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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/16/2019 Item 14, Brooks To: Mayor Harmon and Council Members Christianson, Gomez, Stewart and Pease From: Lea Brooks, San Luis Obispo resident, leabrooks332@gmail.com Re: Agenda Item 14 on July 16, 2019, City Council Agenda: Public Hearing the northwest corner of Tank Farm Road and Broad Street (3985 Broad St., 660 Tank Farm Rd.) I am commenting as a San Luis Obispo resident whose personal aspiration is to help increase trips by bicycle and foot by advocating for a complete bicycle and pedestrian transportation network that provides direct routes perceived as safe for people of all ages and abilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health and provide true transportation choice. I am not weighing in on the merit of this project. My concern is that the lack of a full environmental impact report that addresses the cumulative impact on active transportation, especially the ability to bicycle between Higuera and Broad streets, means the City Council does not have the information it needs to make an informed decision. The City of San Luis Obispo is undergoing a building boom with residential, commercial and other developments approved with higher densities and exemptions from vehicle parking. The City Council has set progressive policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a variety of goals, including reducing motor vehicle trips and increasing active transportation trips. What’s lacking is places perceived as safe to bicycle and walk. The active transportation community is grateful for projects like the Anholm Neighborhood Greenway that will connect the northwestern area of the City to downtown. But we also need infrastructure to support active transportation in areas of the City that are growing, especially trips that are easily made by bicycle, including electric bicycles. Tank Farm Road and Buckley Road, the east-west connections for housing, worksites and other destinations, are inadequate. You cannot expect people to risk their lives bicycling or walking on these roads that fall way below minimum safety standards. City staff has estimated that fixing the gaps on Tank Farm and Buckley roads is so complex and expensive that improvements could take 10 to 15 years. The staff report for this project states: The project shall minimize transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions through programs (e.g., active transportation connectivity, private van transportation for residents, showering/changing facilities, transit passes for employees and residents, etc.). Active transportation connectivity on Tank Farm and Buckley roads between Higuera and Broad does not exist. There are no neighborhood streets or multipath options. Even “strong and fearless” cyclists described in SLOCOG’s 2013 Bicycle Use Survey are questioning whether riding these substandard and increasingly congested and noisy roads is worth the risk of being hit by distracted and/or aggressive motorists. Suggestions Please initiate creation of a working group/task force with SLOCOG, the County and other stakeholders to develop short-term improvements to the Tank Farm and Buckley corridors so people on bikes and pedestrians feel safe. Without improvements, the City will not meet its mode share and climate action goals and fail to fulfill community expectations that the City Council wants to make bicycling and walking more attractive and easy citywide. Tank Farm and Buckley roads are both local and regional routes and need a regional solution. Key members of the bicycling community have already met with SLOCOG and County staff to raise concerns about the consequences of inadequate infrastructure for active transportation and lack of funding. THINK BIG. Please review at least part of this 13-minute video about a city in the Netherlands whose officials admit their vision for a community not built around the automobile is radical. It’s called Utrecht: Planning for People & Bikes, Not for Cars, and is posted here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Boi0XEm9- 4E&feature=youtu.be Implementing Utrecht’s vision could transition Tank Farm Road into a transit/bike corridor with limited motor vehicle access and force motorists to take the long way around. Other cities have made radical changes, including Portland, Oregon. Check out this article: Portland’s Infrastructure Has Fallen Behind its Reputation as a Bike Town. Here’s How the City is Attempting to Change That: https://www.wweek.com/culture/2019/04/10/portlands-infrastructure-has-fallen- behind-its-reputation-as-a-bike-town-heres-how-the-city-is-attempt-to-change-that/ We can and must do better in San Luis Obispo. The status quo for active transportation is not acceptable. Make improvements and they will come.