Becerra, Alexis
From: Dee Aguirre <
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2026 7: 45 AM
To: eComment
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENT— Standard & McFadden Road Diet Traffic/ Raitt Street Improvements
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Mayor Amezcua and Members of the Santa Ana City Council, Please accept the following as a formal public comment regarding the existing Standard Avenue/ McFadden Avenue roadway changes and the proposed Raitt Street Improvements.
I recently saw the September 17, 2026 Notice of Construction regarding the upcoming Raitt Street Improvements.
Seeing this notice immediately concerned me because residents in southeast Santa Ana have already experienced firsthand what happens when major streets are redesigned and vehicle capacity is reduced.
The Standard Avenue and McFadden Avenue projects affecting our area date back to transportation plans from 2019 and included road diets and bicycle infrastructure. I did not live at my current residence when these projects were originally proposed. Had I lived here at that time and received notice that the City planned to reduce vehicle lanes on these heavily traveled streets, I absolutely would have voiced my concerns before construction began.
I have also heard from other residents who say they do not recall receiving adequate notice or having a meaningful opportunity to provide input before these changes were implemented. I cannot personally verify what notice every household received, so I am asking the City to provide the public record showing when residents were notified, how they were notified, what public meetings or hearings were held, and what opportunities residents had to provide feedback before the Standard Avenue and McFadden Avenue projects were approved.
We are now living with the consequences.
During peak evening hours, particularly after 5: 00 p. m., traffic in our area can be extremely congested. I routinely have to leave approximately 20 minutes earlier simply to account for the additional traffic. Getting into and out of our neighborhood has become unnecessarily difficult. Residents should not feel trapped in their own neighborhood because traffic on the surrounding streets has become so congested.
Santa Ana is a densely populated city. Reducing vehicle capacity on major streets has real consequences for the thousands of residents who rely on these roads every day to commute to work, return home, take their children to school, attend appointments and conduct their daily lives.
What concerns me now is that the City appears prepared to implement similar roadway changes in another part of Santa Ana. According to the September 17, 2026 notice, a contract of approximately$ 7. 8 million has been awarded for the Raitt Street Improvements. Before the City spends millions of dollars implementing another roadway redesign, I strongly urge the City Council to examine what has already happened in southeast Santa Ana.
Instead of repeating this approach elsewhere, I am asking the City to determine whether these funds, or other available transportation and infrastructure funds, can be redirected toward correcting the problems created by the previous roadway redesigns in southeast Santa Ana.
Specifically, I am asking the City to evaluate restoring Standard Avenue and McFadden Avenue to two vehicle travel lanes where lanes were previously removed, while repairing and resurfacing the roadway itself. 1 From the perspective of residents who use these streets every day, what these roads needed was basic infrastructure maintenance/ repair the pavement, fill the potholes and maintain the streets. They did not need a redesign that reduced vehicle capacity and contributed to significantly greater congestion.
I am also requesting the before- and- after traffic studies for Standard Avenue and McFadden Avenue. What happened to vehicle travel times, intersection delays, traffic volume and neighborhood cut-through traffic after the lane reductions were implemented? If those studies have been completed, residents deserve access to that information.
I support making streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. However, those goals should not require ignoring the transportation needs of residents or creating severe congestion on major streets.
Residents in northern Santa Ana now have an opportunity to see what has happened in southeast Santa Ana and voice their concerns before similar construction occurs in their neighborhoods. Residents of southeast Santa Ana deserved that same meaningful opportunity, and we deserve answers about the consequences we are experiencing today.
Before Santa Ana spends millions of dollars creating another project that could produce similar consequences elsewhere, please address the problems residents are already experiencing in southeast Santa Ana. Fix what is not working before repeating it in another neighborhood.
If restoring the previous lane configuration on Standard Avenue and McFadden Avenue is not feasible, I respectfully request that the City explain why, provide the traffic data supporting that determination, and explain what the City intends to do to alleviate the congestion the current configuration has created.
