09/30/2023
PB Cycle 8 Project Title: Slower Streets for Safety: “5th Street “Slow Street”/”Bike-Pedestrian Boulevard”
The name of this project is very misleading. When I think of bringing safety to 5th Street, I think of a plan that will deal with all of the homeless situation we’ve been forced to put up with daily. Encampments, illegally parked vehicles, illegal dumping, vandalism, theft, drugs, crime, etc.
I learned of this project from our district council member. She was mislead by the title of this project as well. It took some digging to get a copy of the proposal. However, once we got it and reviewed it, we realized this project would kill our 75 yr old family business. We are an importer and wholesale distributor of fasteners – nuts, bolts, screws, threaded rod, etc.
Our loading ramp can only be accommodated in our back driveway that is accessible from 5th Street only.
We receive everything from UPS, FedX, commercial semi trucks to transporting ocean freight containers. These vehicles enter 5th Street heading northbound towards our property from Maritime aka Sequoia.
According to the proposal by Dave Balef, if approved by 5th St residents this project would block northbound vehicle traffic to allow for a bicycle lane.
If not approved, it would allow the City of Vallejo to implement things like roundabouts, and roundabout curbing, “tight turn” signage, speed humps, sharrows, planters, bollards, delineators, and others at all of the cross streets along 5th St.
The PB committee did not discuss this project, while obtaining votes, with any of the 5th Street businesses or residents, that I am aware of.
5th Street has commercial properties at both ends that require access to both north and south bound lanes of 5th Street. It would be dangerous to run bicycle lanes through these commercial areas.
It is not safe for bicyclists to make there way down 5th St. through all the homeless encampments.
I did some research and contacted other residents and businesses on the other end of 5th Street, they hadn’t heard about this project either.
Our street will now have to deal with special interest groups in the city, wanting to bring bicycle traffic from outside into our neighborhood. This would make navigating our street and accessing our driveways whether business or residential very dangerous. There are not enough bicyclist living on this street to justify this project and this disruption to our already disadvantaged neighborhood. We are also concerned for a residential, church and business neighbors and their potential loss of parking. How will this bike lane in front of homes and businesses impact fifth Street real estate values?
PLEASE SAY NO TO THIS PROJECT!