11-12-2024
Public Presentatin
Speech, Letter. and Article of Akos Szoboszlay to Santa Clara City Council, 11/12/2024 Speech
I have been the victim of police harassment for years, for bicycling in bike lanes. I bicycled on three expressways to work at Lockheed as an electrical engineer. At the time, only expressways and Los Padres Boulevard had bike lanes. I petitioned this Council to repeal the bicycle prohibition in 1987. County highway staff came to the meeting and with City staff, opposed repeal. I lost 4 to 3. So I requested the County Board of Supervisors, who voted to support bicycles on expressways in 1988, required bike lanes in 1989, required pedestrian paths in 1991, and required sidewalks in 2008, on all expressways, at my efforts.
At my requests in 1991, Council allowed bicyclists and allowed transit patrons of Lawrence Caltrain Station to walk to industry. Staff fought against both, but lost.
Highway staff has used the City's prohibition of pedestrians as a ruse, to refuse to comply with BOS requirements. However, I obtained sidewalks along Lawrence Expressway, at no cost to the City, by first forcing the "Pedestrians Prohibited" signs to be removed. State law only authorized prohibiting from freeways. I did the same for Capitol Expressway in San Jose, the most used by pedestrians. Therefore, to obtain sidewalks, repeal first.
In 2006, I again was harassed by police. See photo. I petitioned this Council to repeal remaining prohibitions. Highway staff, once again, came to the meeting and with City staff, opposed repeal. I described this Council meeting in my attached article, how highway staff opposed BOS policy and faked "accident statistics" to oppose use of existing sidewalks. Why? In 2014, highway staff revealed they want to destroy sidewalks and bike lanes to construct an 8-lane freeway.
I lost 4 to 3, with Council voting as staff requested, which was to "take ... actions ... after the County completes ... the ... Expressway Planning [to] adopt a Resolution ... to support the County's ... prohibitions." At my effort, the BOS enacted absolutely no prohibition, and instead, approved sidewalks on all expressways. But City staff did not bring this back to Council, as directed. I request Council to comply with the 2006 Council vote, and repeal Resolution 5603.
My letter contains details and BOS path requirements that were not complied with due to your prohibition.
Photo: I was bicycling in the bike lane in 2006
(San Tomas Expressway near Benton St.) and
stopped to take a photo of the pleasant street
view, while remaining in the bike lane. A
motorcycle police stopped. A while later, a police
squad car stopped (behind me). I told the police,
which was the California Highway Patrol
contracted by the County, that it is legal to
bicycle on the expressway. He stated that my
foot is on the ground and that I am a pedestrian.
The ticket was $149. At court, the police did not
show up, so it was dismissed. However, going to court actually cost me much more than $149 in lost wages, and wasted hours of my time in the courtroom.
FOST MEETING MATERIAL
Repeal the pedestrian prohibition Page 1 of 5
To: Mayor Gillmore and Council members, City Council of Santa Clara From: Akos Szoboszlay, Modern Transit Society (disbanded) 408 221 0694; email: expressway["at" symbol]akos.us
Date: November 12, 2024
Subject: Please comply with City Council action in 2006 regarding the prohibition of pedestrians from expressways, by repealing Resolution No. 5603 Hello Mayor Gillmore and Council members,
Forward:
I have been the victim of police harassment for years, for bicycling to work using bike lanes along the safest and fastest roads, the expressways. These have 1/5 as many intersections (the main source of crashes), few driveways (another crash source), no parked cars (no "doored" crashes), and a bike lane! Expressway speed limits are no higher than many other arterial roads but are "faster" How? For the same reason an express bus is "faster" than a local bus but observes the same speed limit; it makes fewer stops. Expressways are "faster" due to fewer intersections and longer "green" signals.
History:
I commuted to Lockheed by bicycling in bike lanes along three expressways. Due to police harassment, I petitioned City Council in 1987 to repeal the prohibition of bicycles.
