HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-28-2017 - O'BrienCOUNCILMEETING:
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From:
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2017 10:26 AM
To: E-mail Council Website <emailcouncil@slocity.org>; Harmon, Heidi <hharmon@slocity.or >
Subject: concerns for 1/28/17 meeting
Dear Mayor Harmon and City Council Members:
Please see the attached letter regarding the South Broad Street Area Plan from a
group of concerned residents of Lawrence Drive. I believe you have already received this
letter with multiple signatures included.
I am asking that you please seriously consider making this a priority for the
increased safety of pedestrians as well as vehicles driving this area of Broad Street.
If the funds are not available for this project to move forward now can you please
examine possibilities for the slowing of traffic on Broad Street with reduced speed limits
for this section of Broad Street.
Slower motor vehicle speeds allow drivers to stop in a shorter distance and reduce the chance of injuring a pedestrian
or bicyclist. A motor vehicle traveling on a level surface at a rate of 40 miles per hour (mph) will need nearly 300 feet
between the car and the child to stop in time to avoid a collision. This distance is reduced to approximately 197 feet
for a car traveling at 30 mph, 112 feet for a car traveling at 20 mph and 77 feet for a car traveling at 15 mph [AASHTO,
20011.
I appreciate you taking time to discuss this issue during your meeting on 1/28/17.
Thank you,
Anne O'Brien
1
January 22, 2017
City of San Luis Obispo
Attn: Mayor Harmon and City Council
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Subject: Implementing the South Broad Street Area Plan Projects 1(Median) and 2 (Signals) to Improve
Safety and Neighborhood Walkability, and to Address Cumulative Impacts of Development to the South
Dear Mayor Harmon and City Council Members:
We respectfully urge the Cityto give a high priority to constructing the planned median and signalized
intersections on South Broad Street during the 2017-19 financial plan and goal setting process. Broad
Street has become a major barrierto movement whether in a vehicle, on foot, or on a bicycle. Broad
Street between South and Orcutt is 0.7 miles of four lanes without any traffic control to allow left turns
or pedestrian and bicycle crossings in and out of the adjoining neighborhoods and businesses. The
neighborhoods on both sides are increasingly isolated as the City's major growth areas to the south
generate more vehicle trips on Broad Street, on top of the increasing commute traffic from the South
County.
Although the City's EIRs for southward development, by disclosing decreases in Level of Service at the
existing Orcutt Road and South Street traffic signals, acknowledge that projects will substantially
increase traffic on South Broad Street, none of those specific plan EIRs address the direct, indirect, or
cumulative impacts to left turns or pedestrian and bicycle safety in the 0.7 miles between Orcutt and
South Street. The EIRs effectively regard this area as a motorized vehicle through -way by addressing
only Level of Service for cars and trucks. For example:
For 979 residences planned in the Orcutt Specific Plan Area, the Broad St. traffic mitigation
measures addressed only existing signalized intersection level of service for vehicles.
For 297 residences planned (many already built) in the Four Creeks Specific Plan Area, the Broad
St. traffic mitigation measures addressed only existing signalized intersection level of service for
vehicles.
This emphasis on mitigating impacts to intersection Level of Service for vehicle trips, and lack of
consideration for other modes of transport in existing neighborhoods, is at odds with the: community's
broad support for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and making neighborhoods more livable by
enabling pedestrian and bicycle trips.
The unaddressed cumulative effect from development to the south is declining safety and livability for
the residents of the South Broad Street area, Caudill tract, Stoneridge, and other surrounding
neighborhoods due to the traffic increases and loss in neighborhood connectivity. Consider that our
neighborhood polling place and farmers' market (at the Grange Hall) is about 100 yards from the end of
Lawrence Drive. Due to the traffic:on Broad when most of us can make it to the polls (before work or
shortly thereafter), one must go to Orcutt to cross Broad Street, resulting in a nearly half -mile round trip
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Mayor Harmon and City Council Members
January 23, 2017
to a location that is right across the street. Similarly, instead of a half -mile bike ride to our only nearby
grocery store (SLO Natural Foods), it is a 1.6 -mile trip to cross safely at an existing signal. The lack of safe
crossings discourages biking and walking, and likely reduces the amount of "walk-up" business that
should be coming from the many residences right across the street from Taste, Quick -Stop, SLO Natural
Foods, and other establishments in the South Broad Street Plan Area.
In addition to the lack of safe pedestrian and bike crossing opportunities, left turns have become out of
the question at peak hours. Left -turn accidents here are frequent. Most recently, a motorcyclist nearly
died when he collided with a vehicle turning left onto Lawrence Drive from Broad Street.
Lastly, a planted median would immediately improve the aesthetics of this southern gateway to the City.
Investing in the planned improvements to South Broad Street now will directly improve the quality of
life for the residents around South Broad Street while improving conditions for business in the South
Broad Street Plan Area. We respectfully urge the City to prioritize investments in this area now.
Sincerely,