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Home My WebLink About04-10-2012 B1 SmithRECEIVE Goodwin, Heather Subject: FW: LOVR Multi -Use Pathway Project - -Safe Route to School G Attachments: lovr.ltr.doc From: Carolyn AGENDA ITY CLERK Sent: Monday, April 09, 2012 1:12 PM CORRESPONDENCE To: Marx, Jan; Carter, Andrew; Ashbaugh, John; Smith, Kathy; Carpenter, Dan Date ALO -?— item #_! Subject: LOVR Multi -Use Pathway Project - -Safe Route to School Grant Dear Mayor Marx and Council Members: I am attaching a letter for your review regarding the above project that is Business Item #1 on tomorrow night's Council Meeting Agenda. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Carolyn Smith San Luis Obispo, CA hard cn emaU: o COUNCIL 0 CDDDIR a CITY MOR n FIT DM o ASST CM p PIRG CHIEF o ATTORNEY 0 PWDIR a CLE1tY"10 a POLICE CHIEF o PIB a PARES It REC DIR o TRIBUNE 0 UTILDIR o NEW TIMES 0 HR DIR o SID CITY NEWS 0 COUNCIL O CrrYMGR 0 CLERK RE: LOVR Multi -Use Pathway Project — Safe Route to School Grant April 9, 2012 Dear Mayor Marx and Council Members: I have lived in my home in the Laguna Lake area for 33 years. Over the past ten or so years, I have observed many changes here, including the addition of numerous housing projects, several large stores, and other commercial development. The City has made a conscious decision to make this area a prime shopping region with the intent of drawing shoppers from all over the county. This has resulted in the obvious problem of Los Osos Valley Road (LOVR) becoming a major thoroughfare with increased vehicle traffic volume and speed The traffic traveling both directions on LOVR has become a real concern to many residents who have observed the new dangers that have arisen as a result of the new growth. So when I heard about this project from a friend, I was particularly interested, not only because I live in the area and knew it would create more changes, but, also because my grandson will be attending Laguna Junior High next year and will be frequently walking and /or biking to my home after school. Even though this project is being constructed in the "public right of way," which apparently does not require public notification, I believe the nearby residential neighborhoods should have been given notice of this project since it will alter or affect traffic flow and safety around our homes. While I am appreciative there was some opportunity for the public, albeit short noticed, to learn and ask questions about this project, I would liked to have seen the kind of public participation that has been occurring with the Laguna Lake dredging project with scheduled and noticed workshops whereby residents familiar with the area have had an opportunity to share ideas and concerns about the project. The current Safe Route to School Grant project has been in the planning stages for approximately five years. After the bridge project failed in 2010, which then necessitated that the completely different alternate path design be implemented, there was ample opportunity for early public input. Realistically, most citizens do not review the Council's agendas very often, therefore, most residents missed the discussion at the May, 2011 meeting. This is demonstrated by staff's report stating there was "no public comment made at that time." A simple notification to residents, local area schools, and a newspaper article or two of a public workshop would have been easy enough to allow for early resident participation in this project. Unfortunately, we are now working against a deadline to begin construction, which is leaving little or no time to thoroughly review, make significant changes, look at project alternatives and /or amend the Grant. It is my hope that future policy will provide early public notification for these types of projects to allow for resident input and involvement. I would like to express a few concerns I have about this project and the LOVR traffic problems: FUTURE EASTBOUND LANE EXPANSION: It is my understanding that the proposed multi -use path will occupy 4 -5 feet of the existing LOV roadway and change the current westbound lane configuration from two lanes to three narrower lanes. I am concerned that stealing this space from the roadway will preclude future expansion of the eastbound traffic lanes to three. In other words, will there be enough room left on the roadway to allow for 3 lanes in both directions? Currently, there are times when the eastbound traffic is backed up from the Royal Way intersection to the Municipal Golf Course. Three lanes are needed, or will soon be needed, if further traffic backup occurs. Recently, a resident who lives in the Descanso area indicated that it has taken her up to 30+ minutes to get to the LOVR northbound 101 on -ramp due to the congestion on LOVR. We should not be short-sighted with this pathway project by prohibiting future expansion of the eastbound LOVR traffic lanes. CURRENT USAGE STUDY: Last month, I parked at the corner of Oceanaire and LOVR on five different weekdays between the hours of 2:00 and 3:30 p.m. observing students going home from Laguna junior High. There were, at most, only 8 bicyclists and 13 pedestrians who turned into the Oceanaire neighborhood from the junior high school (not the 32 that was recorded as part of the grant application nearly six years ago). It is also interesting to note that there were no children walking or biking from the C.L. Smith area out to Oceanaire toward the junior high area during those five afternoons that I observed It made me wonder just how many students this $800,000 pathway will actually serve at this point? Even with the projected 50% increase, there still does not appear that many students will be benefited Has there been a more recent study by staff to determine current usage and projections? While I'm absolutely in favor of providing a safe passage for students to commute to their school, these are my tax dollars, whether city, state, or federal, and I hope you will use them prudently to benefit the greatest number of students possible. 3. Oceanaire INTERSECTION DANGER: The Oceanaire intersection is currently very dangerous and I can't see how this project will make it any better. In fact, it could entice bikers (who are heading for the Royal Way traffic signal) to use the pathway only to dead end at the Oceanaire intersection with no -where to go. Bikers will either have to ride their bikes on the sidewalk or in the bike lane heading the wrong direction in order to reach the Royal Way traffic signal. This is exactly what this path project is trying to avoid and I'm not confident that signage will prevent the problem. Further, a current dangerous situation will be exacerbated as more student pedestrians will be encouraged to use the new pathway. Pedestrians will have to cross the Oceanaire intersection, with no light or crossing guard, while vehicles are turning left and right into Oceanaire from LOVR. The traffic on Oceanaire has dramatically increased as drivers are using it to by -pass the LOVR /Madonna Road intersection which is extremely congested Therefore, there is more traffic than ever before turning into Oceanaire while students are walking and riding home — creating a very real danger where students and vehicles are converging in an intersection with no regulation. It would be very helpful to have a crossing guard at that intersection or perhaps even a traffic signal 4. PARKED VEHICLES ON LOVR: I also observed many more students utilizing the south side of LOVR to walk and ride home to the Madonna Road area as opposed to the Oceanaire area. Many live in the apartments, condominiums, and houses adjacent to Madonna and LOVR (ie., Rancho de Tolosa apartments and condominiums, Madonna Road Apartments, and Froom Ranch homes). Currently, bicyclists taking this path home must ride in the bike lane between parked cars in front of the Irish Hills Apartments and fast moving eastbound traffic. It's difficult for drivers to see the bicyclists and just one wrong move by either a vehicle or a bicyclist could cause an unfortunate accident. All the parking on LOVR should be eliminated There is no other parking on LOVR within the city limits, therefore, eliminating this last stretch of parking would conform with the remainder of the road It will provide drivers with a clear view of bicyclists and pedestrians allowing for a safer path for the students. This path design is a completely different project than the original bridge design. From my observations, there may be fewer students served now by this proposed pathway than six years ago when the City applied for this Grant. One thing is certain, there is definitely more traffic on LOVR. Therefore, we need to be very careful with any changes made on this road I also hope that we would not limit our ability to expand the number of lanes on both sides of the roadway in the future to make the traffic flow better and safer for everyone. Thank you for your attention - - - - -- Carolyn Smith, San Luis Obispo, CA