City Traffic Engineer opposed this, and I lost the vote by 4 to 3. So, I went to the County BOS. At my request, the BOS voted, regarding expressways, to support bicycles (1988), required bike lanes (1989), required and funded pedestrian paths (1991), supported bike lane/shoulder use by pedestrians (2003 Plan), and approved future sidewalks on both sides of the road (2008 Plan). The highway engineers of County Roads opposed all these actions, but lost every BOS vote by 5-0, except the 1988 vote was 4-1.
Despite the BOS requiring bike lanes, and the fact that these already existed on all expressways, City staff continued fighting against bicyclists use of these bike lanes, by not recognizing the BOS actions, until they lost the vote in 1991. At the 2006 City Council meeting, both City and County staff fought against pedestrians by contradicting the BOS and not recognizing the BOS path requirement (1991) and the BOS support for shoulder use (2003).
Montague Expressway was constructed after the original ordinance was enacted, so was not prohibited. The City Council repealed the prohibition of bicycles and pedestrians from Central Expressway in 1982. Sunnyvale repealed the bicycle prohibition in 1987.
Sunnyvale repealed the pedestrian prohibition, at my request, in 2003. County highway Repeal the pedestrian prohibition Page 2 of 5
staff refused to remove "Pedestrians Prohibited" signs so I went to the BOS and they gave a direct order, in 2004, to comply with the law and remove these signs.
Summary:
I petitioned the City Council to repeal the ordinance prohibiting pedestrians in 2006. On June 20, 2006, the City Council voted 4 to 3 as the City staff recommended, which is stated in the motion below. Three council members wanted an immediate repeal of all pedestrian prohibitions on expressways by repeal of Resolution 5603, as I requested. City staff did not comply with the motion that passed, which was to bring this agenda item back to City Council after the County BOS voted on the Expressway Plan, which occurred in 2009.
The Council Action of 2006 that City staff has not complied with:
The motion was that the City Council "take the following actions after the County ... completes the update of the 2003 Expressway Planning Study." [The complete motion is in Appendix 1]
Detail by Akos Szoboszlay: The update to this 2003 Plan, titled, "Comprehensive County Expressway Planning Study, 2008 Update," was approved by the County Board of Supervisors (BOS) on March 3, 2009 as the "2008 Update" to the 2003 Plan. (It is informally called "2008 County Expressway Plan.")
The highway engineers of County Roads Department lost the vote at the BOS in two ways:
First, County Roads tried to eliminate sidewalks from all expressways in the 2008 County Expressway Plan. Instead, the BOS approved sidewalks along all expressways as shown on Sidewalk Maps for each expressway. [See these in Links, below.] Second, the BOS enacted absolutely no pedestrian prohibition.
City staff should have brought this agenda item back to City Council once the BOS vote occurred. Staff did not.
Continuing with the motion that passed:
" 1) adopt a Resolution ... to support the County's prohibition;" My comment: The County BOS never enacted any prohibition against pedestrian or bicyclist use of expressways, ever.
"2) repeal Resolution No. 5603;"
My comment: Agreed.
Repeal the pedestrian prohibition Page 3 of 5
"3) request the County ... [for] ... funding ….. to add sidewalks and/or walkways ...." Rebuttal point 1:
The BOS already fully funded unpaved pedestrian paths along expressways, and has required these since 1991. [For proof, see the document scan in Appendix 2.] County Roads refused to comply by falsely citing the City prohibition of pedestrians. It is a talse excuse because Resolution 5603 does not prohibit paths, sidewalks or bus stops; it merely prohibits people from using these facilities. The BOS order for pedestrian paths also has no exception for any prohibitory ordinance; their order must be complied with whether or not any city would prohibit pedestrians from using the pedestrian paths.
Rebuttal point 2:
Prohibitory ordinances have been and are used by County Roads to refuse to construct facilities for pedestrians. The converse is also true. I proved by my actions, that I next describe, that the way to obtain sidewalks is to allow pedestrians first, either by repealing the pedestrian prohibition, or by forcing County Roads to remove illegal "Pedestrians Prohibited" signs.
