The Friends of Live for Logan are pushing forward on traffic calming measures in Oceanside.  The Pilot Traffic Calming Program is on the agenda for Wednesday, January 20 at 6:00 pm.

The group says the program will make it safe for bikes and pedestrians to cross between North and South Oceanside by adding a buffered bike lane and a mid-block crossing, as well as reducing and slowing traffic.  This is a temporary solution until  the process for permanent improvements is completed.

Read on to see how you can support the program:

IF YOU WANT SAFE PASSAGE, PLEASE

1. SIGN THE PETITION:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-safe-passage-for-bikes-on-coast-hwy.html

2. COME TO THE MEETING: Oceanside City Hall Wednesday, 1/20/16 at 6pm

You don’t have to speak.  Your presence alone is very important.  We anticipate opposition to the bike lane and the cross walk.  It is important for City Council to see that many Oceanside residents, parents and business owners support safe passage.

If you have questions about the Pilot Program, check out the Q&A below.

THANK YOU!

Live for Logan

Questions & Answers

Q: Aren’t people working on designs for Coast Hwy?  Shouldn’t we wait for the Steering Committee and Community Workshops?

 

A: They are, but we cannot.  The Coast Hwy Vision Plan was first approved in 2009, and the committees and workshops have yet to yield a proposal.  In 2013, the City funded this very Pilot Program for South O.  Instead of going from four lanes to two and back again, it would have simply extended two lanes coming out of Carlsbad.  The beautiful bike lanes that cross the Buena Vista Lagoon would have extended into Oceanside.  Unfortunately, a vocal minority derailed the program, stalling efforts to slow traffic and accommodate bikes and pedestrians on Coast.

The City’s engineers have determined that the existing “lane” fails to meet several minimum standards and is unsafe.  Because it is narrow and uneven with no buffers, people ride on the sidewalk.  This is particularly dangerous because obstructed sightlines at several driveways force cars onto the sidewalk to see oncoming traffic.  The Pilot Program makes the Dip safe while the formal process–steering committee, community workshops and all–continue uninterrupted and unimpeded.  Whatever comes out of that process will supercede this program.  This is just paint.

 

Q: Will the project cause traffic delays?

A: Yes.  Fortunately, the City’s models suggest minimal delays after the initial adjustment period.  While inconvenient, minimal delays are preferable to the alternative. We all navigate the lane reduction at Vista Way on a regular basis.   The worst case scenario there is that you miss the light.

Q: Why are we focusing only on Oceanside to Morse?

A: This is the only stretch of Coast for which there is no safe alternative.  Pacific Street is only marginally safer.  But, it also lacks a bike lane, has very fast traffic, and the added problem of on-street parking without buffers, a serious hazard for bicyclists (particularly small ones).

Most importantly: Oceanside Unified School District does not provide busing.  Almost every child who lives in North Oceanside is districted for South O Elementary and Lincoln Middle.  Like Logan, those kids are responsible to traverse this stretch every day, twice a day.

Q: Is it expensive?

A: The total cost program is $120,000.

Q: Will this hurt business?

A: It is possible, but it’s not exactly clear how.  There is very little construction.  Brief traffic delays could be problem, but slower traffic can also help business.  The cross walk is a long overdue improvement that will surely boost property values.  As Coast becomes more hospitable for pedestrians and bicyclists, the recreational RV parks will benefit, as well.

Q: Can’t we just lower the speed limit through there?

A: Unfortunately, no.  The City only posts “enforceable speed limits,” which is the speed 85% of drivers are travelling at or below.  As it turns out, the only way to lower the speed limit is to slow traffic first.  The Pilot Program will do that.

Q: Can’t we just narrow one of the lanes a bit to make more room for the bike lane?

A: One lane can be narrowed (the other is at minimum width) but, because this stretch services particularly large vehicles, the lanes should not be at minimum width.  It’s not hard to imagine the problem with having a too-narrow traffic lane  alongside a bike lane with no buffer.

Q: Can’t we remove the middle turning lane?  There isn’t one in North or South Oceanside….

A: The City’s traffic engineers have found this would be dangerous, given the size of the RVs and towing vehicles coming in and out of the driveways in the Dip.

Q: If there is a traffic jam, will fire and police vehicles be able to get through?

A: It will actually be easier for fire and police vehicles to get through the dip in high traffic.  Not only do they have the center turning lane, but, in case of emergency, they will have the shoulder, the bike lane and the buffer.