1 From: Glaser, Heather
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2024 9:48 AM
To: City Council
Subject: FW: 10/22/24 CC Meeting - Agenda Item 4.8 Interim Pedestrian Mall Improvements (pedestrian funnels?)
From: Serge Bonte
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2024 4:16:52 PM
To: Ramirez, Lucas <[email protected]>; Hicks, Alison <[email protected]>; Kamei, Ellen <[email protected]>; Abe-Koga, Margaret <[email protected]>; Showalter, Pat <[email protected]>; Matichak, Lisa <[email protected]>; Ramos, Emily Ann <[email protected]>
Cc: Whyte, Brandon <[email protected]>; Arango, Ed <[email protected]>; BPAC Communication <[email protected]>
Subject: re: 10/22/24 CC Meeting - Agenda Item 4.8 Interim Pedestrian Mall Improvements (pedestrian funnels?) CAUTION: EXTERNAL EMAIL - Ensure you trust this email before clicking on any links or attachments.
Honorable Mayor and City Council:
I love the Castro Pedestrian Mall and support most of the proposed improvements. But I think the redesign for the pedestrian crossings is ill advised and will have negative impact on the mall's walkability, aesthetics and enjoyment.
Here;s the proposed redesign,
2 The funnel has the following drawbacks
It will force a detour for pedestrians who want to peruse the sidewalks on Castro to browse store fronts or simply to cross Villa Street.
It will waste valuable space on Castro by installing more bollards to create the "funnels" It will relocate traffic signals/psts onto Castro itself vs.their current location on the sidewalk. At great expense and bringing additional visual blight on the promenade. It will make cars stop on Castro itself (see white car in diagram) vs. before Castro as currently is the case. This will create visual blight from the pedestrian mall, It will also get idling cars closer to diners at adjacent parklets.
Instead, you could have a single crosswalk by keeping the existing setup and simply expanding the crosswalk to the whole width of Castro (including the 2 existing crosswalks). You would save money, You would save precious space (no encroachment on Castro for a funnel and relocated traffic signals). You would keep idling cars off Castro (more enjoyable experience at nearby parklets). And you would let pedestrians of all ages enjoy the only pedestrian mall in Mountain View by letting them walk along any lane/path they might choose.
Please reconsider the proposed design and refrain from "funnelling" us.
Sincerely
Serge Bonte