In 1992, I forced County Roads to remove their illegal "Pedestrians Prohibited" signs in on Lawrence Expressway in Santa Clara because State law only authorized prohibiting pedestrians from freeways. Despite this fact, and that bicycles were also allowed, County Roads destroyed the bicycle and pedestrian facilities for more traffic lanes, in 1993, without giving any notice to the City Council or the public. They destroyed the pedestrian underpass going under Central Expressway that was used by transit patrons walking to/ from the Lawrence Caltrain Station. County Roads forced bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit patrons to bicycle or walk in the 50 mph traffic lane. It was extremely dangerous.
So, I forced County Roads to reconstruct the underpass and the bike lanes, and to construct sidewalks along the entire 4 miles of Lawrence Expressways where they had destroyed bicycle and pedestrian facilities. [See history details in the first link, below.] Similarly, I forced County highway engineers to construct sidewalks along the entire Capitol Expressway in San Jose, in 1997, by first forcing them to remove their illegal "Pedestrians Prohibited" signs. To recap, removing prohibitions and prohibitory signs gets sidewalks built. Keeping prohibitions gets endless fake excuses by the highway engineers in refusing to construct even the required pedestrian facilities.
Detail of the 2006 City Council meeting
In 2006, County Roads came to the City Council meeting in person and opposed repeal in order to continue prohibiting use of existing sidewalks along Lawrence Expressway, for the reason stated at bottom. County Roads opposed BOS policy, opposed sidewalks, and faked "accident statistics. " [See my article with this title, at link below.] Repeal the pedestrian prohibition Page 4 of 5
Bike lane / shoulder use by pedestrians is legal and BOS approved:
Until the required paths are obtained, people can use the bike lane/shoulder. The BOS support of shoulder and path use of pedestrians along expressways is proven by this scan of the sentence (underlined in red) from the 2003 County Expressway Plan, page 93 (including the photo). Vehicle Code 21966 also allows pedestrians to use bike lanes where there is no "adjacent" sidewalk or path. Bike lanes are also required by the BOS.
Wide Shoulder or Path within Expressway Right-of-Way - In locations where there are no sidewalks or parallel facilities and there is no major demand for pedestrian travel, these shoulder/path facilities can serve as emergency walkways and for occasional pedestrian use. No projects are recommended for these locations; however, landscaping needs to be kept trimmed back at intersection areas and along the travel way so pedestrians do not have to enter the travel lane. Landscaping maintenance costs are included in the Maintenance and Operations Element.
Please place repeal of Resolution 5603 on the City Council agenda, and repeal it.
Sincerely,
Akes Sobooglay
Akos Szoboszlay
Links (Note: Going to the first link would make other links clickable.) This letter is at: ModernTransit.org/2024/SantaClaraRepeal.pdf Speech to City Council of Santa Clara: ModernTransit.org/2024//SCspeach.pdf County Roads Dept. opposed BOS policy, opposed sidewalks, and faked "accident statistics.": ModernTransit.org/2024/SCarticle.pdf
Page of clickable links: Lawrence Expressway proposals, Repeal of prohibitory ordinances, historical Timeline of expressway events, the main Expressway Topics, Links page, and more:
ModernTransit.org/2024/Links.pdf
Sidewalk Maps for each expressway:
ModernTransit.org/expy.; then click the name of the expressway near the top.
Also contains links to the 2003 and 2008 County Expressway Plans.
County Roads' plan to convert Lawrence Expressway into a freeway:
ModernTransit.org/2024/LawrenceAA.pdf
Repeal the pedestrian prohibition Page 5 of 5
Appendix 1: Copy of the motion of the 6/20/06 Council action request. MOTION was made by Kolstad, seconded and carried with Kennedy, Mcleod and Mahan dissenting, that the Council take the following actions after the County of Santa Clara completes the update of the 2003 Expressway Planning Study and approves an ordinance prohibiting pedestrians on certain portions of Lawrence Expressway and San Tomas Expressway: 1) adopt
Resolution allowing signage to support the County's pedestrian prohibitions on certain portions of Lawrence Expressway and San Tomas Expressway; 2) repeal Resolution No. 5603; and 3) request the County of Santa Clara, as part of the update of the 2003 Expressway Planning Study, to develop an implementation program and funding mechanism to add sidewalks and/or walkways for pedestrian accessibility on Lawrence Expressway and on San Tomas Expressway.
