As an active member of the Third and Fourth Streets Neighborhood Association (TAF) I will be urging the Coronado Transportation Commission (CTC) to approve the ‘Recommended Concept Plan’ (Page 7-1through 7-20) and forward said recommendations to the City Council for further community discussion.
Fehrs and Peers are an established and highly reputable firm. Their integrity and expertise are unassailable. To ignore their recommendations defies logic.
The purpose of TAF is to improve our Third and Fourth Street neighborhood. TAF charter states our objectives are to “honor Coronado’s military, residents, pedestrians, bicyclists, children, and pets – through cooperative and creative neighborhood planning and participation.” Our intention is to foster a sense of community and concern for the common welfare that will improve the quality of life, not just for TAF residents, but for all who travel our neighborhood.
When TAF started as a neighborhood grassroots movement one year ago, I had no inkling of how complicated our roadway actually is. Put briefly, State Scenic highway merges into State Highway (SR) 75, funneling at high speed into the village neighborhood of Pomona, becoming Third Street until it meets Orange Avenue and becomes SR 282 and Avenue of Heroes, then finally Vice Admiral Stockdale Avenue at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI).
For its length, ours is the busiest route in the state of California, some argue the entire country.
Packed into this short bit of 2 State Highways are multiple jurisdictions; Federal, State, and City. Coronado is growing in popularity as a place to live, and draws an endless stream of tourist visitors. Third and Fourth Streets are a main artery, literal life’s blood, to Naval Bases Southwest five military installations. In the midst of so much hustle and bustle, Third and Fourth cut through town with a dangerous to cross and over capacity roadway, dividing beach from bay, the majority of residents from the hospital, and children from three schools, the City Recreation Center, the library, and sports.
Longstanding inaction and denial that the roadway is simply over capacity at peak hours – has pitted neighborhood against neighborhood, citizens against the police and the navy, placed unwarranted blame on Caltrans, and even against TAF residents; who “chose” to live “there.”
This is tantamount to saying we should not expect representation. Some have even shamefully blamed a child, who was denied his ‘right, to a SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL, and was hit by a car. True civic leadership takes the heat off citizens by making the tough decisions to ensure the community lives peacefully and safely together.
There was another child hit two months ago at the alley of G and Third, and another more recently – last Wednesday on the corridor.
I am looking for leadership. TAF has been a leader. We have established viable programs that have brought the community together by launching solution based initiatives: Avenue of Heroes – to give pride and identity to the neighborhood, Coffee with Cops – to establish relationships with our dedicated officers , Coronado Bridge Suicide Prevention Collaborative – to stop suicides on our roadway, and Caltrans Can – a pipeline for maintenance.
Traffic on Third and Fourth Streets is the number one complaint in Coronado. The CTC is being called to weigh in on this most challenging topic. As they deliberate, I believe the umbrella under which all discussions should fall are ‘safety and our core values’ as a city. These will also prove to be impenetrable arguments against denial and the “no changes” on the corridor proponents.
The benefits bestowed by the bridge, and the routes leading to and from it, are shared by all residents, regardless of the street upon which they live. It is neither unfair, nor inconsiderate, to ask that any burden that comes with the bridge also be distributed. I am hoping for strong and unwavering leadership in the face of what will certainly be loud self interests. Without such leadership our beautiful City’s entry and roads will remain unattractive, impassable, and unsafe.
