Dear City Council -
I strongly suggest that the CC take no votes on the new Middle Avenue design proposal tonight. The reasons are:
OBJECTIVES ARE IN CONFLICT
Its unclear where/why cars are to be sped up (University) or slowed down (San Mateo), or a little of both. Pedestrian safety is a concern here (San Mateo), not a concern there (roundabout). Side street impacts from displaced parking at the New Community Church into Allied Arts go unmentioned. A proposal to eliminate the Shell gas station driveway is mentioned without any suggestion of feasibility for a significant change with safety and traffic concerns. Speed bumps are added over a 25mph limit, suggesting some lower average speed is the real goal. A 4-way roundabout is proposed with no plan for the changed pedestrian crossings, and why thats a sensible tradeoff.
A MISH-MASH OF IDEAS
This proposal shows the ear-marks of design by committee (CC, Complete Streets) and random public input. The current Middle Ave design does not represent complete streets philosophy. Competing street needs and designs are not well-balanced. Redundant hardware, including brightly lit YOUR SPEED signs, shows a neglect of neighborhood character and public space. This new plan is now only first being shared with those engaged at community meetings or living in the area.
PROCESS
This plan appears to have been rushed through by staff so that it could be on tonights agenda.
DO NOT VOTE TONIGHT
For these reasons, I suggest that CC not vote on anything tonight. Please discuss how to understand where the project is now, set some priorities, create some kind of rational process for organizing and evaluating choices. Clarify what project features are needed where for what reasons. At least another study session with public feedback is in order. This new plan shows improvements, such as changing the bike lanes one-to-a-side. But many concerns remain, and the current plan is not ready for CC voting.
Sincerely,
John Kadvany / College Avenue