Appendix 2: BOS action that requires (and funds) paths on expressways Santa Clara County Transportation Agency
An Agency of the County of Santa Clara 1570 Old Oakland Road, San Jose, CA 95131 PAGE 1 of 3 (Staff report)
S.D. ALL
Prepared by BRucE gad Quote 1
Revieved by "SHIELDŚ
Submitted by MONT INI
APPROVED: DIRECTOR DATE: August 13, 1991
TRANSIT DISTRICT BOARD: Agenda Date Item No.
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: Agenda Date: Aug. 20, 1991 Item No.
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION: Agenda Date Item No.
Scotty A. Bruce, Deputy Director
Design and Construction
SUBJECT: POLICY FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN USAGE OF EXPRESSWAYS RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt the Pedestrian Use portion of the attached policy entitled "Bicycle and Pedestrian Usage of Expressways.'
pprove the proposed new program to provide pedestrian pathway facilitie long the expressway system at the annual level of $75,000 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The incremental costs to implement the proposed policy are as follows:
Maintenance: $5,000 for FY 1991-92, and increasing at an annual rate of $5,000.
Path Development: $75,000 annually
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal the pedestrian prohibition. Page 1 of 7 County Roads Dept. opposed BOS policy, opposed sidewalks, and faked "accident statistics"
Accomplishments of Akos Szoboszlay for the City of Santa Clara Akos Szoboszlay, 11/12/2024
The below letter from County Roads and Airports Department (on page 3 and 4) is an example of County Roads opposing the County Board of Supervisors' (BOS) 1991 policies and the BOS-approved 2003 County Expressway Plan. In 2006, I had asked the City Council of Santa Clara to repeal the prohibition of pedestrians. This County Roads letter was presented to the City Council, opposing repeal. It is addressed to City staff (the Public Works Director) who placed it in the Council's agenda packet. The Director of County Roads and Airports Dept., Michael Murdter, had signed the letter, and then came to the City Council meeting to verbally oppose repeal by re-iterating, and expanding, points of his letter.
This County Roads letter has many false statements that I have rebutted in color, on the letter.
Most notably, County Roads faked the "accident statistics" , both in the letter and verbally.
Verbally, County Roads claimed that a "study" showed that "60%" of pedestrian fatalities on expressways were caused by "roadway departure," which is a motor vehicle that runs off the road and kills a pedestrian walking on the sidewalk - who just happens to be at exactly the same spot. In fact, County Roads claimed fatalities were not of pedestrians, but of motorists on freeways and national highways. [See Epilog, last page.] County Roads faked their "accident statistics," and then prevented rebuttal by not providing their data, or their source, in the agenda packet.
The goal of County Roads was to mislead Council members into believing that sidewalks are dangerous, so that they would continue prohibiting use of existing sidewalks on Lawrence Expressway (Applying their logic, bike lanes would be even more dangerous, being closer to traffic.) Why oppose sidewalks? Subsequently, a 2014 County Roads document reveals that they want to use the right-of-way of both sidewalks and bike lanes for their proposed plan for a new 8-lane freeway, where Lawrence Expressway is today. Apparently, faking "accident statistics" gets more Council member votes to eliminate pedestrians than revealing their proposed new freeway - which was only revealed years later.
The City Council postponed action until after the 2008 County Expressway Plan, but this de- facto resulted in continuing prohibiting pedestrian use of sidewalks and paths, to this day. The 2008 Plan contains sidewalks along expressways, and paths have been required since 1991 by the BOS, and shoulder/bike lane use has been approved by the BOS in 2003. However, City staff never brought this agenda item back to the City Council to allow using these facilities. So, pedestrians are prohibited from using sidewalks and paths and bike lanes to this day.
