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Bridge vs. Alignment Solution

SEE below for a plan that will have only positive footprints… our students… and that which needs YOUR VOICE to get it on the list of strategies BEFORE JAN 15)

 

    But first -- STOP THE CURVE/ALIGNMENT OF BROOK ST to SCHOOL ST.

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HIGH  IMPACT - NEGATIVE  FOOTPRINT  -  ABORT  THIS  OUTRAGEOUS  STRATEGY

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The Steering Committee of the Downtown Congestion Reduction Project has put this plan on their strategy list, thinking it will reduce traffic. Nonsense. This is HIGHLY negative and may directly impact you. Let’s put a stop to this, and keep our community safe. We need your help NOW.  See diagram and comments below

Brook St curve/allignment

My personal study shows the CORE REASON FOR TRAFFIC DELAYS on Moraga Rd. ARE THE PEDS crossing at Brook St. every 1.5 minutes for 50 minutes in the a.m. that coincide with commuters getting to the freeway. Traffic ensues when Ped cross.

 

PROS & CONS for the Brook St. curve and alignment of Brook/School Streets:

 

PROS

1)   None. Zero. Zilch. Nothing good will come of this, that doesn’t already exist.

CONS

1)   One of the main walking arteries (Brook St.) for schoolchildren will BECOME UNSAFE with more cars on the road choosing this as their new path.

2)   With a new intersection, a left turn will be allowed onto Brook St. at all hours of the day, enabling Brook St. to become the new Mt. Diablo Blvd. bypass.

3)   Students/peds will still have to cross Moraga Rd. and back-ups will continue. Nothing different then what presently exists will come from this expensive project except for a) a lot more traffic, and b) safety hazards for pedestrians.

4)   The demolition of the Masonic Lodge. Nothing but a city embarrassment.

5)   More traffic is never good where there is a tot lot play area.

6)   With a back road (Brook St.) that connects to the schools, MORE folks will opt     to DRIVE their kids to school, NOT LESS. The once quaint neighborhood drive that was Brook St. will become a THOROUGHFARE NIGHTMARE --24/7.

V O I C E   T O   B U I L D   A   F O O T B R I D G E   T O   A L L E V I A T E   T R A F F I C

A FOOTBRIDGE is a brilliant way to alleviate traffic on Moraga Rd. Cars will not have to stop for students crossing during the shared commute at 7:45-8:35am. PM too. Without peds crossing every 90 seconds, back-ups toward Rheem will eliminate.

 

Many folks won’t allow their kids to cross the heavily used Moraga Rd. However with a footbridge, MORE folks will let their kids walk to school to safely cross it.

 

The footbridge was short lived on the strategy list, and landed there because it received the only ovation of the evening when presented at the public outreach mtg in spring when the other (15) strategies were unveiled. The FOOTBRIDGE was a crowd pleaser unlike the curve/alignment--see reverse, which was met by a very disgruntled crowd whose questions/concerns were not successfully answered. The footbridge was a hot topic & should be on the strategy list for the city council to see.

Foot Bridge diagram

Interesting that the many hazards to curve and align Brook St. were not spelled out by the engineer team. They did however do a fine job with this diagram as I hoped it to be shown. But they don’t have a clue on what they call “significant drawbacks.”

These “drawbacks” are merely observations from someone’s desk. Not a pro study.

 

CONS -- Theirs:    “Large Footprint.” It looks beautiful to me!

REFUTE -- Mine:  The only footprint is of happy (children’s) feet crossing the span. No need to demolish the Masonic Lodge (as appears to be the case for the curve/alignment. Happy peds, happy drivers whose commute time will diminish.

 

CONS -- Theirs:     “Neighborhood Incompatibility” -- in a “residential” neighborhood.

REFUTE -- Mine:    Mostly commercial/business. Town Hall Theatre on one side, School on the other, Doctors offices on another, Masonic lodge on the 4th side. And what a nice view to see children crossing a safe path, rather then gathering and chatting underneath apartment windows (waking tenants) while waiting to cross.

 

CONS -- Theirs:      “Increased Walking Distance” WHAAAAT -- REALLY???!!!

REFUTE -- Mine:   a) Walking distance may be longer but it takes more time to wait the (90 seconds) for a walk signal. Most of the crossers are students. Extra exercise!

b) The crosswalk at Brook St. should remain for those choosing to use it during NON-commute hours, if a shorter path from point A to point B is desired then.

 

CONS -- Theirs:     “Cost requires use of significant land.”

REFUTE -- Mine:   a) Using 2 edges of a rarely used parking lot, and not demolishing a single structure is hardly using land. The span is in the air (not land). The school is fine offering their land to ramp down onto, as long as the city approves the plan.

b) If ramping structure is not mandated (since a crosswalk should remain for non-commute and the rare wheelchair), then a stairway and caged freight elevator should suffice and bring cost down.

c) The cost of a FOOTbridge is not more then any other earmarked projects that won’t even do a thing to minimize traffic. The goal is to reduce traffic, and satisfy ped safety. There’s no price tag when it comes to the safety of our community.

d) I am not opposed to having a fundraiser (if cost is an issue) to help fund and find donors’ who would want their name on the walking path. Moraga could join as well.

 

 

SOME ONE has BLOCKED THIS STRATEGY, because it just possibly proves better then theirs. SOME folks on the steering committee have NO CHILDREN, don’t live in the vicinity, and haven’t a clue nor does it seem they care what a detrimental choice a road alignment will cause to a child friendly neighborhood. Many will be angry.

 

The FOOTBRIDGE was sadly so SHORT LIVED that the OTHER COMMITTEES that review the strategies NEVER even SAW IT. This plan must get put back on the table.

 

Along with the footbridge, or in lieu of it, there is a “band-aid” approach that I was asked to submit to the city. The band-aid” only requires paint, new signs, etc. Very low cost and will minimize traffic (which IS the focus of the project). Until a longer term option (like a footbridge) is constructed, a “band-aid” should suffice.

 

W E    N E E D    T H E    P O W E R    O F    P E O P L E   at the January meetings.

These strategies are neighborhood concerns. All the (12-15) strategies the steering committee has gathered for viewing will be going to the city council ---LAST STOP --- in January. After that, we can do nothing else to fight for what we want. Either visit my website trafficgurulamorinda.com where I have listed the city strategies; or become informed at the two Jan. meetings (see below); or join us in person and we can create our own sub committee on these 2 issues before the Jan 15 meeting. Let me know your best availability days/times you can meet by emailing me: adele@trafficgurulamorinda.com.   We will go over all strategies, and answer questions.

 

The PUBLIC IS WELCOME. LEARN WHAT CONCERNS. SPEAK FOR 3 MINUTES.   

  Monday January 15th Lafayette Library downstairs art & science rm. Circulation Committee 7:00pm

  Monday January 22nd Lafayette Library upstairs in the community hall. City Council  7:00pm

REMEMBER YOU MAY SPEAK UP.   THE MORE THE BETTER.   IT’S UP TO US.

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