Long read, but worth it! Get the word out and get those signatures!

Passed on from a supporter of our cause: Folks, this is long, but my husband, in communications and engineering industry (who is not on FB, but active on NextDoor- it's there too) felt compelled to find out how, when, where and why all this craziness started. Please read on if you want the background scoop. We attended the MVCC meeting on 7/12/17. Mr. Bonin was asked the question. He did not answer. Here you go. Happy reading. " Nextdoor Facebook Post Unsafe Streets Venice Blvd. Relinquished: Many have questioned why an attempt to slow traffic on Venice was not done by lowering the speed limit with new signage. Many did not know (and still do not) that Venice Blvd. is also designated as California State Route 187. As a state HIGHWAY it is subject to Caltrans and state policies that govern the setting of speed limits. I read the wording about how CA raises speed limits on their highways in a Nextdoor post but could not find it so I went on line and found the ca.gov wording regarding what some term “The California Rule”: “In practice, speed limits are normally set at the first five-mile per hour increment below the 85 percentile speed, defined as that speed at or below which 85 percent of the traffic is moving. Further reduction must be documented by and clearly justified by an Engineering and Traffic Survey.” What happens is this: When a new freeway like the I-10 gets built, the previously heavily used state highways like Venice Blvd. (CA SR-187) and Lincoln Blvd (CA SR-1 aka: PCH) then carry less traffic, but as freeway traffic builds over the years, the local cities, fed-up with the increasing speed limits and growing traffic back on the older CA highways imbedded in their business and residential communities reach-out to strike a deal with Caltrans to relinquish the highway to the municipality. As a city “street” and technically no longer a formal CA highway, it is no longer subject to the CA rule to increase speeds to 5 MPH below what 85% of the cars do safely/regular traffic flow. That basically says to Garcetti & Bonin, do as you wish. Set your own speed limits, signals, stop signs, bike lanes, speed bumps, etc. What do Caltrans and the Governor receive in exchange? Caltrans saves the money to maintain the roadway and Garcetti & Bonin are implementing Jerry Brown's Vision Zero through Mobility 2035, Road Diets, Great Streets, and other social engineering plans that are actually designed to force you out of your car. In addition to L.A.’s control of this section of Venice, Caltrans included $14.5 million dollars. You can read this for yourselves at the following links (or at least a couple of quotes I’ve taken directly from the referenced documents). Link to “CA SR-187 (Venice Blvd.) Relinquishment Assessment Report Feb. 2015”: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/divisions/planning/cm/SR%20187%20Relinquishment%20RAR%20Final%2003-12-2015%20Final%20Signed.pdf Taken from the link above – L.A. requested this action: “The City of Los Angeles requested the relinquishment in an effort to better meet the needs of and directly serve its community. The City’s interest in pursuing the relinquishment is primarily for the flexibility in making future improvements to the corridor. The relinquishment of SR-187 will allow the City of Los Angeles to expedite proposed improvements and maintenance without going through the encroachment permit process, reducing delays. Currently, the City of Los Angeles is planning for a complete street concept project. The relinquishment would allow more for flexibility and resources to expedite this proposed improvement. The City of Culver City has not formally expressed interest in pursuing relinquishment of SR-187 within its city limits. However, Culver City has been made aware of the proposed improvement project planned by the City of Los Angeles. The City of Culver City is supportive of the proposed improvement. The City of Los Angeles staff will further coordinate with the City of Culver City regarding the proposed improvement and relinquishment of SR-187 within their city Limits.” Further, Caltrans intends to relinquish ALL segments of SR-187 (Venice Blvd.) incrementally: “Ultimately, District 7 intends to relinquish all the Secondary System segments, including SR‐187 within Los Angeles County. Due to the authority given and limitations by legislation, plus the challenges of multi‐jurisdictional agreements and commitments, it is a general practice to legislatively relinquish route segments in a piece‐meal fashion. Though the relinquishment of entire State Highway Route to the local jurisdiction is not occurring simultaneously, this approach would ensure that the relinquishment occurs at the earliest time possible, and avoid the potential of delay or rescission of relinquishment project.” A photo contained in the doc shows that the section of Venice west of Lincoln was relinquished in 1995 And here is the Draft Relinquishment Agreement link: http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2016/16-0147_misc_08-23-2016.pdf If you as I have wondered where the money to do this came from, many speculating possibly from Measure M funds (but Councilman Bonin will not disclose), here is part of the agreement at the link above that mentions what Caltrans financially agreed to (14.5 Million to L.A.): “4. To pay CITY, within thirty (30) days of approval of funding by CTC, the amount of $14,500,000 or any other allocation approved by the CTC. The payment of those funds will represent CALTRANS's only payment obligation for the purpose of the RELINQUISHED FACILITIES.” The city of Santa Monica also received relinquished section of Lincoln Blvd. (CA SR-1) from the 10 freeway to its southern border. They too have a link to their “LiNK Plan” (Lincoln Neighborhood Corridor Plan) to redesign that blvd. https://www.smgov.net/Departments/PCD/Plans/Streetscapes/Lincoln-Neighborhood-Corridor-Plan-(LiNC)/ If the state and local governments can force this upon us with the rubber stamp of the MVCC on one section of Venice and Caltrans intends to give the entire blvd. away, then NO ONE IS SAFE or EXEMPT from this! If this redesign is incrementally done on the majority or entirety of the route, MILLIONS of people will be affected! This is why it is so important to oppose the project as there are already 40 rights of way that Garcetti has targeted for road diets. Heaven help us if they ever do this to CA SR-2 Santa Monica Blvd!