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132 | stoplights especially by the school to regulate traffic. He said currently, there are two poles with bright orange flags and that is the only way to get across the street safely. He exclaimed that safety is the most important thing. Commissioner Bellows asked that the speakers with children line up so she can pull their speaker slips in light of the current time. Cosma Hatragi, Maya Lin School student, said he bikes to school every day. He said he sometimes ride his bike after school to Franklin Park Pool to his sister's swim lessons. He explained during his ride there are many fast moving cars and he rides on the sidewalk, which is not safe for pedestrians. He thinks there should be bike lanes on Central Avenue. Deena Hatragin, mother, cyclist and Alameda resident, said she moved to Alameda because it is a bike able town and she uses her bicycle for everyday transportation. She felt very strongly to have her children ride bicycles as well and she hopes that more people will get out of their cars and onto bicycles. She heard over and over again that the City needs to make the island safe enough for everyone to ride, SO she approved the plan. Marissa Wood, Alameda Community Learning Center student, said she regularly shops at the farmer's market and Webster Street businesses. She explained when coming from the west end and approaching onto Webster Street she attempts to bike onto Santa Clara Avenue, but the part of Santa Clara Avenue west of Webster Street has many stop signs and the road is hard to share with cars. So, she stated that when she does not bike down Santa Clara Avenue, she will bike down Central Avenue which is very dangerous. She felt the project would help all members of the community because there will be parking spaces for motorists and the plan will reduce speed limits benefitting pedestrians. Jerry Cevente, 5th Street resident, thanked the Commission and staff for embarking on the study. He said he and his wife have been to all of the public workshops and he has lived on 5th Street for 25 years. He went on to say that he drives, walks, and bicycles on Central Avenue and it is harder to walk across and along Central Avenue. He said he likes seeing the amount of cyclists increasing, but on Central Avenue the cyclists end up on the sidewalk. He noticed the vehicle speeds along Central Avenue are a lot faster than the speed limit sign. He believed the bulb-outs and the flashing beacons at the crosswalks will create an advantage for pedestrians and make traffic flow better. He noted that the traffic signal installed at 3rd street is good, but that will bend the end of Taylor Avenue and eliminate the right turn lane with the ability to turn right onto 3rd Street. He explained that the report stated that a traffic signal on 5th Street may be erected and he felt it would be advantageous to have the signal sooner than later and possibly not run it as a true traffic signal all day, but during peak hours and then have it as a flashing red the rest of the day. He brought up the fact that Webster Street and the way that you see the traffic signals work on Central Avenue one light is available and then there is a turn coming up Webster Street going south has its own signal and coming up Webster north it has its own signal. Thus, each direction should have its own signal. He requested that the City work with the merchants on the northwest corner of Webster Street and Central Avenue about the impact to deliveries in the morning. Overall, he felt the plan is a real benefit because of the bicycle lane and narrow streets to have complete streets. Page 7 of 17 |