HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/15/2026 Item 5a, Roberts
Jonathan Roberts <
To:Advisory Bodies
Cc:E-mail Council Website
Subject:RE: 2026 Paving Plan - Johnson Ave.
Dear Active Transportation Committee,
First, I want to sincerely thank you for the work you do and for the service you provide to our community. I
am writing regarding the current paving plan, specifically the segment of Johnston Avenue from Bishop
Street to San Luis Bay Drive. As you know, this corridor is a critical part of the Safe Routes to School
network for the high school.
There have been excellent safety improvements along Johnston Avenue from Bishop Street—particularly
near Sydney Street—to Orcutt. Vehicle speeds have decreased, and safety for pedestrians and cyclists
has been greatly improved. These benefits are largely due to narrowing the roadway and reducing vehicle
travel lanes from two in each direction to one. Notably, travel lanes are also reduced to one just past the
stop light at San Luis Bay Drive and Johnson Avenue going north. Because of these changes, only a short
section of Johnston Avenue still maintains four vehicle travel lanes plus a center turn lane—five lanes
total for vehicles—while providing approximately six feet total for bicycles (about three feet on each side
which also includes a dangerous/lippy gutter pan) with only a white stripe for protection. This
configuration feels inconsistent with the surrounding improvements and with the stated safety goals of
the corridor.
The vehicle queuing that occurs on Johnston Avenue is minimal and short-lived, primarily during high
school drop-off and pick-up times at the beginning and end of the school day. Importantly, this queuing
occurs regardless of whether the roadway is configured as one lane or two lanes in each direction, and it
lasts for a very limited portion of the day. For the vast majority of the time (during the work day, nights,
weekends, holidays, summers), the current wide, vehicle-dominated configuration creates unnecessary
risk and does not appear to justify the number of travel lanes provided.
Additionally, the section from Bishop Street to the hospital includes four city bus stops—two on each
side—for passenger drop-off and pick-up. These locations are currently dangerous for pedestrians,
especially those traveling with bicycles as part of their transit commute. In effect, buses are stopping in
high-speed, high-conflict areas and depositing passengers into an environment that does not feel safe or
well-designed for people on foot or bike.
At Laurel Lane, there is also a fire station. Currently, there is no direction from the Laurel Lane fire station
in which emergency service vehicles or fire trucks can travel that provides more than a single lane of
traffic. The only portion of the surrounding service area that has two lanes of travel is the short stretch
from the top of Bishop Street down to the hospital. Given this context, there does not appear to be a
compelling operational reason for maintaining multiple vehicle lanes in this segment.
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I also urge the committee to consider the downhill portion from Bishop Street to the high school, which
has a recurring “right-hook” issue. Multiple crashes between cyclists and cars occur in this area every
year, often involving children. I respectfully urge the committee to think outside the box, make strong
recommendations to the City Council, and take care of our community members. I appreciate the
progress that has already been made along Johnston Avenue and ask that this remaining segment be
reconsidered through the same safety-focused lens. Further lane reductions and reallocation of space
could significantly improve safety, better serve transit users, and more closely align this corridor with
Safe Routes to School principles.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Roberts
Former Chair of the Active Transportation Committee
Current Varsity High School Mountain Bike Coach (NICA)
805-748-1378
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