HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/15/2026 Item 5a, Dixon
RE: 2026 Paving Project - Mill St
From: Colby Dixon <
Sent: Sunday, January 4, 2026 3:26 PM
To: SLO InMotion <sloinmotion@slocity.org>
Subject: 2026 Paving Project - Mill St
Hi,
I live at 1637 Mill St, between Grand and Grove, and I received the city mailer inviting feedback on 2026
plans. I appreciate the mailer! Thanks for the good communication :). I do respect all the work that the
City of SLO does to maintain the high quality of life that we enjoy here. That said, I hope you'll consider
my feedback provided below.
I have lived on this property for a cumulative 12 years (2006-2012 and 2020-current), and it has been
owned by my family for over 60 years. Over the years, the worst offenders of speeding on Mill st between
Grand and California have been CHP and the SLO City Transit buses. Other than that, speed on the street
is really not a problem. Thanks to the convenient 101 ramps at Grand and Monterey, I don't think anybody
really sees this section of Mill as a shortcut.
In the past few years, I've seen a variety of concerning traffic measures implemented by the City:
Firstly, and most importantly, I think the divided bike lanes on Higuera and Marsh downtown have
created a more dangerous situation for everyone involved. Communication/vision between drivers
turning right and bikers in the bike lane is now disrupted. People entering and exiting their parked cars are
at much higher risk to get hit by drivers in the lanes. My concern is really that the City may be attempting
to placate certain uneducated/shortsighted complaints (eg. "I feel safer when divided"), without really
thinking through the reality (eg. I am actually less safe when divided). This is coming from me as an avid
cyclist.
Secondly, the "roundabouts that aren't actually roundabouts" are just confusing and frustrating. I don't
see that the value of lowering traffic speeds is worth the inconvenience and frustration caused for
residents.
Thirdly, there seem to be more and more features installed that are prone to causing vehicular damage.
For example, the curbs installed in the Monterey street turn lanes between California and Santa Rosa.
While it's unfortunate that the left turn is no longer available (disrupting traffic), I do understand the
desire of the City to provide a protected "island" for pedestrians, though I think it's unnecessary for such
a short crossing. But, if installing an island, why not design it with rounded corners and flexible reflective
columns so that some young Cal Poly driver doesn't have to explain to Mom&Dad about how they
smashed the bumper and ruined the alignment clipping the curb? I have traveled to Northern Europe
(Belgium and the Netherlands) frequently the past few years for business, and I can tell you that those
very well-planned cities would never install these kind of curbs, everything is rounded.
In conclusion, I implore the City to please not install any more of these "traffic calming" measures on Mill
st. And please don't consider removing residents parking spaces on the street to make room for separate
bike lanes. It's just not necessary. Thank you for your time.
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-Colby Dixon
805-674-6442
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