I respectfully request a written response from the City Council and Public Works Agency addressing these concerns.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Diana Aguirre
Southeast Santa Ana Resident
Standard Avenue/ McFadden Avenue
z
Becerra, Alexis
From: myra thepainter <
Sent: Monday, October 5, 2026 1: 18 PM
To: eComment
Cc: mdarwish@scng. com; dtedford@scng. com; crimeandsafety@scng. com; cborla@scng. com; salrodriguez@scng. com
Subject: Comment for Santa Ana City Council meeting Tuesday October 6, 2026 Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Re: Councilmember Requested Item Report( from Mayor Pro Tem David Penaloza) October 6, 2026 Re: TOPIC: " STOP Proposed Lane Reductions and Protected Bicycle Lanes... throughout the city..." Dear Council Members:
When I started commuting by bicycle in Santa Ana, Councilmember Jessie Lopez said to me, " Be careful cycling in the city because so many people are killed."
So with that in mind, it seems that Mayor Pro Tern David Penaloza is saying that the lives of cyclists and commuters are less important than traffic and parking issues.
Families will continue to lose children and loved ones on the streets of Santa Ana if this move to " STOP Proposed Lane Reductions and Protected Bicycle Lanes... throughout the city..." passes the Santa Ana city council.
And unfortunately, those deaths and injuries will be directly linked to this fatal move, so please vote against it.
Thank you.
Myra Painter
1 Becerra, Alexis
From: christine s. <
Sent: Monday, October 5, 2026 1: 53 PM
To: eComment
Subject: re: bike infrastructure
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Hi, my name is Christine Schaffrath, a resident of Ward 5.
Just want to give my support to the increasing bike infrastructure that Santa Ana has built over the past decade. Some of the top childhood health concerns in Santa Ana are asthma, obesity, and mental health issues. All of which are influenced by environmental factors, including transportation infrastructure. Sorry to those who hate the traffic, because you are the traffic. Please don' t blame the cyclists. Studies show that cyclists reduce traffic caused by cars, injuries and deaths caused by cars, and pollution caused by cars. I love the bike infrastructure. My favorite part is how the bike lanes allow us to travel long distances, connecting us to other cities. I use it weekly for exercise, commuting to work, and having fun. I am asking that the council members, especially in Wards 5 and 2, vote to continue designing, planning, and building bike lanes to make the City of Santa Ana beautiful, fun, and healthy. Thank you! 1 Becerra, Alexis
From: T Lekawa <
Sent: Monday, October 5, 2026 3: 08 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Council Vote
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
I' ve been a resident of Santa Ana for over 10 years, and I have been thrilled at the investment in cycling infrastructure by the city over the last few years. Because of the new protected lanes, I began commuting by bike around 2 years ago.
Voting to stop the bike lanes along 1st is a huge mistake. I regularly use these streets, and there are no safe options for riding towards downtown. 1st, 4th, and 17th streets are all extremely dangerous for cycling because of freeway slip lanes and sidewalks that narrow to "single- file" width. Speed limits are high and drivers are not looking for someone on a bike.
The city is building hundreds of new apartment units in this area. We need to provide new residents with more options than driving a car, otherwise traffic will only get worse. Safe paths to grocery stores and shopping centers will allow locals to save money on gas and supplement using a car.
Please vote to protect the safety of people walking and riding bikes. Make my commute safer. 1 Becerra, Alexis
From: Rosie Dominguez <
Sent: Monday, October 5, 2026 5: 45 PM
To: eComment
Subject: agenda item # 31
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
NO MORE BIKE LANES. THEYRE USELESS AND NOBODY USES THEM. THEYRE CAUSONG MORE TRAFFIC CONGESTION NAND HAVOC!
1 Becerra, Alexis
From: OCPOP < oc4pop@gmail. com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 8: 40 AM
To: eComment
Subject: Comment AGAINST Item 31
Attachments: Santa Ana 10_5_26. pdf
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Hello,
Please find attached OC for People- Oriented Places comment strongly opposing Item 31 on today' s agenda.
Best,
p,, eFom, Board of Directors
OC for People- Oriented Places
1 Q juntyfo
06 October 2026 A
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i
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Santa Ana City Council
20 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA 92701
RE: Councilmember Requested Item— Stop Proposed Lane Reductions and Protected Bicycle Lanes on First Street and Raitt Street
Dear Santa Ana City Council,
Orange County for People- Oriented Places ( OCPOP) is a coalition dedicated to supporting and connecting individuals and local groups across Orange County working to reduce car dependency through safer streets, better public transit, and more livable communities. OCPOP wishes to strongly oppose the proposed item to halt further lane reductions and protected bicycle lane projects throughout Santa Ana.
