HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/19/2018 Item 10, Shoresman
From:Michelle <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Fwd: June 19: Council to make final decision on Laurel Lane Protected Bike Lanes
Good Morning Council Members and Mayor,
My apologies that I am not in town for tomorrow night’s meeting due to pre-planned family vacation. However, I
wanted to make my thoughts heard on the below item that will be brought to you tomorrow night, regarding re-painting
and surfacing of Laurel Lane.
To be frank, I’m a little disappointed with the approach and recommendation staff (as paraphrased in the email below
from Jennifer Rice) will be bringing you tomorrow night. I completely respect the staff’s expertise in roadway planning,
and appreciate their ever-diligent attention to costs and minding the City’s budget. I also understand that maybe, our
public process was just “too little planning, too late” for this project. However, I am disappointed that all the community
member feedback, thoughtful conversations by your members and the ATC, and even your council’s clear direction
(outlined BOLD in the email) seem unacknowledged. Specifically:
- There have been months and months of planning and community meetings leading up to this project. Lots of ideas
were suggested at these including what the ATC approved. Yet, below, staff state there is not enough time to change
course.
- We have a public process via the ATC for making recommendations related to projects. City staff state below that they
are directly contradicting the ATC recommendation with this proposal. Quite bluntly, why have advisory bodies, if the
recommendations they make will be ignored? And if there is not enough time to change course now, then why wasn’t
this project taken to the ATC for discussion, further research on costs and alternatives and vote sooner?
I am confident that the staff are trying to do their best by the City and it’s pocketbook. As a career public servant, I “get”
and appreciate that. However, this process has been troubling for those trying to participate when none of the feedback
seems to be included, especially that of your members and your appointed body, the ATC.
If a year of planning is not enough to consider community and ATC ideas and recommendations, then I respectfully
request we start the process earlier. Please make improvements to Laurel Lane now by either the ATC’s supported
option, or the staff’s. But let’s get working on the next planned resurfacing project now, so the feedback can matter.
Thank you.
Michelle Shoresman
3242 Johnson Avenue
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Rice, Jennifer" <jrice@slocity.org>
Date: June 12, 2018 at 3:08:51 PM MDT
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: June 19: Council to make final decision on Laurel Lane Protected Bike Lanes
Hello all,
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lose the cost savings of combining Laurel Lane Complete Streets with Resealing .project
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On May 1 the City Council approved the reconfiguration of Laurel Lane to one lane in each
direction with a center left turn lane, parking lanes, and buffered bike lanes. This approval also
included pedestrian crossing enhancements at Southwood & Augusta. As part of that action,
however, the Council directed staff to evaluate and return with consideration of one-way
cycle tracks putting the bicycle lane between the parking lane and the curb.
Over the passed month staff has been evaluating the feasibility of this design change. The
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Active Transportation Committee(ATC) reviewed different options at its May 17 meeting and
voted 3-2 to recommend that the Council move forward with protected cycle-tracks.
While the ATC will be recommending cycle-tracks, staff’s recommendation to Council, however
is to implement traditional buffered bike lanes as originally approved as part of the Laurel Lane
Complete Streets project. The primary reasons are outlined below and are included in the staff
report:
1. Staff does not believe there is enough time to explore and resolve any and all issues relative
to maintaining consistency with NACTO, FHWA and ADA standards, and, maintain the
schedule necessary to take advantage of including Laurel Lane Complete Streets with the
Resealing project;
2. It is possible there could be additional costs related to cycle-tracks. Bids received for the
project were higher than estimated, and the budget to complete the project has a narrow
window for variance and contingency.
3. If cycle-tracks were considered at the beginning of the project, staff believes many of the
issues/concerns could be resolved satisfactorily. However, cycle-tracks on Laurel are not
part of the approved Bicycle Transportation Plan.
4. Staff recommends the revision of the Active Transportation Plan (ATP) (the replacement for
the Bicycle Transportation Plan) include full analysis and consideration of future locations of
protected cycle-track facilities.
5. Staff believes that the time constraints relative to full resolution of the cycle-track issues
would require the Laurel Lane project to be removed from the Resealing project and
rescheduled for a future time. This is not recommended because costs could increase, and
we would
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The City Council will make a final decision on the design at the Council Meeting June 19.
Your input is appreciated whether you can attend or send written correspondence. Please check
this website for the agenda and staff report once it is available.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you,
Jennifer Rice
Transportation Planner/ Engineer II
Public Works
Transportation Planning/Engineering
919 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3218
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E jrice@slocity.org
T 805.781.7058
slocity.org
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