The safety improvements for our stretch of Highway 9 were officially approved this morning. Knowing that no other family in our valley will have to endure the loss of a child to this road brings me more relief than I can explain. We turned our grief into action and forced …
April 23, 2019
Final supporters
As a community, we are signing this petition with broken hearts over a recent tragedy in Felton. Residents of the San Lorenzo Valley have expressed concerns about pedestrian and bicyclist safety along Highway 9 for over a decade. We have done this in gatherings organized by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), by our County Supervisor, and other individuals in our community. Thankfully, a project aimed at improving safety for local pedestrians and cyclists was included in the Draft Highway 9/San Lorenzo Valley Complete Streets Corridor Plan that was recently put out for public comments, and many of us, including our County Supervisor, Bruce McPherson, identified the pedestrian/cyclist safety project from the schools to Felton ("Project 9" in the draft plan) as our top priority.
However, on Thursday, February 21, less than a week after a Felton resident vividly described to the RTC the dangers of a particular stretch of Highway 9 near downtown Felton, Josh Howard, a beloved 22-year-old graduate of our local high school, died in a car vs. pedestrian accident along that very section of road as he was walking home toward Henry Cowell Park after a day shift at a local business.
It is heartbreaking to all of us, and we feel for everyone impacted by this tragic event. It is in the best interests of our community, our environment, and economic opportunity (for those who don't have cars) for people to be able to walk and bike more, getting out of their cars as much as possible. But those people need to feel and be safe. We urge the Regional Transportation Commission to respond with a statement making the “safe pedestrian/cyclist route” project a top priority and letting the community know when work will start on the solution. We also ask that they dedicate the official "safe route" in Josh's memory.
Updates
March 10, 2019
Seeing one thousand names on this list brings home the reality that Josh was loved by so many people in this valley. We are turning this collective grief into undeniable pressure for the change he never got to see.
Reached 1,000 supporters
March 8, 2019
Reached 100 supporters
March 6, 2019
March 4, 2019
Seeing the count climb toward one hundred shows how many of us are still hurting after losing Josh. I need everyone to help push us past this milestone so officials cannot ignore the demand for a safer road in Felton.
395 Comments
With new library branch soon to open, safe pedestrian/cyclist path for the 1 mile distance along hwy9 from SLV elementary, middle school, high school campus to new library after school programs should be RTC plan very top priority
My now adult children spoke of the dangers when they and their friends had to walk along highway 9 to get to and from the high school. There should be safe multi-use paths near the high school and also from the intersection of Graham Hill Road to Henry Cowell Park entrance.
This is a safety and economic justice issue. It's low-earning members of our community who must walk to work along these dangerous roads, thus exposed to vehicle strikes. These deaths are too frequent and too tragic. Please make pedestrian safety a priority in the SLV.
I support this after the tragic death of my brother's step son, Josh Howard, who was recently killed on Highway 9 walking by from college. Please make the agencies see sense and make this route safer for pedestrians!
The pedestrian was killed in front of my house. I witnessed a bicyclist almost hit in front of my house yesterday - he literally had to push the car off him. It's not safe to walk or ride on Highway 9 from SLV schools to Graham Hill in Felton. Something needs to be done SOON!
Let's keep eachother safe.
How many innocents have to b slaughters on these roads?
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The safety improvements for our stretch of Highway 9 were officially approved this morning. Knowing that no other family in our valley will have to endure the loss of a child to this road brings me more relief than I can explain. We turned our grief into action and forced …
April 23, 2019
Final supporters
As a community, we are signing this petition with broken hearts over a recent tragedy in Felton. Residents of the San Lorenzo Valley have expressed concerns about pedestrian and bicyclist safety along Highway 9 for over a decade. We have done this in gatherings organized by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), by our County Supervisor, and other individuals in our community. Thankfully, a project aimed at improving safety for local pedestrians and cyclists was included in the Draft Highway 9/San Lorenzo Valley Complete Streets Corridor Plan that was recently put out for public comments, and many of us, including our County Supervisor, Bruce McPherson, identified the pedestrian/cyclist safety project from the schools to Felton ("Project 9" in the draft plan) as our top priority.
However, on Thursday, February 21, less than a week after a Felton resident vividly described to the RTC the dangers of a particular stretch of Highway 9 near downtown Felton, Josh Howard, a beloved 22-year-old graduate of our local high school, died in a car vs. pedestrian accident along that very section of road as he was walking home toward Henry Cowell Park after a day shift at a local business.
It is heartbreaking to all of us, and we feel for everyone impacted by this tragic event. It is in the best interests of our community, our environment, and economic opportunity (for those who don't have cars) for people to be able to walk and bike more, getting out of their cars as much as possible. But those people need to feel and be safe. We urge the Regional Transportation Commission to respond with a statement making the “safe pedestrian/cyclist route” project a top priority and letting the community know when work will start on the solution. We also ask that they dedicate the official "safe route" in Josh's memory.
Updates
March 10, 2019
Seeing one thousand names on this list brings home the reality that Josh was loved by so many people in this valley. We are turning this collective grief into undeniable pressure for the change he never got to see.
Reached 1,000 supporters
March 8, 2019
Reached 100 supporters
March 6, 2019
March 4, 2019
Seeing the count climb toward one hundred shows how many of us are still hurting after losing Josh. I need everyone to help push us past this milestone so officials cannot ignore the demand for a safer road in Felton.
395 Comments
A safe, appropriately wide bike and pedestrian lane is absolutely needed for both north- and southbound Highway 9, particularly near busy intersections. I have often cycled between Felton-Ben Lomond-Boulder Creek, during non-peak traffic times.... still very challenging!
With new library branch soon to open, safe pedestrian/cyclist path for the 1 mile distance along hwy9 from SLV elementary, middle school, high school campus to new library after school programs should be RTC plan very top priority
My now adult children spoke of the dangers when they and their friends had to walk along highway 9 to get to and from the high school. There should be safe multi-use paths near the high school and also from the intersection of Graham Hill Road to Henry Cowell Park entrance.
This is a safety and economic justice issue. It's low-earning members of our community who must walk to work along these dangerous roads, thus exposed to vehicle strikes. These deaths are too frequent and too tragic. Please make pedestrian safety a priority in the SLV.
I support this after the tragic death of my brother's step son, Josh Howard, who was recently killed on Highway 9 walking by from college. Please make the agencies see sense and make this route safer for pedestrians!
The pedestrian was killed in front of my house. I witnessed a bicyclist almost hit in front of my house yesterday - he literally had to push the car off him. It's not safe to walk or ride on Highway 9 from SLV schools to Graham Hill in Felton. Something needs to be done SOON!
Let's keep eachother safe.
How many innocents have to b slaughters on these roads?
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A safe, appropriately wide bike and pedestrian lane is absolutely needed for both north- and southbound Highway 9, particularly near busy intersections. I have often cycled between Felton-Ben Lomond-Boulder Creek, during non-peak traffic times.... still very challenging!