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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-12-2017 PC Correspondence - Item 1 (Brooks)To: San Luis Obispo Planning Commission Chair Chuck Stevenson and Commissioners Kim Bisheff, Hemalata Dandekar, John Fowler, Ronald Malak, Scott Mann, Nicholas Osterbur: advisorybodies@slocity.org From: Lea Brooks 1130 Islay St. San Luis Obispo leabrooks332@gmail.com July 11, 2017 Re: Avila Ranch Project Thank you again for the opportunity to comment on the Avila Ranch Project and for your concern about the development’s impact on multi-modal transportation, including bicycle safety and connectivity. In case you don’t already know, at the July 5 City Council meeting on the San Luis Ranch Final Environmental Impact Report a majority of council members recognized that intersections can be significant barriers for bicyclists and expressed support for protected intersections. Staff will provide more details about protected intersections in its report to the council when it considers San Luis Ranch again on July 18. Here’s a link to a short video about protected intersections for people on bicycles: https://vimeo.com/86721046. Please consider recommending protected intersections to the City Council for intersections that will have mitigations to address Avila Ranch-generated traffic. You have expressed support for overriding the Class I impact of traffic congestion and air pollution in return for more housing units at Avila Ranch. Some traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced if people choose to ride bicycles to their off- site destinations, but they need safe and convenient routes to do so. You have also acknowledged that the Avila Ranch Project is a multi-modal island with major gaps to the regional bicycle transportation network – thank you! Most of these gaps are outside the developer’s scope, including the approximate one-mile gap in Class II bike lanes on Buckley Road from the project’s eastern b oundary to the airport. The solution isn’t simple, but acknowledgement would be appreciated that the gap will be a major barrier to people who want to ride bikes to Los Ranchos Elementary School, job sites in the airport area and other destinations but won’t because of safety concerns. One issue that has not been addressed is described in the Caltrans June 28, 2017, letter signed by District 5 development reviewer Melissa Streder. It’s bullet 4: “The US 101/South Higuera Street interchange and ramp operations were not analyzed as requested in Caltrans letters on the NOP and DEIR. In the response to comments on the DEIR, it was indicated that analysis of the US 101/South Higuera Street interchange was not needed because it was estimated that the project would add ‘less than 50 peak hour trips.’ Through empirical data, Caltrans believes that the project is likely to generate more than 50 peak hour trips at the US 101/South Higuera Street interchange, and potentially even more with the anticipated extension of Buckley Road. We request US 101/South Higuera Street interchange and ramp operations be analyzed to fully disclose the impact and determine what/if any operational improvements may be recommended at the interchange.” This stretch of South Higuera Street is the bicycle route from San Luis Obispo to Avila Beach and one of the most popular bicycle rides in San Luis Obispo County. It’s also part of Adventure Cycling Association’s popular Pacific Coast route. The bridge on South Higuera just north of the northbound highway onramp is substandard. Of special concern is southbound motorists turning north on the substandard freeway on -ramp and cutting off southbound bicyclists. In addition, the shoulders on Higuera Street from Ontario Road to the northbound freeway onramp are substandard and should be upgraded, preferably buffered because of the additional traffic. I am concerned this stretch is yet another bicycle route that will be significantly affected by Avila Ranch/Buckley Road-generated traffic and no improvements will be made because it’s out of the development’s scope. Sincerely, Lea Brooks San Luis Obispo