24 replies to this topic

[Terry]

Well, I for one am very happy that the new Wal-Mart will be out of the immediate Folsom area. The traffic congestion around Riley and Glenn is pretty bad due to the Post Office. More than anything Folsom needs a post office with adequate parking. There is always such a traffic jam in the post office parking lot.

Don't hold your breath for any US post office to have good parking or circulation from neighboring streets. When this particular post office was built, the feds submitted their plan to the Folsom building department as a courtesy. I believe the planning commission reviewed it and suggested some changes due to the lack of parking and the poorly laid out driveways, but the feds basically said, "we're providing the plans as a courtesy, you have no input and we're not going to change anything because the US post office doesn't have to go through the local planning process".

That explains so very much about the post office, doesn't it?

[Kerri Howell]

I have been trying (for the past 8 years) to get the Post Office the change the direction of the driveway that comes out onto Glenn. If that driveway allowed traffic to enter the post office, and all traffic left the post office on the side of the building closest to Kohl's, there would be far less congestion at the intersection of Glenn and Riley - so far, I have gotten NO cooperation from the post office - and all it would take would be moving the mail boxes to the other side of the driveway.

On the subject of Walmart - I too am having a hard time believing that they will build a new store and then expand the existing site. I said exactly that to the representative of Walmart that called me last week. I also suggested that they talk to the owner of the center and, instead of adding more space, modify the existing center to take over some of the existing VACANT spaces. Walmart is insisting that they really do need to have 2 stores in Folsom, because of the development that was approved south of 50 - at which point I explained that they might want to check their information again - as there IS NO APPROVED PROJECT SOUTH OF 50. Another important item - the City has not invited Walmart to build a super store - the property is already zoned for this type of use - and I believe that this will go to the Architectural Review Commission - and would only come to the Council in the event that an approval or denial was granted and then appealed. For those who feel strongly about this - either way - please watch the agendas for ARC, Planning Commission and the Council - or email the council members.

Kerri Howell

[FamilyMan]

I have been trying (for the past 8 years) to get the Post Office the change the direction of the driveway that comes out onto Glenn. If that driveway allowed traffic to enter the post office, and all traffic left the post office on the side of the building closest to Kohl's, there would be far less congestion at the intersection of Glenn and Riley - so far, I have gotten NO cooperation from the post office - and all it would take would be moving the mail boxes to the other side of the driveway.

Kerri Howell

Whoa, slow down Kerri. That makes way too much sense.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

I have been trying (for the past 8 years) to get the Post Office the change the direction of the driveway that comes out onto Glenn. If that driveway allowed traffic to enter the post office, and all traffic left the post office on the side of the building closest to Kohl's, there would be far less congestion at the intersection of Glenn and Riley - so far, I have gotten NO cooperation from the post office - and all it would take would be moving the mail boxes to the other side of the driveway.

Kerri Howell

Now that makes sense. What would it take to get the powers that be to take this recommendation seriously? How much work would be invovled... just repainting the arrows and moving the deposit boxes to the other side, right?

[ducky]

Thanks, Kerri, for trying to get them to change the direction of that impractical driveway at the post office! Too bad it would be a FEDERAL offense to just go in there with some paint and put in arrows going the opposite direction. Of course, I guess the mailboxes would also have to be moved. If they're worried about the egress for their mail carriers in the same driveway, they have plenty of room to put a separate drive way further down to accomplish going the other direction. Get rid of some of that grass they don't take care of anyway.

I'm with mylo. The only time I go there is to drop letters in the mailboxes. I hate the lines. I'd rather pay extra and go to MBE.

I also agree with Kerri that I don't see Wal-Mart keeping the existing store at Riley if they move out by 50. The only thing that might make it possible is their stated intention to expand the grocery section at the current store. With Food Source gone, they might be able to gain business that way. I personally like the nearby Raley's and I hope Wal-Mart doesn't hurt their business.

Edited by ducky, 24 April 2006 - 11:45 AM.

[bishmasterb]

I'm with mylo. The only time I go there is to drop letters in the mailboxes. I hate the lines. I'd rather pay extra and go to MBE.

Absolutely. Unless there's a significant cost difference, I always go to MBE. No lines...no wait...and no smell! The post office has an interesting smell to it, sort of a stale odor.

[folsom500]

and no smell! The post office has an interesting smell to it, sort of a stale odor.

That is likely from those in the line having been there for 2-3 days to get to the counter...

Cheers
F500

[Robert Giacometti]

Don't hold your breath for any US post office to have good parking or circulation from neighboring streets. When this particular post office was built, the feds submitted their plan to the Folsom building department as a courtesy. I believe the planning commission reviewed it and suggested some changes due to the lack of parking and the poorly laid out driveways, but the feds basically said, "we're providing the plans as a courtesy, you have no input and we're not going to change anything because the US post office doesn't have to go through the local planning process".

