HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/21/2025 Item 6g, Brooks
Lea Brooks <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:City Council Oct. 21 agenda 6g: Construction Contract for Grande Avenue
To: Mayor Stewart and Council Members Boswell, Francis, Marx and Shoresman
From: Lea Brooks, San Luis Obispo
Re: 6g-Award a Construction Contract for the Grand Avenue Sign and Striping Modifications Project,
#2000015-01
I am a member of the Active Transportation Committee but commenting as an individual other than
emphasizing that the committee was very thoughtful in its recommendations to improve safety for
bicyclists and pedestrians on Grand Avenue. We were horrified at the death of Cal Poly freshman Sean
Hillman who died in April 2023 a couple of days after being hit on his bike by a motorist at the
southbound Highway 101 on-ramp.
Grand Avenue has been a dicey place to bicycle for years, and the pilot project was an opportunity to try
measures to slow traffic and control reckless driving. I’m so disappointed that northbound Grand Avenue
will be restriped between McCollum and Slack Street to restore two northbound lanes from one lane to
address 15-minute vehicle queues during the morning weekday commutes to Cal Poly. Returning this
segment to two lanes most likely will result in weaving and other bad behavior by motorists in a hurry.
It's a relief that further measures will be implemented to reduce vehicle speeds and potential conflicts
between turning vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists on southbound Grand Avenue approaching the
Highway 101 southbound on-ramp based on staff observations.
Looking forward to staff’s call for a more robust “after study” data collection and public outreach effort
in 2026 to help guide permanent design recommendations for Grand Avenue as part of the planned 2027
paving project.
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