The proposal would take Santa Ana in precisely the wrong direction. Rather than responding to legitimate concerns about individual projects with better analysis and targeted adjustments, this item would impose a blanket moratorium on an entire category of transportation safety improvements. The City should reject this approach and continue working toward safer streets for everyone who uses them.
Santa Ana has a demonstrated need for safer bicycle infrastructure The City' s own crash history provides a compelling reason not to abandon bicycle safety improvements. TIMS/ SWITRS data covering July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2026, filtered specifically to bicycle- involved crashes, records:
923 bicycle- involved crashes
18 people killed
925 people injured
45 severe- injury crashes
341 other visible- injury crashes
519 crashes resulting in a complaint of pain
These are not hypothetical concerns about what might happen on Santa Ana' s streets. They represent hundreds of people who have already been injured and 18 people who have lost their lives in crashes involving bicycles over the past decade.
The appropriate response to this record is not to stop building safer bicycle infrastructure because some residents believe the facilities are underused. If anything, these numbers demonstrate why Santa Ana should be looking for ways to make bicycling safer and more attractive.
The proposal also places far too much emphasis on whether protected bicycle lanes appear busy.
A bicycle facility that feels unsafe, disconnected, or incomplete will naturally attract fewer riders. That is not evidence that the infrastructure is unnecessary. The City should evaluate projects based on safety outcomes, network connectivity, speeds, collisions, accessibility, and the ability to provide residents with a viable transportation option, not simply whether a bicycle lane looks busy at a particular time of day.
Even Huntington Beach is moving in the opposite direction There is also a particularly notable example elsewhere in Orange County.
The City of Huntington Beach, hardly a city that could be accused of aggressively pursuing progressive transportation policy, recently presented a Council Member Item specifically focused on pedestrian and bicycle safety. The item describes the need to protect people walking and biking on Pacific Coast Highway, identifies more than $ 600, 000 in Safe Routes to School funding, and notes an upcoming Caltrans project that will formalize bicycle lanes and add buffer zones between bicycle lanes and vehicle travel lanes.
Most importantly, Huntington Beach's recommended action is for the City Manager to continue exploring pedestrian and bicycle safety projects and funding, while working with Caltrans and state legislators to support and prioritize those projects.
Santa Ana should not be moving in the opposite direction.
If Huntington Beach can recognize that improving bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure is compatible with serving its residents, Santa Ana certainly can. The answer to concerns about particular roadway projects should be better design and better evaluation, not abandoning the City' s commitment to safer streets.
The proposal creates a false choice between cars and bicycles The staff report frames protected bicycle lanes primarily as the " removal or reduction of vehicle travel lanes." That framing misses the fundamental purpose of transportation planning: streets are public infrastructure that must serve more than one mode of transportation.
Santa Ana residents walk. They bike. They take transit. They use wheelchairs and other mobility devices. They drive. Many people use several of these modes in the same week, or even the same day.
A street that moves cars efficiently but exposes people walking and biking to serious injury is not necessarily a successful street. Likewise, the City should absolutely consider emergency access, business access, traffic operations, and neighborhood impacts when designing projects. But those considerations should be balanced against safety and accessibility rather than treated as reasons to automatically preserve every existing vehicle lane.
The proposal would also set a troubling precedent by suggesting that protected bicycle lanes should be presumed unacceptable unless the City proves that they will not affect automobile capacity. There is no equivalent expectation that every roadway project demonstrate that maintaining or expanding vehicle capacity will not negatively affect people walking, biking, or taking transit.
Don' t turn transportation planning into a citywide ballot question OCPOP is particularly concerned by the suggestion that Santa Ana should put the broader policy of reducing vehicle lanes for bicycle infrastructure before voters.
Individual transportation projects should certainly receive meaningful public input. But transportation planning is a technical function of local government. Decisions about street design require consideration of collision data, traffic operations, accessibility, emergency response, transit, engineering standards, and the needs of people who do not drive.
A citywide ballot measure asking voters whether Santa Ana should ever reduce vehicle lanes for protected bicycle infrastructure would reduce a complex transportation policy question to a simplistic yes- or-no proposition. It could also make it substantially harder for future Councils to respond to changing safety conditions and community needs.
