Item B: River Avenue Improvements

Home Browse Search

River Ave. Improvement Project Page 1 of3 CAHILL Michelle R From: Becky Riley [briley@efn.org} Sent: Tuesday, November 15t 2005 5:23 PM To: CAHILL Michelle R; SCHOENING Mark A Cc: ORTIZ Andrea F Subj&ct: River Ave. Improvement Project Comments on River Avenue Improvement Project I am a River Road resident~ and also a cyclist who uses the riverbank trail system and River Avenue to get to the shopping areas in Santa Clara, and near Beltline and River Road. I am glad to see improvements (especially the new road surface and bike accommodations) being made to River Avenue. and thank the City fOf giving neighborhood residents the opportunity to comment on the design. Improvements to Beltline underpass and River Road intersection: I support the idea that bike and pedestrian improvements to the Beltline underpass at the east end of River Ave. be moved up in priority~ as well as improvements to the intersection of River Ave. with River Road. It makes sense that, as bike and pedestrian improvements to River Ave. are made, improvements to these ends of the street are also made to ensure that the street is functionally connected to the likely access points and destinations for pedestrians and cyclists. The wording of the recommendations from the stakeholder group specified that "operational improvements" were recommended for the intersection of River Ave. and River Road. I am oot sure if "operational improvements" includes improvements for pedestrians and cyclist~ but I hope it does--or that such improvements would be done in any case, or prioritized in the City's future work plan. Currently, cyclists who use River Ave. are dumped straight into a very hostile intersection. If they are heading for shopping, they are then forced to mix with cars in turn lanes and again in negotiating through busy parking lots. The City has recently highlighted with a blue colored surface the segment of the bike lane that passes through the River RoadlBeltline interchange area. That helps make that one small segment a bit more visible--one hopesnto drivers, and perhaps a bit safer for cyclists. Yet, the intersection with River Ave. and areas around it remain "scary" for cyclists and pedestrians. Improvements to make the area more safe and attractive for cyclists and pedestrians might include pedestrian refuges or medians in the roadway. landscaping. striped and signed bike and pedestrian pathways through large parking lots and connecting with sidewalks and street bike paths, bike racks near commercial establishments. etc. It has been pointed out that the area near the intersection of River Ave. and River Road already is an incipient Mixed Use Center. with its mix of high density residential and commercial uses. This area would function more like a walkable neighborhood center if pedestrian improvements were incorporated. Indeed~ it seems that these improvements could be relatively easy and inexpensive for the City to implement (or encourage commercial businesses to install), and that they could have a relatively speedy and large positive effect in conjunction with the new improvements to River Ave. and the existing mixed uses in the area. Preserve and enhance natural drainage and neighborhood charact~r: The proposed design recommendations from the stakeholder group include installation of standard curbs and gutters for the full length and addition of a center turn lane at the east end (which had not been included. or deemed necessary, in the original proposal by city staff). City staff and the facilitator ofthe stakeholder process 12/2/2005