Imagine walking down a tree-lined, meandering sidewalk dotted
with planter boxes, benches and restaurant tables. A bike lane on
each side provides ample room for the many cyclists in the area and
vehicles slowly pass by, passengers enviously eyeing diners
enjoying a meal.
Imagine walking down a tree-lined, meandering sidewalk dotted with planter boxes, benches and restaurant tables. A bike lane on each side provides ample room for the many cyclists in the area and vehicles slowly pass by, passengers enviously eyeing diners enjoying a meal.
That’s the vision that can be accomplished with a new two-lane (yes, one lane each way) road through downtown Morgan Hill.
The city is in the process of gathering public input for which of three options they’d like to see.
“Alternative One” would polish and improve the street’s existing four lanes, 22-foot median, 10- to 12-foot sidewalk widths and add markings to one lane on each side indicating it can also be used by bicyclists. The estimated cost for that option is $5.4 million to $6 million.
“Alternative Two” is the “hybrid” option requested by the council in February. It would be four lanes with markings, a 16-foot median in some places and a 22-foot median in others, and sidewalks varying from 10 to 20 feet wide. That option is estimated to cost $7 million to $7.7 million.
“Alternative Three” would narrow Monterey Road to two lanes all the way from Dunne to Main avenue, widen the sidewalks to 20 feet and leave the median at its current width. That option would add a bike lane, and would cost $7.5 million to $8 million.
And, that’s the option the city council should eventually approve. It mirrors the city’s Downtown Specific Plan and its successful completion will allow the downtown to become a destination, a comfortable spot for bicyclists, pedestrians and patrons, not a thoroughfare for those looking get from Dunne Avenue to Cochrane Road. If that’s the desire, use Butterfield Boulevard.
For those who argue that the city should not be spending up to $8 million to fix something that isn’t broken, consider this. Improving the road is akin to restoring a classic car that runs, but isn’t in top-notch condition. That car will look a lot better and be worth a lot more once restored. That’s the goal for downtown.
Now, it is possible for an inexpensive dry run. Temporarily close one lane and make it a bike lane. Let’s see how traffic reacts. Our bet is once people learn of the new configuration, they’ll take alternative routes to get north and south and those cruising through downtown will travel slower.
We should be maximizing our efforts now in an effort to improve downtown. Doing so is good for us all, from business owners, to pedestrians, to bicyclists and to the city in increased revenue.
The next public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at City Hall, 17555 Peak Ave.
