Safety for Bike Riders and Walkers on Grand
The City has proposed a road diet to help improve safety along Grand. Original concept included reducing Grand down to single vehicle lanes in each direction which helps improve safety for everyone, but especially vulnerable roadway users such as those who bike and walk. Road diets have the ability to reduce vehicle speeds down to less deadly speeds, shorten pedestrian exposure to vehicles in at crossings, provide additional buffered/protected space between vehicles and bike riders, etc. Vehicle traffic flows are only expected to see a few second delay as part of the reconfiguration. However Cal Poly admin has pushed back because of special event traffic held at the PAC, move in week, and graduation ceremonies. City staff are now planning to keep two lanes of traffic on and off campus which will defeat most of the original safety benefits. Cal Poly did propose a roundabout as a solution, but both the Cal Poly and the City do not have funding for this option and it is not on the short of long term capital improvement project list for either entity, so that solution will not likely happen before any current student graduates.
As a reminder, Sean Hillman, a Cal Poly Student was hit and killer by a driver on Grand one year ago. Sean's 21st Birthday would have been just last month. His death highlights the need for Grand to be reconfigured with safety as the priority. Between Cal Poly and City of SLO Admin, they feel that safety of those that bike and walk are less important that finding an interim alternative ways to deal with traffic coming on and off campus for special events (what amounts to 1-2% of the traffic flow each year).
Special event traffic can be accommodated with the original proposed approach until a permanent roundabout can be designed and funded. These could include: Use of traffic controller/flaggers at Grand and Slack to allow traffic to roll through the intersections; temporary additional vehicle lane with use of cones and other traffic delineators; shuttle services for special events; discounted event tickets or freebies for biking, walking, or taking transit; etc.
Thursday April 11, at 6:00 SLO City's Active Transporation Committee will be discussing the update to Grand Avenue's roadway reconfiguration. The topic will be discussed after a Bike Share proposal planned for SLO City and Cal Poly. Please make your concerns heard. Let both Cal Poly admin, SLO City Admin, and SLO City Council all know that safety of those outside a vehicle needs to be a top priority.
Current ATC Agenda: https://www.slocity.org/home/showpublisheddocument/9969/638479301747508854
Previous ATC Agenda with proposed original Grand Configuration: https://opengov.slocity.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=188611&dbid=0&repo=CityClerk
ATC Committee: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Cal Poly Staff Contact:
Marlene Cramer - [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) 805.756.6141
SLO City Council: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
