To: R. Batra
From: "Akos, Modern Transit Society"
Subject: Repeal Resolution 5603: prohibition of pedestrians
Cc:  "Dave Pitton"
Bcc: 
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Mr. Rajeev Batra, PE
City Engineer

Dear Sir:

Councilmember Moore asked me to give you this information. Here are links for San Tomas Expressway with regards to complying with the County Expressway Master Plan that was also endorsed by the City Council in 2003.

http://moderntransit.org/expy/st.html

Here is the map from this Master Plan. In addition, we suggest a dirt path (or trail) be built in portions (as shown on the aerial map), not because using 5-foot shoulders on two blocks are unsafe for walkers or bicyclists, but because many people would not feel comfortable walking on it.

http://moderntransit.org/expy/santomas-map.html

Let me know if you would like to meet, and/or view San Tomas so I can point things out. 
My phone is 221-0694.

The reason for bringing this topic to the BAC is that the BAC is the only entity in the City where most, and probably all, of its members are experienced users of expressway shoulders. They have the most knowledge about safety, in addition to using statistics. These confirm that crossing the expressways and expressway intersections are where collisions occur, and that walkers or bicyclists going along the expressway on the shoulders are very safe. 

County staff needs to comply with the requirement in the Master Plan to create a dirt path at intersection areas. However, they refused because that would "encourage pedestrians to violate the 'pedestrians prohibited' signs". The solution is to repeal Resolution 5603 and to inform County staff to create a dirt path where-ever it would not be safe to walk otherwise, as is stipulated in the Master Plan.

Sincerely,

Akos Szoboszlay,
President
Modern Transit Society
http://moderntransit.org            PO Box 5582, San Jose CA 95150            408-221-0694