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal the pedestrian prohibition. Page 2 of 7 Note that Bike Lane use by pedestrians is legal under the Vehicle Code (CVC 21966) where there is no "adjacent" sidewalk or path. However, no pedestrian would use the Bike Lane if the required paths or sidewalks were created. Paths have not been implemented because County Roads has refused to comply with the BOS' 1991 path creation order - which was fully funded - by using the City's prohibitory ordinance as a ruse to avoid complying.
County Roads did not provide, in the agenda packet or anywhere else, their "accident statistics" data; and did not even cite the source of their data! This was to prevent me and other advocates from rebutting them. (Such claims must be in the agenda packet, available to both City Council members and the public.) The County Roads letter (below) states that they "provided" this "information," but this also was a lie. The City Manager, Ms. Sparacino, did not even have access to it, and it took weeks for her to obtain it from County Roads. County Roads then only provided a link to a promotion of "rumble strips" on freeways and highways from the FHWA website. This is proven in the Epilog - Ms. Sparacino's email. See last page.
Related predecessor event in 2006:
County Roads had secretly eliminated the right of bicyclists and pedestrians to use public roads and streets in the State of California, by placing legal text to an unrelated bill, SB1233 - without informing the County. This became law on 1/1/2005. At my request, the County BOS voted to seek repeal of that, by a 5-0 vote, on 1/10/2006. The BOS vote was to oppose and undo what County Roads did behind their back - and behind the backs of BPACs and the public. Yet, just 5 months later, County Roads cites using that law change in their letter (below). County staff never complied with seeking repeal, merely writing one letter. [SB 1233 details are at this link: ModernTransit.org/Restore/contents.htm l I had used this State law, prior to this secret change, to force removal of "Pedestrians Prohibited" signs on Lawrence Expressway (and elsewhere). Now, County Roads can put the signs back, immediately and without notice, because the City ordinance prohibiting pedestrians is already "on the books" ". Their actions show that is exactly what they intend to do for their proposed new freeway.
Related subsequent event in 2006:
The 2008 County Expressway Plan had a two-year (or so) public input process. County Roads staff went to all the cities that have expressways and opposed sidewalks along expressways.
They lost all the votes, and the subsequent BOS vote. The BOS did not enact prohibitions as stated in County Road's letter to the City Council (below). Instead, the BOS required sidewalks along all expressways (per the Sidewalk Maps for each expressway).
Despite losing their fight against sidewalks along expressways in this Master Plan, County Roads subsequently censored the documentation for the sidewalks, which are the Sidewalk Maps for each expressway. These were gone by 2023 from the County website, probably deleted years earlier. They censored the Bicycle Accommodation document in early 2024. I informed the BOS this year, and County Roads was forced to restore these.
Letter from County Roads & Airports Department to the City of Santa Clara (See next two pages):
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal the pedestrian prohibition. Page 3 of / County of Santa Clara COUNTI
11/
e
Roads and Alrports Department
RECEIVED
JUN : 2006
1850 CLARA
101 Skyport Drive TA
Son lose:, Califonna 951101302 ENGINEERING DEPT.
(408) 573-2400 CITY OF SANTA CLARA
County Roads opposed BOS policy, opposed
June 9, 2006 sidewalk use, and faked "accident statistics" as Date of comments: 8/20/2024 shown by this letter presented to the City Council Mr. Steve Yoshino of Santa Clara in 2006 (via City staff). Comments Director of Public Works
( color ) are by Akos Szoboszlay, who asked the
City of Santa Clara
1500 Warburton Avenue City to repeal the pedestrian prohibition.
Santa Clara, California 95050The upper-case scare tactic (below) was inserted by County Roads into the 1991 policy but was superseded by the 2003 Re: Pedestrian Prohibitions on Lawrence and San Tomas Expressways BOS's statement, "Shoulders can serve for occasional
Dear Mr. Yoshino: Stere pedestrian use." [2003 Plan, page 93]. County Roads quotes obsolete policy. Also, bicyclists are much closer to traffic.
