8 replies to this topic

[capt_karma]

(Posted also under General Forums)

With Light Rail coming to Folsom the city is going to spend over 2.1 million dollars to install another traffic signal on Folsom Blvd. which will add to the traffic problems. The location of this new traffic light will be at the intersection of Bidwell Street and Folsom Blvd, just down from Natoma Street.

At one time the city said that when Natoma Crossing was completed they would block off Bidwell Street at Folsom Blvd. This made sense then and today much more when looking at the current intersection today. There is no 'turn lane' for north bound Folsom Blvd. traffic turning right onto Bidwell Street and no safe merge area for traffic turning from Bidwell Street on to South bound Folsom Blvd.

I can expect that when Light Rail is complete there will be a backup of traffic wanting to turn from Folsom Blvd on to Bidwell Street when the crossing bars are down waiting for the trains to pass.

My suggestion is to NOT put in the traffic light and to block off Bidwell at the new Light Rail tracks and save having another Folsom traffic impediment!

I am compelled to write on this subject because of the increase flow of traffic through our neighborhoods as commuters try to find the fastest way through Folsom (using our residential neighborhoods) because:

1) Speed has increased so has the number of cars traveling,
2) Although Bidwell Street is no longer a Truck Route I am awaken by trucks at 1-3am speeding by, (One such truck is from the Sacramento Bee),
3) Our kids can not safely cross Bidwell Street because no motorist will stop at an intersection that has no stop sign, allowing them to cross.

Our current City managers are not interested in the feelings of affected residents, only in what will bring in more income to the city. If they can't do something to cure our traffic problems, with or without a Dam Road in the next elections they need not expect a vote from me.

[Terry]

Capt Karma - I responded to your neighbhood post also under General Forums.

We must be neighbors and you seem to be experiencing much the same frustration about the increased traffic on Bidwell. I've also noticed an increase in litter along Bidwell. Must be the same drivers who have been diverted from old town since residents there complained about litter also.

I guess we should be thankful we don't have some of the other problems around town. I'm tired of the guy who has parked his RV on Bidwell for over a year now, and just moves it a few feet every time the city tags him for having it parked there over 72 hours. But that's relatively minor.

Nice sharing common thoughts with you.

[Terry]

Apparently, the traffic light at Bidwell and Folsom is not a done deal because of the lack of public hearing on the subject. When Light Rail made the presentation to the city some years ago and had public input, the concept for Bidwell and Folsom was to leave it an uncontrolled intersection just as it is now. That was discussed in a public hearing, and approved. Now, it seems they's proposed a traffic light without public hearing. There's a sign on Bidwell Street telling interested persons to call 355-7220 which is the City Manager's office regarding the light at Bidwell and Folsom Boulevard.

I'm not sure what kind of impact we can have on this decision, but at least we should have a PUBLIC forum to voice our concerns.

[pebbles]

Bidwell Street needs to be closed off. The merchants in the central business district wanted to keep it open. Bidwell can be closed now that Glenn is open.

[camay2327]

Bidwell at Folsom-Auburn road is going to be closed for awhile as they are going to
putting the light rail in at that intersection. Not sure of the dates.

[Terry]

Bidwell Street at Folsom Boulevard will be closed from Monday October 13, through Thursday, November 6. It's day 2 now, and the relief on residents is significant. I'm amused though by the people who still go around the barricade at Sibley and Bidwell thinking they can get through somehow and then a few minutes later you see them coming back. Some people don't think signs apply to them I guess.

I vote for permanent closure unless there's a significant increase in police presence on Sibley and Bidwell.

[swede]

if you live in the bidwell st,sibely area we encourage you to attend the next city council meeting oct 28 at 6:30 pm this item is supposed to be on the agenda for discussion get the word out people need to start speaking up instead of grumbling under their breath hope to see you at the next council meeting or e-mail us would be glad to fill you in on what we know

[Terry]

Folsom City Public Works is having a Sibley/Bidwell traffic meeting again on Wednesday evening, October 22, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Public Works Conference Room at City Hall.

This is the forum in which you can have input into temporary and permanent solutions to the traffic in the Bidwell/Sibley area.

[Terry]

The next meeting of the Bidwell-Sibley neighborhood group on traffic issues is Wednesday November 12 from 6 to 8 PM at City Hall, tentatively in the Council Chambers.

The group is very productive and has some good ideas, although I think passthrough commuters will not like some of the solutions proposed.

My impression at this point is that the city is working very hard to return the streets to the residents and I appreciate the city's efforts.