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HomeMy WebLinkAbout032425-03 KALIN, ALAN EMAIL RECVD 032425 (2)STAFF REPORT Danville Safety Advocates & Bike East Bay March 18, 2025 Subject: High-Risk Corridor Sycamore Valley Road - Camino Tassajara To: Allan Shields, Transportation Manager, Town of Danville Executive Summary Sycamore Valley Road - Camino Tassajara is a high-risk corridor for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. With vehicles frequently exceeding 55 mph, the lack of protective infrastructure has led to numerous collisions, including multiple fatalities. Despite years of documented dangers, proactive safety measures for cyclists have yet to be implemented, leaving thousands of residents and visitors vulnerable. One proven solution is the implementation of Class IV Protected Bike Lanes, which have been shown to reduce fatalities and injuries while improving mobility for all road users. This report, prepared by Danville Safety Advocates and Bike East Bay, highlights the urgent need for immediate action and calls on the Town of Danville to implement proactive safety measures before another tragedy occurs. As community members, safety advocates, and local leaders, we share a collective responsibility to create safer streets for everyone. We invite the Town of Danville, local stakeholders, and community members to join us in a collaborative effort to identify and implement the most effective safety solutions. By prioritizing infrastructure improvements, we can ensure that cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists can travel safely along this corridor. Let’s work together to transform this High-Risk Corridor into the low stress bikeway envisioned in the Contra Costa County’s Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The time for action is now. We look forward to working with the Town of Danville to make meaningful safety improvements that protect lives. 2 A History of Tragedy—Why We Must Act The Sycamore Valley Road – Camino Tassajara corridor has a devastating history of severe and fatal collisions, underscoring the immediate need for critical safety improvements. This report is dedicated to those who have lost their lives along the Sycamore Valley Road – Camino Tassajara Road corridor. • 1986 – Shannon Adams a student at Monte Vista High School lost her life while riding a bicycle at the corner with Camino Ramon. • 2003 – Troy (10yrs old) and Alana (7yrs old) Pack were walking on the sidewalk with their mother when they were hit and killed by a vehicle along Camino Tassajara Road. • 2011 – Mahindokht Dowlati and her daughter, Elham Pirdavari lost their lives in a vehicle crash at Brookside Drive (photos below). • 2022 – Joyce Huang (32yrs old) was walking in the crosswalk when she was fatally struck by a vehicle at Wood Ranch Drive. • 2025 - Sandy Hall, a 57-year-old woman died in a crash at the corner with Camino Ramon (photo pg#1). Despite these heartbreaking tragedies, the Town of Danville has yet to implement sufficient safety enhancements along this hazardous corridor. With each passing day, lives remain at risk. We encourage you to explore the Danville Interactive 188 Bike-Vehicle Collisions Map (2009- 2024) to gain a deeper understanding of the risks along this corridor. 3 Collision Data and Trends in Danville High-Risk Corridor: Sycamore Valley Road - Camino Tassajara From 2017 thru 2024, nearly 30% of all reported traffic collisions in Danville have occurred along the high-risk corridor of Sycamore Valley Road - Camino Tassajara. This critical stretch of roadway has consistently been identified as a dangerous area for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, contributing significantly to the town’s overall traffic-related injuries and fatalities. Key statistics from this period include: • Total collisions: 335 • Bicycle-vehicle collisions: 24 • Pedestrian-vehicle collisions: 10 • Vehicle-on-vehicle collisions: 301 (majority resulting in injuries) These statistics paint a troubling picture of traffic safety in Danville. The high frequency of crashes, particularly those involving vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians , highlights the urgent need for immediate safety interventions. Without necessary improvements, this corridor will continue to pose a serious risk to residents, commuters, and recreational users of the roadway. Danville Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) & Unaddressed Safety Risks The Danville Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP), approved on January 16, 2024, highlights this corridor as having the highest Equivalent Property Damage Only (EPDO) score, a critical measure of crash severity. 