This is to follow up on our June 2, 2006 meeting in your office where we discussed your response to the City Council regarding recommendations related to pedestrian access to Lawrence and San Tomas Expressways and removal of existing areas of pedestrian prohibitions. San Tomas speed is exactly the same as N. First St., San Jose, at 45 mph. - Lawrence speed is less than 55 mph Monterey Highway. All have bike lanes.
As you know, pedestrian access to the expressways was a topic during development of the Comprehensive County Expressway Planning Study, and a section of the final Implementation Plan was dedicated to pedestrians. Section 6, Pedestrian Element, stated in part: "In 1991, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors adopted a Policy for Bicycle and Pedestrian Usage of the Expressways' ...The County's 1991 policy is still in effect today and is supported in the Pedestrian Element's recommendations." A copy of the 1991 policy is attached. Note the policy states in part: "The Board of Supervisors is committed to accommodating pedestrians... wherever possible, subject to safety considerations and fiscal constraints." Further, "ENCOURAGING PEDESTRIANS TO WALK ALONG THE SHOULDER AREAS IS NOT A SAFE PRACTICE...THE CLOSE
V PROXIMITY OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC ON THE EXPRESSWAYS TO PEDESTRIANS OF ALL AGES...COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS". As indicated in the information previously provided, accident statistics show that accidents resulting from vehicles straying off the travel lanes comprise a significant portion of reported accidents.
We have also provided photos of typical conditions where the area back of curb is limited or obstructed in a way that forces pedestrians onto the expressway pavement.
Their "accident statistics" were for motorist fatalities on national highways. See Epiloge.
Regarding prohibitions, the 2003 Board-approved Planning Study Implementation Plan included the following: "Pedestrians are currently prohibited along some sections of the expressways. Pedestrian prohibitions along expressways are a function of and enforceable through city police powers and, therefore, are established by city ordinances.
This "information" was not provided to City Council and the public until after the Council vote, to County Roads used the same "children" argument to fight against allowing prevent rebuttal adult bicyclists use of bike lanes along expressways, and also ignore BOS path requirement (1991).
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal the pedestrian prohibition. Page 4 of 7 Mr. Stevc Yoshino County Roads opposed sidewalk use by not mentioning existing June 9, 2006 sidewalks, and opposing repeal of the ordinance. Why? County Roads
2014 document. They proposed an 8-lane freeway (starter segment).
When the County Board of Supervisors adopted the 1991 Bicycle and Pedestrian Policy, one of the policy statements was to encourage cities to repeal pedestrian prohibition ordinances, except where safe access is impeded by obstacles that create an unsafe environment. Upon approval..., County staff will assist the cities with reviewing existing ordinances and revising them as appropriate to be legally enforceable, to reflect existing conditions, and to meet city objectives. 5OS ordered obstacles (shrubs) removed fo The BOS voted 5-0 to seek repeal of this law change 5 months earlier, on 1/10/2006.
We understand Santa Clara's preference that the County, consistent with the provisions of California Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 21960, take the lead role and develop pedestrian prohibition ordinances for those portions of Lawrence Expressway and San Tomas Expressway where appropriate and where no sidewalk or walkway exists back of curb.
Once the County Board of Supervisors adopts an ordinance, the City would need to take appropriate action(s) with regard to City ordinances to ensure consistency and to support posted signage for areas of pedestrian prohibition. As we discussed, the County will identify those areas along Lawrence and San Tomas that are appropriate for prohibitions as part of an update to the 2003 Planning Study, which will get underway later this year after completion of other ongoing studies whose results are needed to inform the update.
