From: lynndeed
To: Rahus Tor; Glass Una; Sarah Glade Gurney; Hinton Neysa; Patrick Slayter; Diana Rich; Mclaughlin Larry; Mary Gourley
Cc: Bike Sebastopol
Subject: Re: Bike Sebastopol] Council Meeting March 15. Support for City to apply for ATP funding for Ragle Rd project Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2022 12:18:16 PM
Attachments: Bodega Ave bike lanes concerns vs a multi.pdf Dear Bike Riders and Council,
I have a dilemma with this issue. The Sebastopol Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan shows the improvements along the City stretch of Ragle Road as painted sharrows. Multiple studies find sharrows will not be much of an improvement. They are obsolete, confusing to drivers, and will not make the road safer.
The great majority of the money for this grant is for unprotected bike lanes on Bodega Ave.
These lanes will be dangerous. The design is bad, they do not come near meeting many standards, are not appreciated by the most competent bike riders familiar with this road, and will hardly be used.
On the other hand we still have the opportunity to have a parallel trail to Bodega Ave that is off-road, safe, scenic, and has a comfortable consistent grade almost its entire length. This trail, the Apple Blossom Trail, would run from the Rodota Trail to Apple Blossom School with excellent connections along the way - especially to schools. In 2014 the Council agreed to start the process of adding these two trails proposed by the Council appointed Complete Streets Committee, the Apple Blossom Trail and Gravenstein Trail, into the Master Plan.
Nothing has been done in spite of many in the community appearing before the Council asking that they start moving on this.
Some might say, support this grant anyway. Something is better than nothing, and besides the Federal government is paying for nearly all of it. However, according to the Sonoma County representative to MTC, the Bay area Commission that distributes Federal Transportation dollars, award of this huge grant will put an end to any future grants for our small town of Sebastopol "for an unforeseeable time.” The grant request will be for around $10,000,000.
We might be considered by MTC for another grant years down the road, but, these trail opportunities will likely be long gone.
So what to do? A champaign to point out these issues to MTC when the grant request is made - to preserve funding for another day? Or work to push the Council on the long over due update of the Master Plan with these trails? Both? I have included additional information about safety below for question that come up.
Lynn Deedler
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Why is the Council holding back acting on the trails? When three on the Council were asked this several years ago all had the same answer - “they had heard that what the community wants is bike lanes along Hwys 12 and 116.” The most competent bikers around almost universally disagree and in writing. I have seen at least fifty support letters asking for trails. I do not believe there are any for the Bodega lanes. A hundred plus of the community showed up to support the trails when they were presented to Council. That is a lot.
Sebastopol Police reports show nine injury accidents in the last three years on the 116 bike lanes. The National Transportation agency says only 1 in 10 car/bike accidents are reported. (Example in attachment below.) Bodega Ave will be far more dangerous than 116.
Lost opportunity. Both trails mentioned are mostly on public property, but also need to cross some private properties to work. Nearly all the property owners are supportive. ie, On the Apple Blossom Trail two key properties are needed, the Memorial Cemetery and St Stephen Church. Still !
Below is a long list of documented safety issues with the Bodega lanes, and opinion quotes from Sebastopol bike shop owners, and local Bike Coalition members. ___________________________________________________
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On Mar 14, 2022, at 12:59 PM, Rahus Tor > wrote:
Greetings,
this is late notice, but perhaps you have a few minutes to write a short email to the City Council in support of approving that staff apply for ATP funding for the Ragle Rd (etc) project that was partially designed in 2018. Additional info on the council agenda is here.
One can also make comments during the meeting, but written comments are also very effective.
The ATP (Active Transportation Program) funding is a great source for this project as it requires only small amount of matching funds.
I know you'll have a lot more questions, as did I, but at this point, best is to register support for the city to move forward on developing more bike friendly features on our streets. This point in time is just to let them know that it's important to approve that staff move forward with this application for funding.
Past Tuesday evening, I believe we'll have an opportunity to help shape the proposal so that it has greater chance of securing funding. Note that the final design will come AFTER ATP funding is secured and after input from our group and other community members.
Send your comments of support to
[email protected]
[email protected]
Here is what I wrote and sent earlier today. You can use some or all of it, if you like.
------------------------------------------------------------------ Greetings,
A short note to voice support for the City of Sebastopol to pursue funding for bike mobility improvements via the ATP funding source. (ref Agenda Item for March 15th Council meeting)
Much of the preliminary work has been done for the section of Bodega Ave - Ragle Rd - Mill Station when the City applied for ATP funding in 2018, such that we should be able to improve our proposal score and secure funding successfully this time.
Adding safe bike features in the city will help increase ridership, reduce emissions associated with vehicle transportation, and provide additional community benefits. Transforming Ragle Rd into a bike safe corridor, helping to connect to other existing routes, is one important step closer to becoming a bike friendly community.
Thanks in advance for approving this next step of the process to apply for ATP funding for this project.
Looking forward,
Tor
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