1 Xavier Mota
From: Caro Vilain <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, November 13, 2023 12:13 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support for item 5C
EXTERNAL
Dear council,
I’d like to share my support for item 5C.
As someone who lives right off of Santa Monica Blvd, I can’t stress enough how incredibly unsafe it is.
Just on my block, I’ve witnessed multiple traffic collisions, caused by cars making unsafe left turns onto my street (so that they can then cut through and speed, in front of a preschool), by cars running lights, by cars speeding, by drunk drivers,...
We also regularly hear and see drivers using it as a race track at night.
Either I’m walking or biking, I often find myself taking detours just so I don't have to cross Santa Monica Blvd on my block, because the flashing beacon on my block simply doesn’t do much of anything to stop or even slow drivers on this race track. But even when I cross at a light, cars make reckless right turns, and run the light.
I’d love to see right turns only/ left turn restrictions at unsignalized intersections (similar to Wilshire). And truly, I’d love to see a dedicated bus lane, either on Santa Monica Blvd or on Wilshire. We can’t keep dedicating these boulevards to cars only, and expect them not to be incredibly unsafe. We’ve done enough of that to know that it doesn’t work, for anyone, especially considering the large amount of businesses and health care facilities located on these corridors.
Let’s put this grant to good use.
Thank you,
Caro Vilain
90404
ITEM 5.C.
November 14, 2023
ITEM 5.C.
November 14, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Cynthia Rose <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 12:30 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; David White
Cc: [email protected]; Anuj Gupta
Subject: Support Agenda Item 5C
Attachments: 2023- CC Support Item 5C SM Blvd Safety Study Grant.pdf
EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica Mayor Davis and City Council,
Please see the attached letter from Santa Monica Spoke and the Santa Monica Safe Streets Alliance in support of agenda Item 5C.
‐‐
Cynthia Rose
Director
Santa Monica Spoke
SMSpoke.org
ITEM 5.C.
November 14, 2023
ITEM 5.C.
November 14, 2023
A community group dedicated
to biking and walking in Santa Monica.
Working to make the
City of Santa Monica a
more sustainable,
bikeable & walkable place to live, work and play.
November 14, 2023
Support: Agenda Item 5C, Caltrans Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program for the Santa Monica Boulevard Safety Enhancement Study
Dear Santa Monica Mayor Davis and City Council,
Santa Monica Spoke and the Santa Monica Safe Streets Alliance fully support agenda Item 5C to adopt a resolution to accept a grant from the Caltrans Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program for the Santa Monica Boulevard Safety Enhancement Study to advance Vision Zero safety improvements.
Like the Wilshire Blvd Safety Study, this second safety grant will help set an important foundation to build on achieving the City’s priorities of Clean, Safe, Sustainable and Connected Community, and Santa Monica’s Vision Zero commitment to eliminate preventable fatalities and serious injuries caused by traffic collisions by 2026.
Thank you in advance for supporting staff's initiative and for Council's leadership moving our community toward a safer, more equitable and connected Santa Monica!
Sincerely,
Cynthia Rose
Director, Santa Monica Spoke Cris Gutierrez
Co-Chair, Santa Monica Safe Street Alliance Co-Chair, Santa Monica Safe Streets Alliance SMSpoke.org
SaMoSafeStreets.org
ITEM 5.C.
November 14, 2023
ITEM 5.C.
November 14, 2023