Ifthere are concerns about First Street, Raitt Street, Standard Avenue, McFadden Avenue, or any other individual project, the City should evaluate those projects on their individual merits. It should not suspend an entire transportation strategy because some projects have generated controversy.
Santa Ana should lead, not retreat
Santa Ana has an opportunity to build a transportation network that works for the entire community. That means improving pedestrian infrastructure, connecting bicycle facilities, supporting transit, and making streets safer while continuing to monitor traffic operations and address legitimate access concerns.
A blanket halt would accomplish none of that. It would delay projects, discourage future investment in safety infrastructure, and leave dangerous conditions in place while the City debates whether it should continue making streets safer.
OCPOP strongly urges the Santa Ana City Council to reject this item. The City should not stop planning, designing, or implementing protected bicycle lanes simply because some residents oppose changes to automobile travel lanes. Instead, Santa Ana should continue these projects while using transparent, data- driven performance measures to evaluate their safety, traffic, accessibility, and economic impacts.
The crash data makes clear that the status quo is not good enough. And the fact that even Huntington Beach is actively pursuing additional bicycle and pedestrian safety projects should make clear that Santa Ana does not need to retreat from multimodal transportation.
Santa Ana should be making its streets safer, not putting those efforts on hold.
Sincerely,
Orange County for People- Oriented Places ( OCPOP)
Becerra, Alexis
From: David Martinez <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 9: 02 AM
To: eComment
Subject: OPPOSE Item 31
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Santa Ana City Council,
I urge you to OPPOSE Item 31, which would pause all future protected bike lanes in Santa Ana.
In transportation circles, Santa Ana has been known for its great progress in active transportation over the last several years. Previous projects have given other Orange County cities examples of how to do things the right way.
Unfortunately, tonight, the Council is considering stopping that progress in making your city streets safer. Despite all the work that' s already been made, there is still more left to do. In the last decade, over 920 bicyclists have been injured in Santa Ana, and 18 have tragically died. These deaths, with the right and safe infrastructure, are preventable.
This policy, however, considers this lack of safety to be OK. I reject that conclusion.
For the safety of all Santa Ana residents, especially those who bike, I urge you to VOTE NO on Item 31.
David Martinez
1 Becerra, Alexis
From: Sean Hakam <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 9: 02 AM
To: eComment
Cc: Vazquez, Benjamin
Subject: OPPOSE ITEM 31
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Mayor and Members of the City Council,
I am writing as a Ward 2 homeowner, Pacific Park resident, and avid cyclist to strongly urge you to oppose Mayor Pro Tern Penaloza' s proposal to halt protected bike lanes and lane reductions throughout Santa Ana.
As someone who lives here, owns a home here, and regularly bikes around the city, I have been genuinely excited by the improvements Santa Ana has been making. For the first time, it feels like we are getting close to having an actual connected bicycle network where people can safely get around without having to drive for every trip.
That is a huge step forward for Santa Ana. A safe, connected bicycle network is not just for recreational cyclists. It gives people a real alternative to driving and makes it more practical to bike to work, school, stores, parks, restaurants, and other destinations. The more connected the network becomes, the more useful it becomes, and the more realistic it is for people to leave their cars at home for some trips.
We cannot afford to backslide now.
This proposal goes far beyond reviewing one controversial project. It would stop further design, planning, approvals, construction, and implementation of lane reductions and protected bicycle lanes throughout Santa Ana, including projects on First Street and Raitt Street.
I understand that some residents have concerns about congestion, parking loss, or individual street designs. Those concerns should be taken seriously and addressed on a project- by- project basis using actual data. They are not a justification for freezing bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements across the entire city.
We also should not treat congestion and safety as if they are the same thing. A driver being delayed a few minutes can be frustrating. A person walking or riding a bike being struck by a vehicle can be killed or permanently injured. Our response should be to make dangerous streets safer, not preserve every vehicle lane regardless of the consequences.
I am especially concerned by the argument that protected bike lanes are not worthwhile because they" appear to receive limited use." You do not build a transportation network by waiting until people are already using infrastructure that does not exist. People are much more likely to ride when they have a safe, connected route to where they are going. Every new connection makes the rest of the network more useful.
Santa Ana has spent years planning and building toward a safer, more connected transportation system. If there are specific problems with an individual project, address those problems. Do not use them as a reason to shut down progress throughout the entire city.
