HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/4/2025 Item 6b, Cross
Brett Cross <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:PRADO INTERCHANGE AND BRIDGE VALUE ENGINEERING
Dear Council members,
Reading the staff report (which feels like there is a heavy dose of AI generation) brings back memories of the Los Osos
Valley interchange and ramp project. Which hasn't been completed as envisioned either.
Both of the projects suffered from the exact same thing- horrible miscalculations of project costs. And no one to blame
because those staff members have left or retired.
I'd laugh it wasn't so ridiculous. Now staff is recommending a shared pedestrian and bicycle path on the South side of the
overcrossing to link with a similar configuration along Prado Rd to the Bob Jones bike path. (I think)
I do have to chuckle at AI or staff's wording to try and minimize the inherent safety and challenging environment regarding
the proposed unprotected lanes on the overcrossing.
"Consor Engineering’s design philosophy emphasizes providing on-street bicycle facilities for strong and
confident riders, while also incorporating a protected shared-use path on one side of the street for users who prefer
greater separation from vehicle traffic."
I also want to point out, actually take exception the frequent use of phrasing such as "
City’s long-term goal of creating a continuous east–west multimodal corridor from Broad Street to Madonna Road. " That
may be accurate, but the link dead ends at Madonna Rd. Where does all that traffic go from there?
I think the council and staff, especially, should at least acknowledge that all that is happening is that the traffic is just being
moved around to another location that still is going to ultimately impact existing intersections in the area.
As a practical example, someone is driving North (note there are no Southbound ramping being proposed at this time
because the cost would be even more-- you might want to ask how much the true complete project will cost) on highway
101 and intends on going to the Costco or Target shopping arears. They could take Los Osos Valley road but notice that
the ramp is backing up all the way to the freeway so they then head to the new Prado/Dalidio overpass. Then they go left
over the overpass and I guess take the Roundabout to Froom Ranch way to either Target or the intersection at Los Osos
Valley Rd. There are other scenarios, but this is the definition of Rat Running.
The staff report gives examples of possible, and I want to emphasize possible funding sources. I wouldn't "bet the farm"
on any of those funding sources coming to fruition.
Looking at some detail in the plan, I'm certain those 6' soundwall all along Higuera St. near the Prado Rd. intersection are
going to look nice. Just like they do everywhere else in California I've seen.
I don't get this statement, "Safety of Shared Use Paths Shared-use paths provide complete separation between bicyclists,
pedestrians, and motor vehicles, greatly reducing exposure to serious conflicts." Which is contradicted by this statement.
"
Cons: Pedestrians would need to share space with bicycles along the south side of the corridor, which can increase
potential conflicts at intersections and driveways compared to the previously proposed one-way bikeway configuration."
I don't how the city and when I say city in this particular instance, I mean the residents are going to pay for this project.
Like I mentioned earlier there is no guarantee any of the funding sources indicated by staff will be provided. It would be
better to insert the word "hope" into any discussion about grant funding.
If you really truly and honestly believe you can get people to use other modes of transportation instead of a car then build
a pedestrian and bicycle overpass that could accommodate emergency vehicles only.
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Sincerely,
Brett Cross
San Luis Obispo
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