In the wake of a fatal accident on Montezuma Road last year, when a cyclist was killed by an automobile while riding in the bike lane, the CACC called on the City of San Diego to take measures to improve bike and pedestrian safety on Montezuma Road.  The City undertook a study of what could be done to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians, and has now put forward a draft plan to widen the bike lanes and buffer zones on Montezuma Road by restriping the street. 

According to Brian Genovese, Senior Traffic Engineer in charge of bike lanes, the designs are achieved through the narrowing of motor vehicle travel lanes.  The width of the bike lane and buffer differs slightly within each block segment along Montezuma due to the limitations in street width.

However, the widths are typically as follows: 

• Fairmount to Collwood, 7' Bike Lane, Buffer varies but at least 3'
• Collwood to 54th, 6' Bike Lane, Buffer varies but at least 3'
• 54th to 55th, Bike Lane width varies both sides 5' - 6', Buffer on the north side only, width varies 
• 55th to Campanile, 5' Bike Lane, 2' Buffer
• Campanile to El Cajon, 6' Bike Lane, Intermittent Buffers, width varies

Mr. Genovese notes that in the segment from 55th to Campanile, the width limitations require modifications to the raised median islands in order to preserve parking while fitting in bike lanes.  If there is opposition to modifying the islands, then the City would have to remove parking or not include bike lanes along this segment. "As you can see", he says, "it's a balance act of needs and limitations."

He further notes that implementation of the draft designs are contingent upon the schedule of other projects that will be resurfacing the street segments, some by pipe projects and some by pavement preservation. Some of the segments are in a moratorium.

While it's the CACC's position that maximum safety for cyclists and pedestrians will be achieved only through a physical separation between pedestrian/bike and motor vehicle lanes, the planned restriping will certainly improve bike and pedestrian safety on Montezuma, and is good news for the College Area.

CACC Meeting Report 

Our July meeting was an eventful one. In anticipation of the approaching fall semester at SDSU, a number of residents attended to speak in favor of strong police enforcement of the City's Community Assistance Party Plan (CAPP) and other measures to control noise and parties, as well as strong enforcement of parking and anti-dumping regulations. In addition, residents asked for speed bumps or other traffic calming measures on Catoctin Drive, La Dorna, Richard and Gary Streets. One resident requested designation of a portion of Montezuma Road in memory of Charles Raymond Gilbreth, who was killed while cycling there in 2012. This proposal will be considered in September.

We held the first of two public hearings on proposals for capital improvements in the College Area to be requested in the City's fiscal year 2015 budget, and kicked off the process of updating the College Area Public Facilities Financing Plan (PFFP), which was last done twenty years ago in 1993.

The PFFP will set priorities for which streets, intersections, sidewalks, storm drains, parks, recreational or other public facilities need to be built or upgraded in the College Area in the future, ranked in order of importance to the community. Improvements slated for the near term often change from year to year, depending on the City budget and what funding sources are available. Long term priorities, though, don't tend to change.

After we prioritize necessary long term improvements, City staff will calculate their estimated costs and then set the level of Development Impact Fees (DIFs) for new residential and commercial/industrial projects. Impact fees help mitigate the cost of public facilities necessitated by new development in the community. For example, the impact fee developers must pay for each new residential unit built in the College Area is currently $2,484. Considering that this DIF rate was first set in 1993 and has been adjusted only slightly, it's apparent that the College Area is long overdue for an update to its PFFP. When funding does become available through DIFs, the PFFP determines which improvement gets built first.

Closely related, but not identical, to the long term PFFP is the City's annual Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The CIP sets budget priorities for capital improvements during the upcoming year, and looks at all funding sources, not just DIFs. Last year, for the first time, the City Council asked for suggestions from the City's communities as to which projects were most urgently needed. This year, the process has been further refined and formalized.

At our July 10 meeting, we held the first of two hearings on the College Area's proposed CIP for the coming year, with the second one scheduled for September 11. Final recommendations are due to the City by October 1. Last year, the projects recommended for funding were as follows:

1. Sidewalks and a 2-way bike lane on Montezuma Road to improve bike and pedestrian safety.
2. Sidewalks on portions of Reservoir Drive and 70th Avenue to improve pedestrian safety.
3. Joint use park with natural turf at Tubman Charter School in conjunction with the San Diego Unified School District, to improve recreational opportunities in the College Area, which has insufficient park space.
4. Development of a pocket park in the College Area (location not identified) for reasons identified above.
5. Mobility study and sidewalk improvements on portions of El Cajon Blvd. to improve pedestrian safety and walkability.
6. Pedestrian bridge over Montezuma Road at Hardy Elementary School (54th Street) to improve pedestrian and bike safety.

Additional improvements suggested at this year's hearing included the following:

1. Tree planting in the College Area, which has lost 27% of its tree cover in recent years.
2. Purchase of property adjacent to Montezuma Park to expand the park, since the College Area remains deficient in park space.

Final decisions on the College Area's proposals for the 2015 CIP will be made at the September meeting, following the second public hearing.

News from San Diego State University

Megan Collins, Director of Government and Community Relations at San Diego State University, provides this update on what is happening at SDSU as they prepare for the beginning of the fall semester:

For the first five weeks of the semester, SDSU will again host Aztec Nights. Aztec Nights provides vibrant campus nightlife and social opportunities for students to become engaged in positive, substance-free social and educational activities without having to leave campus.

Research shows that experiences during the first six weeks of school help freshmen to adopt healthier socialization habits throughout their college. The full lineup and location of Aztec Nights events can be found at http://go.sdsu.edu/aztecnights.

If you have questions about this year's Aztec Night events, please contact Megan at mcollins@mail.sdsu.edu.

Construction of SDSU's new Aztec Student Union is moving rapidly along. It's anticipated that the building will officially open in January 2014, and the College Area community is invited to attend the grand opening celebration, date To Be Determined.

This certified LEED Platinum building will open up opportunities for community interaction on SDSU's campus. With meetings rooms, a 300 seat multi use theatre, Wi-Fi, a state of the art bowling alley and games center, and an Aztec Rec Center express facility, there will be something for everyone.

SDSU hopes you will feel welcome in the "living room" of the campus. For more information visit http://as.sdsu.edu/aztec-student-union/.

There was an overwhelming response to SDSU's offer of tickets to the university's Football Home Opener and KGB Sky Show on August 31.

While all complimentary tickets have now been spoken for, SDSU athletics has generously agreed to offer discounted tickets in the same section for those still interested in attending. Please contact Megan at mcollins@mail.sdsu.edu for more information.

Against Crime

By Officer Edward Zwibel:

The first Tuesday in August, (August 06, 2013) is a national day of solidarity for neighborhood watch groups. Typically, events are held in each division and Officers stop by the block parties of the people who choose to meet. I'd like to encourage you all to have a front yard / block party on that Tuesday night to show that crime is unwelcome and stand together with the rest of the nation.

Please let your community relations officer know if you will be meeting so they can try to have someone stop by as time allows to thank you for your gathering! This City would not be able to have the safety rating we enjoy without active neighbors like yourselves. Again, Thank you! 

Be In The BOO! Parade 2013