We are finally getting close to having a bicycle network that feels like a network rather than a collection of disconnected pieces. Stopping now would set us back years.
1 Please oppose this proposal and keep Santa Ana moving forward.
Thank you,
Sean Hakam
Pacific Park Neighborhood, Ward 2
2 Becerra, Alexis
From: Michael Di Luzio <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 9: 24 AM
To: eComment
Subject: OPPOSE Item 31
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Santa Ana City Council,
I am writing to urge you to OPPOSE Item 31, which is proposing a pause on all bike lane infrastructure within the city.
I have several biking friends who have also emailed their oppositions to Item 31, so I want to take this opportunity to let you know why this is personal to me. Although I have lived in Santa Ana in the past, I have lived in Huntington Beach for around 15 years now. To get to the point: as a direct result of the existing bicycle infrastructure throughout your great city, I find myself riding a bike up the river trail and into Santa Ana anywhere from 3- 4 times per week. When I do this, I frequent multiple businesses throughout the city and spend money. In the last 6 months of me prioritizing biking in my life, I would gather that I have spent thousands of dollars at different restaurants, bars, stores, and more all across Santa Ana. I know for a fact that dozens of other high- income earners like myself also do the same thing on a weekly basis.
Pausing this construction sends a message to someone like me that myself, my bicycle, and my money are NOT welcome in the city. If this goes through, I know that I will end up finding myself more in neighboring cities that are more welcoming to me and my spending. Most likely Irvine and Costa Mesa.
So, once again, I urge you to OPPOSE item 31. There are several other valid reasons for this, including-- and most importantly-- rider and driver safety, but since I know others will be making those arguments, I wanted to focus on what I think you will respond to more than anything: my spending and tax dollars that go into this city when I visit. regards,
Michael DiLuzio
1 Becerra, Alexis
From: Colin Warn <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 9: 53 AM
To: eComment
Subject: OPPOSE Item 31 - Protect Protected Bike Lanes
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Santa Ana City Council,
I urge you to OPPOSE Item 31, which would pause all future protected bike lanes in Santa Ana. In transportation circles, Santa Ana has been known for its great progress in active transportation over the last several years. Previous projects have given other Orange County cities examples of how to do things the right way.
Unfortunately, tonight, the Council is considering stopping that progress in making your city streets safer. Despite all the work that' s already been made, there is still more left to do. In the last decade, over 920 bicyclists have been injured in Santa Ana, and 18 have tragically died. These deaths, with the right and safe infrastructure, are preventable. This policy, however, considers this lack of safety to be OK. I reject that conclusion. For the safety of all Santa Ana residents, especially those who bike, I urge you to VOTE NO on Item 31.
Thank you,
Colin Warn
1 Becerra, Alexis
From: B. F. <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 10: 38 AM
To: eComment
Subject: VOTE NO on item to stop lane reductions and protected bicycle lanes in SA Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Santa Ana Council members,
In the last 10 years more than than 900 cyclists have been reported injured while biking on Santa Ana streets and 18 have died. ( Source: TIMS/ SWITRS using data from 7/ 1/ 16 to 6/ 30/ 26) It is disheartening to hear that, despite the demonstrated need for safety improvements, the council is considering pausing every bike lane project in the city, as proposed by Mayor Pro Tem David Penaloza.
Research on traffic congestion has demonstrated that, in order to reduce traffic, it is essential to provide transportation alternatives, including cycling, buses and rail! Traffic doesn' t decrease until people shift out of their cars and onto other forms of transportation.[ 1]
The frustration around congestion, parking loss or street design is understandable and should be taken seriously and addressed on a project- by- project basis using actual data and research. But it shouldn' t be used as an excuse to pause progress on infrastructure that is life- changing for many Santa Ana residents and visitors.
I am currently a resident of Long Beach, but I frequent Santa Ana 3- 4 times a week as part of its cycling community.
Every time we ride, we are greeted with joyous, supportive cheers, claps and smiles from residents of all ages who are happy to see their streets alive.
I make a conscious choice to spend my time and money in Santa Ana because of the vibrant community and everimproving infrastructure for cyclists. The city has spent years planning and building toward a safer, more connected transportation system. It is worrisome that the Mayor Pro Tem is arguing that protected bike lanes are not worthwhile because they" appear to receive limited use." Is there a study to support this claim or is it simply a fabrication to discredit the projects?