The update should be complete in approximately one year. *The BOS enacted no "prohibition ordinances!" Instead, BOS approved sidewalks. (2008) We appreciate Santa Clara's understanding of the County's role as expressway operator and willingness to give us the lead role in developing recommendations that are consistent with the expressway system as a whole, but responsive to the needs of each separate facility as a unique resource to the communities through which the expressways pass. We will need to continue to work together to ensure mutually satisfactory outcomes in the same collaborative spirit that made the 2003 Planning Study such a success. * County Roads tried to eliminate pedestrians in drafts of 2003 Plan, 2008 Plan, and T2010 One potential area for continued coordination is the construction of new sidewalks along San Tomas. An estimate of planned sidewalk costs will be developed as part of the Planning Study update. The County is highly dependent on grant funds for capital improvements but our annual allocation of TDA-3 funds is in the neighborhood of only $70,000 and no other viable grant sources have been identified. The Planning Study identified about $7,000,000 in expressway sidewalk needs not including San Tomas.
Clearly, additional funding sources will be necessary. The City can support any planned sidewalks through use of development conditions or allocation of impact mitigation funds or TDA-3 funds.
The BOS approved $75,000 annually for unpaved pedestrian Sincerely, paths along expressways. in 1991, and the staff report estimated completion to be in 1995 but County Roads never M. Mundt obstaces basical, County loads han only 1 regrete "obstacles" (basically. shrubs that they planted). They refused. — Verbally stated to the City Council that "60%" of pedestrian fatalities on expressways are caused by "roadway departure" Director
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal the pedestrian prohibition. Page 5 of 7 Repeal the pedestrian prohibition of City of Santa Clara My speech and letter to the City Council (of 11/12/24) contains reasons to repeal. Another reason is that the City's prohibition of pedestrians enables County Roads to destroy sidewalks without even informing the City. In 1993, County Roads actually destroyed bike lanes along Lawrence and the pedestrian underpass used by Lawrence Caltrain patrons - where Lawrence goes under Central - without informing the City.
Accomplishments of Akos Szoboszlay for the City of Santa Clara Akos Szoboszlay, 11/12/2024
I previously lived in Santa Clara, until 2016, and 1 accomplished these for the City:
• Led the repeal of the bicycle prohibition (from 1987 until winning in 1991), • Council also allowed using the pedestrian underpass (used by Caltrain patrons walking to industry) and walking on the expressway shoulders/bike lanes to access the underpass. • Obtained sidewalks along Lawrence Expressway at no cost to the City (completed in 1997). [See below: How sidewalks were obtained along Lawrence Expressway], • Forced County Roads to restore the pedestrian underpass (at Lawrence crossing under Central) that is used by Lawrence Caltrain patrons (circa 1995), • Restoration of bike lanes along Lawrence that County Roads destroyed in 1993 for more car traffic lanes,
• Forced removal of "Pedestrians Prohibited" signs from Lawrence Expressway (1992) by using State law that only authorized (enabled) prohibiting them from freeways. • Forced removal of "Pedestrians Prohibited" signs from Central Expressway (1990): The City repealed the prohibition on that road in 1982, but County Roads repeatedly refused to remove these signs until I told the Director that I would get the City Police Dept. to enforce the City ordinance, and I would also send out a Press Release. ("No No," he said.) How sidewalks were obtained along Lawrence Expressway
Santa Clara City staff was so opposed to bicyclist use of bike lanes - which they lost after a 4-year fight by a narrow 3-4 vote in 1991 - that I doubted I could win for pedestrians by going to City Council. Staff continued opposing bicyclists even after the BUs votes to support bicycles (1988) and to require bike lanes (1989) on expressways. The BOS, at my request, ordered pedestrian paths along all expressways in 1991. In 1992, I forced County Roads to remove their illegal "Pedestrians Prohibited" signs on Lawrence Expressway, which violated State law that over-ruled the City's prohibitory ordinance and only authorized prohibiting from freeways. [CVC 21960 was since changed in secret to eliminate that right to use public roads.] Despite bicyclists and pedestrians being allowed, County Roads destroyed the bike lane along Lawrence in 1993 - without informing the City - and forced bicyclists, pedestrians and transit patrons to walk or ride in the 50 mph vehicular traffic lane. They also destroyed the pedestrian underpass (along Lawrence, under Central Expressway) used by Caltrain patrons walking to jobs in industry. County Roads actions were truly dangerous! Furthermore, County Roads violated both the BOS bike lane (1989) and path (1991) requirements.