4 Key safety concerns identified in the LRSP: • Camino Tassajara accounts for 25% of all high-injury collisions in Danville. • Cyclists are disproportionately affected: o 39% of all severe injury or fatal crashes involve cyclists (the highest percentage of any category). o 92% of bicyclists involved in collisions sustain injuries. Despite these staggering statistics, the LRSP explicitly recommends the implementation of separated bike lanes (Recommendation R33PB), a proven safety measure that could drastically reduce collisions and injuries for cyclists. The failure to implement the recommended safety measures along Sycamore Valley Road - Camino Tassajara Corridor not only jeopardizes the well-being of Danville residents but also contradicts the goals set forth in the LRSP . However, to date, no concrete action has been taken to implement this crucial safety upgrade along the high-risk corridor. Understanding the Risks The Sycamore Valley Road–Camino Tassajara corridor operates more like a high-speed four lane highway than a community road, creating a dangerous environment for all road users. Its wide lanes, lack of protective infrastructure, and minimal traffic enforcement encourage excessive speeds, making it particularly hazardous for cyclists and pedestrians. Cyclists frequently encounter vehicles parked in designated bike lanes, forcing them into precarious and unsafe conditions (photo below). Many local riders and especially families with children actively avoid this corridor altogether, either choosing to drive or choosing longer less direct routes through back streets and trails to ensure their safety. However, hundreds of non- residents pass through this area weekly, often unaware of the risks, placing themselves in significant danger. Would you feel safe riding a bike next to vehicles moving at over 55 mph, with as many as 1,000 cars and large trucks passing by each hour, and no physical barriers for protection? 5 One of the most visible examples of this risk is the weekly ride of The House of Pain (HOP) cycling group, which sees 50 to 70 riders navigating this hazardous stretch every Saturday (photos below). We invite you to watch these two videos for a firsthand perspective on the challenges of cycling through the High-Risk Corridor.. A Proven, Urgent Solution: Class IV Protected Bike Lanes Video - City of Irvine Class IV Protected Bike Lane The Town of Danville has long demonstrated a commitment to enhancing its network of trails and on-street bicycle facilities, as outlined in the Bicycle Master Plan. The plan emphasizes this dedication, stating: “The Town has continued its commitment to improve upon its robust network of trails and on - street bicycle facilities to keep pace with the demand and to address safety issues.” 6 However, the demand for safe cycling infrastructure has significantly outpaced what the Bicycle Master Plan initially envisioned back in 2020. To uphold Danville’s commitment to cyclist safety and accessibility, it is essential to implement Class IV protected bike lanes along high - traffic corridors. This infrastructure will create a safer, more connected biking network for cyclists of all ages and abilities, aligning with Danville’s long-term vision for sustainable and secure transportation. Why Class IV Protected Bike Lanes Are Critical Class IV protected bike lanes provide a proven, life-saving solution by introducing physical separation between cyclists and motor vehicles. Unlike conventional bike lanes, which rely solely on painted markings, Class IV protected bike lanes incorporate dedicated barriers such as curbs, bollards, planters, or raised lanes to create a clear and enforced separation between different modes of transportation. Without dedicated infrastructure, cyclists often resort to riding on sidewalks to avoid dangerous road conditions. This increases the risk of cyclist-pedestrian collisions. This design is essential for improving safety not only for cyclists but also for pedestrians and motorists by reducing conflicts, minimizing risks, and creating a more predictable traffic flow. According to the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) in the 2025 Urban Bikeway Design Guide: “Protected bike lanes should be explored for all streets with daily traffic volumes over 6,000, where speeds exceed 25 mph, or where multiple travel lanes exist in each direction.” 