Market Street Improvements
Published Saturday, April 16, 2011
When People Power Steering Committee member Connie Wilson talked to her neighbors about a proposed new development for the segment of Market Street just north of Highway 1, they immediately thought, "If they are going to put more housing on that street, they better make sure that it has good bike and pedestrian improvements." Then they got straight to work. By the time Connie, Beth Moorehead, Rick Hyman, Theresia Rogerson, and others approached People Power for support, they had already galvanized the neighborhood and worked with City staff to come up with options. The developer, KB Housing, had already agreed to a bike lane and sidewalk on the west side of the street but no bicycle/pedestrian facility on the east side. This segment of Market Street is an important route to DeLaveaga Elementary School.
City Council (and People Power) members Don Lane and David Terrazas negotiated with the developer for more improvements. In March, the City Council heard a proposal that included widening the sidewalk on the west side to seven feet, and modifying the driveway for slower speeds. KB also offered another $20,000 towards bike lanes and a sidewalk on the east side of the street (estimated at $200,000 by Public Works).
With $20,000 committed to the design, People Power lobbied City Council to place the project on the funded part of the CIP list, to apply for state and federal grants, and to build the project by 2013. The Council agreed to all of these conditions at their April 12 meeting, having been urged on by dozens of cyclists, neighbors, and parents of DeLaveaga students.
People Power generally does not take a stand for or against any particular development. However, we are committed to working with neighbors to ensure that any new building project results in urban landscapes that are better for both cycling and walking—on both sides of the street.