach Coordinator