HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/4/2025 Item 7a, Ellison
Rick Ellison <
To:CityClerk; E-mail Council Website
Subject:Item 7.a. Higuera Complete Streets
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Dear Mayor and City Council,
As presented by the staff report, I support the Higuera Complete Streets Project developed over at least
the last four years since it was officially designated as a Tier 1 project in the Active Transportation Plan.
Since then, the City has received grant funds from the CalTrans Active Transportation Program,
SLOCOG, and City resources designated toward the safety improvements of Higuera. The funding was
provided because the talented city leadership, staff, ad advisory bodies developed sound and safe
improvement plans. The CalTrans Active Transportation funding is now the most selective funding any
municipality can receive, and that fund is all but dry because of the State fiscal crisis. Any significant
changes to the plans now could jeopardize the $6.951 million designated toward the Higuera Complete
Streets Project.
Higuera is an unsafe roadway for all users, including people on bikes, walking, and even driving motor
vehicles. All you have to do is ride or walk on the section between Bridge Street and Los Osos Valley
Road, and you can quickly feel how unsafe the road is. Motor vehicles consistently exceed the posted 40
mph and cars cross over the painted lines. Recently, I spent time walking and standing along the
roadway, near where Stu Goldberg was struck and killed by a driver. I observed vehicles in the
southbound lanes accelerating as soon as they came toward Elks Lane and then increasing their speed
on the curve, and a significant number of the drivers on cell phones texting and swerving over the painted
white line.
My input on the study session is:
1) Maintain the plan for the road diet with one lane northbound and one lane southbound between Bridge
Street and Margarita.
2) Maintain the plan with hard/solid protective barriers separating people on bikes from motor vehicles.
Given the volume of vehicular cyclists on the roadway, include passing areas or breaks in the barrier to
allow cycling to pass.
3) Maintain the proposed option two design plan advanced by the ATC for Higuera and Los Osos Valley
Road to protect all users, including bicycle signals are installed.
4) Ask staff to develop a multi-use or protected bikeway on Madonna Road and work with Cal Trans to
make this a reality.
I appreciate all your time, effort, and study on issues affecting the City. Your dedication is
truly appreciated.
Rick Ellison
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Rick Ellison | Bike SLO County | Executive Director
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League Cycling Instructor #6562
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