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal the pedestrian prohibition. Page 6 of 7 County Roads did not want me to take this danger to the BOS. This was a roadway design failure of County Roads that, turthermore, violated BOS requirements. County Roads had already lost 3 out of 3 votes at the BOS. (Eventually, County Roads lost 7 out of 7 votes at the BOS. See Timeline in Links page.) And, County Roads lost at the City Council that allowed not only bicycles, but also use of the pedestrian underpass and walking on the expressway shoulders/bike lanes to access the underpass (1991). This indicated a full repeal in the future was likely.
I met with Scotty Bruce, Deputy Director, Design and Construction, Santa Clara County Transportation Agency [now named Roads and Airports Department], who agreed to restore the bike lanes, restore the pedestrian underpass, and construct sidewalks the entire way for the scope of the lane addition project - from the bridge over Fwy. 101 to Stevens Creek Blvd. These were completed by 1997.
Invitation: Bike tour San Tomas Expressway with Akos Szoboszlay I would show how easy it is to create the required paths. I will show the most dangerous spot for pedestrians. (Hint: It's for crossing the expressway, and it is easily corrected.) I am now retired, so l am flexible as to date and time. Please contact me.
Contact info: Akos Szoboszlay
email: expressway ["at" symbol] akos.us
call or text: 408-221-0694
Links (Note: Going to the first link would make other links clickable.) This article is at:
ModernTransit.org/2024/SCarticle.pdf
Speech to City Council of Santa Clara: ModernTransit.org/2024//SCspeach.pdf Letter to City Council of Santa Clara: ModernTransit.org/2024/SantaClaraRepeal.pdf County Roads' campaign to convert Lawrence Expressway into a freeway:
ModernTransit.org/2024/LawrenceAA.pdf
Page of clickable links: Lawrence Expressway proposals, Repeal of prohibitory ordinances, historical Timeline of expressway events, the main Expressway Topics, Links page, and more:
ModernTransit.org/2024/Links.pdf
Sidewalk Maps for each expressway:
ModernTransit.org/expy; then click the name of the expressway near the top. : Also contains links to the 2003 and 2008 County Expressway Plans.
County Roads opposed BOS policy. Repeal the pedestrian prohibition. Page 7 of 7 Epilog
The email below is from Santa Clara City Manager, Ms. Sparacino, answering our question for the source of the 60% figure in staff's "accident statistics," and requesting their data. Both County and City staff told City Council on 6/20/2006 that "roadway departure" of motor vehicles caused 60% of pedestrian fatalities on Santa Clara County expressways. In fact, these were of motorist fatalities on national freeways and highways, from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) website. (By far the most pedestrians fatalities on County expressways are for crossing the expressway.) - email from City Manager, Ms. Sparacino ==
August 1, 2006
To: Akos Szoboszlay, President, Modern Transit Society
Dear Mr. Szoboszlay:
I am writing with reference to your correspondence dated: (1) July 6, 2006, (2) July 19, 2006 and (3) July 24, 2006.
You stated that at the City Council meeting of June 20, 2006, Mr.
Yoshino gave a figure of 60% for fatalities that result from roadway' departures, and you requested a copy of the data. Attached are copies printed from Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) websites, indicating that approximately 60% of all fatal crashes in study year 2003 are roadway departure fatalities. The websites are as follows:
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/facts/road_factsheet.htm
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/crt/marketready/rumblestrips.pdf Sincerely,
Jennifer Sparacino
City Manager
cc: Mayor Mahan
Director of Public Works
Traffic Engineer
M. Murdter, Director of Roads and Airports, County of Santa Clara