That explains so very much about the post office, doesn't it?

Terry,

I share your opinion about the Feds cooperating....However once the PO was built the way that it was...its the City who is responsible for approving the surrounding projects that created the traffic jams. The center where Kinkos is should have never been open to Glenn Dr...this way traffic could have continued to turn left onto Glenn from the PO mail drop off box.

Also, as you well know since that PO was built there has been numerous rezones (Commercial to housing and increasing densities) that have occurred in the city. When these happen they create additional users at places like the PO, Schools and traffic because they create more population. How many projects has the city denied because of traffic concerns in the last 16 years?

The Feds have no control over what the city does after the fact and IMHO should NOT be an excuse for poor planning decisions by the City for the surrounding projects after the fact.

[ducky]

At this point fingerpointing about who is to blame for the PO mess won't help. I think we can all agree that parking lot is a mess. I know I certainly consider it one of the most dangerous in town.

I think if there is a way to make the traffic flow better somebody should make it happen, be it city, Feds, or the FedEX fairy. My particular solution is to stay away from there at all costs.

[Robert Giacometti]

I have been trying (for the past 8 years) to get the Post Office the change the direction of the driveway that comes out onto Glenn. If that driveway allowed traffic to enter the post office, and all traffic left the post office on the side of the building closest to Kohl's, there would be far less congestion at the intersection of Glenn and Riley - so far, I have gotten NO cooperation from the post office - and all it would take would be moving the mail boxes to the other side of the driveway.

Kerri Howell

Kerri,

I appreciate your exploring this....but there could be more problems created by the above suggestion.

#1. All traffic would then be routed through the PO parking lot...its already challenging enough there with probably 1/2 of the traffic using the drop off mail boxes the way that it is currently designed.

#2. If you wanted to use the mail drop box you would then have to be Wbound on Glenn to enter....there are times traffic is already backed up to and sometimes through East Bidwell on Glenn. If there is an emergency where fire is responding traffic comes to standstill and adds to the problem.

#3. Anyone who wanted to use the PO drop box would then be routed onto East Bidwell and its already pretty congested now. Also anyone coming from west of the PO would have to go out of their way to be able to get onto Glenn.

Has anyone looked into creating another lane off of Riley going towards old Folsom, where drivers could drop things off on the right and then merge back into traffic?

Unfortunately there aren't any easy solutions....but i suggest getting cars off Glenn....not adding to it.

[ducky]

My thought about changing the direction on Glenn and forcing them onto Riley after dropping off letters was that at least those cars aren't getting back on Glenn. Riley is better equipped to handle the traffic than Glenn (two landes vs. one).

The way it is now people have to be on Glenn twice and wait through that light twice, hoping some kind soul takes pity on them and lets them in because the cars are backed up.

[DrKoz23]

Maybe the Post Office can move into the old WalMart building when it is abandoned.

Problem solved.

[Terry]

[quote name='Robert Giacometti' date='Apr 25 2006, 05:17 PM' post='110050']
Terry,

I share your opinion about the Feds cooperating....However once the PO was built the way that it was...its the City who is responsible for approving the surrounding projects that created the traffic jams. The center where Kinkos is should have never been open to Glenn Dr...this way traffic could have continued to turn left onto Glenn from the PO mail drop off box.

Also, as you well know since that PO was built there has been numerous rezones (Commercial to housing and increasing densities) that have occurred in the city. When these happen they create additional users at places like the PO, Schools and traffic because they create more population. How many projects has the city denied because of traffic concerns in the last 16 years?

The Feds have no control over what the city does after the fact and IMHO should NOT be an excuse for poor planning decisions by the City for the surrounding projects after the fact.
[/quote\

I would agree with you if the post office parking/driveway issues weren't a problem beginning with the day it opened at that location. Yes, it did get worse with surrounding development, but it was a very poor design to begin with, and the feds' refusal to listen to any input at all makes it their fault, not the fault of the city.

[ducky]

Maybe the Post Office can move into the old WalMart building when it is abandoned.

Problem solved.

Good thinking, DrKoz23. Another solution would be to put the neighborhood drop boxes back in so people could walk to drop off their mail like they used to be able to do and not have to make that trip in their car.

[cw68]

Good thinking, DrKoz23. Another solution would be to put the neighborhood drop boxes back in so people could walk to drop off their mail like they used to be able to do and not have to make that trip in their car.

Just moved here last month. There aren't any neighborhood drop boxes here? Crazy.