Re: [Ebbc-Talk] Community Meeting May 22, 7 PM to Discuss Webster Street SMART Corridors Project

So if I've got this right they want to....

Install superfluous technology, that acts as little more than a comfort
blanket to motorists and a sop to the emergency services (don't people have
cell phones to call in accidents?)
Synchronize the road for cars- too fast for bikes.
Remove the rights of pedestrians to cross freely at Pacific by installing
signals.
Spend lots of money on consultants and engineering.

The only thing that sounds SMART is re-instating the crosswalk option at
Central. Something that should never have been done in the first place. A
real SMART solution would be to make the commercial part of Webster a 2-lane
road with bike lanes. It's a place to shop not drive through!

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jon Spangler
Sent: 20 May 2012 19:53
To: BikeAlameda List
Cc: Obaid Khan; EBBC Discussion List
Subject: [Ebbc-Talk] Community Meeting May 22, 7 PM to Discuss Webster
Street SMART Corridors Project

A proposed "SMART Corridors" Project on Webster Street will be discussed at
the College of Alameda this Tuesday, May 22, at 7 PM in Room D119 at the
College of Alameda, 555 Ralph Appezzato Parkway.

The SMART Corridors Project would smooth traffic flow and enhance transit,
auto, and emergency vehicle travel and responses. 

It would:

1. Install non-recording cameras in west Alameda to alert emergency services
departments in case of accidents;

2. Install 3 electronic advisory signs to alert Alameda drivers when one or
both tubes are blocked by accidents;

3. Synchronize signal timing along Webster Street in Alameda;

4.  Replace a crosswalk that was removed from Central Avenue at Webster long
ago;

5. Add a signal light at Webster and Pacific;

6. Provide signal priority for transit and emergency vehicles ("queue
jumping").


The link to the announcement and the text of the press release are below.
 
http://www.cityofalamedaca.gov/About-Alameda/Press-Releases?display=156

The project staff report is here:

http://www.cityofalamedaca.gov/getdoc.cfm?id=7876

and an updated presentation on the project is here:

http://www.cityofalamedaca.gov/getdoc.cfm?id=8035



For more project info, contact:

Obaid Khan, P.E.
Supervising Civil Engineer
City of Alameda
950 West Mall Square, Room 122
Alameda, CA 94501
PH 510-747-7938/747-7926; FAX: 510-769-6030 okhan-TRFGz8y94AjhJ1H5RvZ0SeG/[email protected]



Jon Spangler
Writer/editor
Linda Hudson Writing
TEL  510-864-2144
CEL 510-846-5356
[email protected] 
www.linkedin.com/in/jonmspangler
www.twitter.com/jonmspangler


"She who succeeds in gaining the mastery of the bicycle will gain the
mastery of life."
  -Frances E. Willard, in A Wheel Within a Wheel: How I Learned to Ride the
Bicycle (1895)


The Public Works Department needs community input and invites the public to
a meeting that will be held on Tuesday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m., in Room D119,
at the College of Alameda. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss
and provide comments on the proposed Webster Street SMART Corridors Project.
Supported by the Fire and Police Departments, as well as staff from AC
Transit, the primary goals of the project are to improve emergency response
to collisions in the Posey Tube, reduce travel time for life support
services to reach the Trauma Center in Oakland, and improve AC Transit's
ability to stay on schedule by reducing overall travel time of buses.
To meet these goals, the Webster Street SMART Corridors Project would:
. Install three electronic traffic advisory signs that will be activated
only when necessary to alert the public to emergencies and accidents in the
Posey Tube and recommend alternate routes. The signs are proposed to be
installed at the intersections of:

o Buena Vista Avenue at Constitution Way;
o Lincoln Avenue at Webster Street; and
o Third Street at Ralph Appezatto Memorial Parkway.
. Install five non-recording cameras to provide the Police Department with
real-time monitoring of traffic conditions and to provide appropriate
emergency response, as incidents occur. The non-recording cameras are
proposed to be installed at the following intersections:
o Lincoln Avenue at Constitution Way;
o Central Avenue at Webster Street;
o Ralph Appezatto Parkway/Atlantic Avenue at Webster Street;
o Near the entrance of Posey Tube; and
o Near the exit of Webster Tube.
. Coordinate all traffic signal lights along Webster Street between Central
Avenue and Stargell Avenue so buses and cars can travel along the streets at
a safe speed with a minimum number of stops.
According to Police Chief Michael Noonan, "This project would reduce Police
response time for service calls along Webster Street and the Posey Tube by
providing real time information directly to the department's communications
center. It would improve the overall safety for our residents using Webster
Street and the Tubes." Fire Division Chief Daren Olson agrees with the
safety benefits of the project saying, "The project would reduce emergency
response time along Webster Street, especially to the Trauma Center in
Oakland, thus improving overall public safety."
In addition to the public safety benefits, the project would also improve
safety for all modes of transportation by:
. Striping a new crosswalk on Central Avenue at the easterly side of the
Central Avenue and Webster Street intersection, where pedestrian crossings
are currently prohibited;
. Adding cameras at all intersections with a traffic signal light so the
presence of a single bicycle will alert the traffic light to turn green; and
. Providing a new traffic signal light at the Webster Street and Pacific
Avenue intersection.
Additional information on proposed improvements may be accessed on the
following web page under "Current Project Documents:"
http://www.cityofalamedaca.gov/City-Hall/Traffic-and-Transportation.
The May 22 community meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. at College of Alameda
in Room D119. The College of Alameda is located at 555 Ralph Appezzato
Memorial Parkway. Individuals unable to attend the meeting may submit
written comments to Obaid Khan, Supervising Civil Engineer, at City Hall
West, 950 W. Mall Square, Room 110, or by email at okhan-TRFGz8y94AjhJ1H5RvZ0SeG/[email protected]
All written comments will be part of the official public record.
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