I ask you to stand up for the progress Santa Ana has made and vote against this item. Santa Ana is finally getting close to having a bicycle network that is safer, more efficient and more accessible for residents and visitors. Stopping now would be a huge detriment and setback to all the progress the city has made thus far.
Keep Santa Ana moving forward and keep it a beacon of progress! Best,
Brianda
Brianda Felix
She/ They)
1 Becerra, Alexis
From:
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 10: 54 AM
To: eComment
Subject: OPPOSE Item 31
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Santa Ana City Council,
I urge you to OPPOSE Item 31, which would pause all future protected bike lanes in Santa Ana.
In transportation circles, Santa Ana has been known for its great progress in active transportation over the last several years. Previous projects have given other Orange County cities examples of how to do things the right way.
Unfortunately, tonight, the Council is considering stopping that progress in making your city streets safer. Despite all the work that' s already been made, there is still more left to do. In the last decade, over 920 bicyclists have been injured in Santa Ana, and 18 have tragically died. These deaths, with the right and safe infrastructure, are preventable.
This policy, however, considers this lack of safety to be OK. I reject that conclusion.
For the safety of all Santa Ana residents, especially those who bike, I urge you to VOTE NO on Item 31.
Sent from my iPhone
i
Becerra, Alexis
From: Konrad Chen <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 11: 13 AM
To: eComment
Subject: ITEM 31
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Santa Ana City Council,
I am a resident of fountain valley but a frequent visitor of Santa Ana due to my volunteer work at the bicycle tree, and my frequenting of restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops, and small businesses located in your city. I also participate in weekly group bike rides in Santa Ana where 50- 60 people on bicycles explore the city, all while spending money on food and drinks at local establishments. The businesses get a huge financial boost every time we come by.
I urge you to OPPOSE Item 31, which would pause all future protected bike lanes in Santa Ana.
It' s unfortunately well documented that Santa Ana has many inattentive and reckless drivers. It feels like every week that I see or read on the news that a pedestrian or cyclist has been hit by a car in Santa Ana. It' s a bit sad to joke around on this issue, but we colloquially refer to these instances as " Santa Ana Problems" and kind of just shrug.
But Santa Ana has made great progress... im inspired by how there is has been actual effort made to develop safe infrastructure for those who rely on alternative transportation, whether that be by walking, riding bikes, or using public transit. Previous projects have given other Orange County cities examples of how to do things the right way. I wish my own city of Fountain valley would follow suit.
For the safety of all Santa Ana residents, especially those who bike, I urge you to VOTE NO on Item 31. 1 would hate to see your city take one step forward only to slide back 2 steps. 1 Becerra, Alexis
From: kathy clark <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 12: 05 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Oppose Item 31
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Santa Ana City Council,
I am writing as a Ward 2 homeowner, parent, lifelong Santa Ana resident, and avid cyclist to strongly urge you to oppose Mayor Pro Tern Penaloza' s proposal to halt protected bike lanes and lane reductions throughout Santa Ana.
As someone who has lived here my entire life, owns a home in Santa Ana, and regularly bikes around the city with my child and family, I have been genuinely excited about the improvements our city has been making. For the first time, it feels like we are getting close to having a truly connected bicycle network that allows people to travel safely without having to drive for every trip.
This is a significant step forward for Santa Ana. A safe, connected bicycle network is not just for recreational cyclists. It gives residents a practical alternative to driving and makes it easier to bike to work, school, stores, parks, restaurants, and other destinations. I personally bike to and from school with my child multiple times a week, ride regularly with a growing group of cyclists, and use various bicycle facilities throughout the city. The more connected and protected our bicycle network becomes, the more useful it is and the more realistic it becomes for residents to leave their cars at home for some trips.
With rising gas prices and continued economic uncertainty, expanding bicycle infrastructure and public transportation also provides families with more affordable transportation options. Not every household can easily absorb the cost of driving everywhere, and residents should have safe, reliable alternatives when they need them.
After so much progress, we cannot afford to move backward now.
Mayor Pro Tern Penaloza' s proposal goes far beyond reviewing a single controversial project. It seeks to halt further design, planning, approvals, construction, and implementation of lane reductions and protected bicycle lanes throughout Santa Ana, including projects on First Street and Raitt Street. This citywide approach risks undermining years of planning and investment in safer, more accessible streets.
