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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/17/2026 Item 6b, Mills melanie mills < To:E-mail Council Website Subject:Support for Higuera Complete Streets and 50 Higuera Widening Projects Mayor Stewart and City Council Members, I’m writing in support of Item 6b on the February 18, 2026 agenda: the Higuera Complete Streets and 50 Higuera Widening Projects. For years, I commuted to work along South Higuera by bike, and I experienced firsthand how unsafe this corridor can be. Drivers often travel far too fast, weaving and jockeying for position, and I had more close calls than I can count. Some cars passed so closely I could feel the air move against me; others drifted toward the bike lane seemingly unaware that people on bikes were in them. What should have been a simple daily commute regularly felt dangerous. Now that I am not commuting to the office, I only travel that route when absolutely necessary. South Higuera is a critical link between our downtown and the new neighborhoods we’ve built to the south. If we want people to choose something other than driving—if we truly want to meet our mode shift and climate goals—we have to make corridors like this safe, comfortable, and protected for people on bikes. Without real, protected infrastructure, we simply won’t see the shift we say we want. I appreciate the City’s careful review of evacuation modeling. Even in the worst‑case scenario, the projected increase in clearance time remains within the City’s two‑hour benchmark, and the planned operational mitigations—like pre‑programmed evacuation signal timing—show thoughtful preparation for emergency situations. For me, this project is about ensuring that people can move through our city safely every single day. The Higuera Complete Streets Project improves daily safety while still maintaining strong emergency response capabilities, and it helps us build the kind of transportation network that supports the city’s long‑term goals. Thank you for your consideration and for your continued work to make San Luis Obispo safer and more connected for everyone. Sincerely, Melanie Mills SLO Resident 1