7 Sycamore Valley Road and Camino Tassajara Road: A High-Stress Corridor for Cyclists, Pedestrians and Motorists Sycamore Valley Road and Camino Tassajara Road meet and exceed all the criteria for classification as high-stress roadways for cyclists. The hazardous conditions on these roads make them particularly unsafe for bicycle travel due to: • Extremely High Traffic Volume – In 2017, these roads carried a combined daily traffic volume of approximately 30,000 vehicles, which is 5 times the maximum threshold recommended by NACTO for the installation of a Class IV protected bike lane. • Excessive Vehicle Speeds – Traffic frequently reaches 55 mph, more than double NACTO’s recommended limit for roads requiring protected bike lanes. • Multiple Travel Lanes – The presence of multiple lanes in each direction increases the potential for conflicts between cyclists and fast-moving vehicles. These factors substantially elevate the risk of severe cyclist injuries and fatalities, underscoring the urgent need for a protected bike lane system. Given these conditions, the installation of Class IV protected bike lanes is not just a recommended improvement—it is a critical safety necessity. The Benefits of Protected Bike Lanes for All Road Users Implementing Class IV Protected Bike Lanes provides significant safety benefits for cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians by creating clear separation between different modes of transportation. For cyclists, dedicated bike lanes reduce direct exposure to fast-moving vehicles, lowering the risk of severe injuries and fatalities by up to 50%. By providing a designated, protected space, cyclists are far less likely to be struck by passing or turning vehicles, making biking a safer and more viable transportation option. For motorists, protected bike lanes minimize unpredictable interactions with cyclists , reducing instances of sudden swerving, rear-end collisions, and side-impact crashes. Without cyclists sharing vehicle lanes, drivers experience fewer distractions and disruptions, leading to improved traffic flow and a safer, more predictable driving environment. For pedestrians, the addition of protected bike lanes creates an extra buffer zone between sidewalks and traffic lanes, improving overall safety and visibility. This additional separation helps reduce the likelihood of collisions at intersections and crosswalks, giving drivers more time to react to pedestrians. Studies have shown that cities implementing Class IV bike lanes experience an overall decline in vehicle speeds , further lowering the risk of serious accidents for walkers and joggers. By implementing protected bike lanes, Danville can create a safer, more accessible environment for all road users. 8 Urgent Call for Action: Implementing Class IV Protected Bike Lanes Every day without action puts more lives in danger along the Sycamore Valley Road – Camino Tassajara corridor, a high-risk area for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists. The Danville Safety Advocates and Bike East Bay urgently call on the Town of Danville to immediately implement Class IV Protected Bike Lanes to enhance safety and prevent further tragedies. A Firsthand Look at the High-Risk Corridor Sycamore Valley Road - Camino Tassajara To underscore the immediate need for action, we formally invite the Danville Town Council Members, the Transportation Manager and Town Staff to experience the corridor firsthand by participating in a bicycle ride through the High-Risk Corridor—an area where cyclists face daily life-threatening risks due to high-speed traffic and inadequate infrastructure. Seeing these conditions in person will provide critical insight into the urgency of safety improvements. Request for an Immediate Safety Meeting Additionally, we formally request a meeting with Town representatives to: • Discuss and outline immediate actions for installing Class IV Protected Bike Lanes. • Focus on implementing designated, separated spaces that protect cyclists and pedestrians from fast-moving traffic. Next Steps & Confirmation Please confirm your availability for the bicycle ride-site visit in March and the safety meeting in April. Lives are at stake—urgent action is required. We look forward to working with the Town of Danville to make meaningful safety improvements that protect lives . Prepared by: Danville Safety Advocates (BikeDanville.org) & Bike East Bay(Bike East Bay) References: Urban Bikeway Design Guide - National Association of City Transportation Officials Third Edition 2025); Caltrans - Design Information Bulletin-94 Complete Streets: Contextual Design Guidance(PDF) ; CC: Bike East Bay – Robert Prinz (Advocacy Director) People for Bikes – Ash Lovell, Ph.D. (Vice President Government Relations)(Peopleforbikes) 9 Danville Safety Advocates – Leadership Team Alan Kalin, Jeff Eorio, Bruce Bilodeau, Kyle Smith, Chris Kenber, Todd Gary, Gary Spinella, and Nicola Place Danville Town Council – Renee Morgan, Karen Stepper, Mark Belotz, Robert Storer, and Newell Arnerich Town of Danville Staff - Joe Calabrigo (Town Manager), Tai William (Assistant Town Manager), Diane Friedmann (Development Services Director), Rob Ewing (City Attorney), Edwin Martinez (Traffic Engineer) Danville Bicycle Advisory Commissioners - Angela Wang, Jose Gutierrez, Connor Fitzpatrick, Chris Heck, Time White and Ryan Ozimek Office of County Supervisor Candace Anderson – Carol Mascali (District Representative)