I understand that some residents have concerns about traffic congestion, parking, and specific street designs. Those concerns deserve to be heard and addressed through careful, project- specific reviews supported by actual data.
However, disagreements about individual projects should not justify freezing bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements across the entire city.
We also need to recognize that traffic congestion and traffic safety are not the same issue. Being delayed in a car can be frustrating, but a person walking or riding a bicycle who is struck by a vehicle can suffer life- altering injuries or lose their life. Santa Ana has serious traffic safety challenges, and our response should be to make dangerous streets safer, not to preserve every vehicle lane at the expense of everyone else' s safety.
Cyclists have been seriously injured and killed on our roads, and inadequate bicycle infrastructure can leave people dangerously exposed to traffic. Every day, I see people using existing bicycle infrastructure to get to work, school, and 1 other destinations. These facilities serve a real purpose, and expanding a connected network can help more residents travel safely.
I am particularly concerned by the argument that protected bicycle lanes are not worthwhile because they appear to receive limited use. We cannot expect people to use a transportation network that does not yet exist in a safe, connected form. Many people will not choose to ride a bicycle if they must navigate dangerous streets or disconnected bike lanes. Building a connected network is how we make cycling a realistic option for more residents. Every new connection makes the overall network more useful.
Santa Ana has spent years planning and working toward a safer, more connected transportation system. Projects like Raitt Street did not happen overnight. They involved planning, engineering, public outreach, funding, and City Council approval. If a particular project has demonstrated problems, the city should evaluate the evidence and make appropriate adjustments. It should not use those concerns as justification to halt progress across the entire city.
The timing of this proposal is also concerning, given Mayor Pro Tern Penaloza' s campaign for State Assembly. Regardless of his motivations, Santa Ana' s long-term transportation policy should be guided by the safety, needs, and future of its residents— not short-term political considerations.
I am asking you to stand up for the progress Santa Ana has made and vote against this proposal. We are finally approaching a point where our bicycle infrastructure can function as a connected network rather than a collection of disconnected segments. Halting these improvements now would set our city back years and send the wrong message to residents who want safer, more accessible streets for themselves and their families.
As a parent, homeowner, lifelong resident, and regular cyclist, I want Santa Ana to continue moving toward a future where people of all ages can safely travel throughout our city, whether they are driving, biking, or walking. I want to know that our city cares about creating a community where families have safe transportation choices.
Children today are increasingly using bicycles to get to school, visit friends, and participate in activities. Many of us remember what it was like to ride our bikes when we were younger. We have an opportunity to give our children an even better and safer experience than the one many of us had growing up. Building safe, connected bicycle infrastructure is one way we can do that.
Please protect the progress we have made and keep Santa Ana moving forward. I urge you to vote NO on this proposal.
Thank you for your time and for your service to our community.
Sincerely,
Kathy Clark
Lifelong Santa Ana Resident
2 Becerra, Alexis
From: Debby Koken <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 12: 25 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Public Comment for Agenda Item No. 31 ( OPPOSE) Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Santa Ana City Council,
I urge you to OPPOSE Item 31, which would pause all future protected bike lanes in Santa Ana.
In transportation circles, Santa Ana has been known for its great progress in active transportation over the last several years.
Previous projects have given other Orange County cities examples of how to do things the right way.
Unfortunately, tonight, the Council is considering stopping that progress in making your city streets safer. Despite all the work that' s already been done, there is still more left to do. In the last decade, over 920 bicyclists have been injured in Santa Ana, and 18 have tragically died. These deaths are preventable with the right infrastructure.
This policy, however, considers this lack of safety to be OK. I reject that conclusion.
For the safety of all Santa Ana residents, especially those who bike, I urge you to VOTE NO on Item 31.
Deborah Koken
Costa Mesa, CA
1 Becerra, Alexis
From: Sean Carrick <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 12: 49 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Public Comment for Agenda Item No. 31 ( OPPOSE) Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Santa Ana City Council,
I write to ask you to OPPOSE Item 31, which would pause all future protected bike lanes in Santa Ana.
I live at the corner of Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, and Costa Mesa, right along the Santa Ana River Trail. The improving bike infrastructure in Santa Ana leads to me spending a great deal of time at businesses and restaurants located near the better bike infrastructure downtown each week, and I was looking forward to expansion and safer ways to share the streets with cars.
Unfortunately, tonight, the Council is considering stopping that progress in making your city streets safer. Despite all the work that' s already been done, there is still more left to do. In the last decade, over 920 bicyclists have been injured in Santa Ana, and 18 have tragically died. These deaths, with the right and safe infrastructure, are preventable.
For the safety of all Santa Ana residents, especially those who bike, I urge you to VOTE NO on Item 31.
Thank you,
Sean Carrick
i
Becerra, Alexis
From: Eric Escobar <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 12: 58 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Bike Lane project
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Please don' t pause the bike lane projects ! We need the bike lanes to commute safer in our city of Santa Ana especially for students that commute on bikes to school.
Resident of Santa Ana
i
Becerra, Alexis
From: Brady Thaete <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 1: 22 PM
To: eComment
Subject: OPPOSE Item 31
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Santa Ana City Council,
I urge you to OPPOSE Item 31, which would pause all future protected bike lanes in Santa Ana.
In transportation circles, Santa Ana has been known for its great progress in active transportation over the last several years. Previous projects have given other Orange County cities examples of how to do things the right way.
Unfortunately, tonight, the Council is considering stopping that progress in making your city streets safer.
Despite all the work that' s already been made, there is still more left to do. In the last decade, over 920 bicyclists have been injured in Santa Ana, and 18 have tragically died. These deaths, with the right and safe infrastructure, are preventable.
This policy, however, considers this lack of safety to be OK. I reject that conclusion.
For the safety of all Santa Ana residents, especially those who bike, I urge you to VOTE NO on Item 31.
Brady
i
Becerra, Alexis
From: Melissa Diaz <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 1: 37 PM
To: eComment
Subject: OPPOSE Item 31
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Santa Ana City Council,
I urge you to OPPOSE Item 31, which would pause all future protected bike lanes in Santa Ana. In transportation circles, Santa Ana has been known for its great progress in active transportation over the last several years. Previous projects have given other Orange County cities examples of how to do things the right way.
Unfortunately, tonight, the Council is considering stopping that progress in making your city streets safer. Despite all the work that' s already been made, there is still more left to do.
In the last decade, over 920 bicyclists have been injured in Santa Ana, and 18 have tragically died. These deaths, with the right and safe infrastructure, are preventable. This policy, however, considers this lack of safety to be OK. I reject that conclusion.
For the safety of all Santa Ana residents, especially those who bike, I urge you to VOTE NO on Item 31.
Thank you,
Melissa Ramirez
1 Becerra, Alexis
From: Kathryn Locey <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 1: 40 PM
To: eComment
Subject: OPPOSE Item 31
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Santa Ana City Council,
I urge you to OPPOSE Item 31, which would pause all future protected bike lanes in Santa Ana.
In transportation circles, Santa Ana has been known for its great progress in active transportation over the last several years. Previous projects have given other Orange County cities examples of how to do things the right way.
Unfortunately, tonight, the Council is considering stopping that progress in making your city streets safer. Despite all the work that' s already been made, there is still more left to do. In the last decade, over 920 bicyclists have been injured in Santa Ana, and 18 have tragically died. These deaths, with the right and safe infrastructure, are preventable.
This policy, however, considers this lack of safety to be OK. I reject that conclusion.
For the safety of all Santa Ana residents, especially those who bike, I urge you to VOTE NO on Item 31.
Best,
Kathryn
i
Becerra, Alexis
From: Dominic Bendinelli <
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 2: 32 PM
To: eComment
Subject: OPPOSE Item 31
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Santa Ana City Council,
I urge you to OPPOSE Item 31, which would pause all future protected bike lanes in Santa Ana.
In transportation circles, Santa Ana has been known for its great progress in active transportation over the last several years. Previous projects have given other Orange County cities examples of how to do things the right way.
Unfortunately, tonight, the Council is considering stopping that progress in making your city streets safer. Despite all the work that' s already been made, there is still more left to do. In the last decade, over 920 bicyclists have been injured in Santa Ana, and 18 have tragically died. These deaths, with the right and safe infrastructure, are preventable.
This policy, however, considers this lack of safety to be OK. I reject that conclusion.
For the safety of all Santa Ana residents, especially those who bike, I urge you to VOTE NO on Item 31.
Thank you,
Dominic Bendinelli
i