The first phase of the Santa Fe Dr. project is due to open for business in the next week or two. Go and check it out!
In a nutshell – we’re making the street safer for people walking, biking, and driving. However, for various reasons (explained in the FAQs below), the project has taken MUCH longer than planned.
Unfortunately, due to the delay and the lack of understanding by many, a small group of vocal people is creating controversy and threatening the completion of the entire project as it was initially designed.
Our City Council needs to hear from you! They need to know that you support safe streets and that the Santa Fe Dr project should be completed as planned!!!
FAQs about the Santa Fe Dr project:
Project Goals
This project is a visionary design that sets Encinitas apart as a leader in safe mobility for all. Key features such as protected intersections, separated bikeways, a midblock crosswalk and a pedestrian refuge island improve visibility and decrease collision risks creating a more predictable environment for all users. More specifically, in its intended and complete design, it accomplishes several things:
- It enhances cyclists’ safety with a separate bikeway on the street’s eastbound and westbound sides. ✅
- It improves pedestrian safety with high visibility crosswalks at the intersections and a mid-street crosswalk with a Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacon (RRFB), which increases motorist yielding by up to 98%. ✅
- The project narrows the motorist travel lane width, encouraging motorists to reduce their speed and pay more attention. ✅
- Head out angled parking increases the amount of on-street parking, improves safety for motorists when they get out of their vehicles and reduces collisions when motorists pull out of parking places. ✅
- The project, in its proposed entirety, includes protected intersections at MacKinnon Ave/Nardo Dr and Bonita Dr/Winsor Rd cross streets – yet our current City Council has delayed them, and their fate remains uncertain. ❌
Why is the project taking so long?
Under every street is a city unto itself – utilities of all sorts, including sewer lines, water lines, etc. Unfortunately, there has been poor documentation of the exact location of these utilities. Multiple changes had to be made during construction to avoid utilities that had been unclear in the plans, thereby delaying the project.
Why are the protected intersections being delayed?
Due to delays and issues with the current contractor, the city staff thought it prudent to terminate the contract with the current contractor and hire a new contractor to complete the protected intersections.
At the same time, the new City Council has been critical of the project. They are convinced that no one likes it because the people who speak the loudest have voiced objections. Most of the objections are due to the long construction time of the project. That, of course, will cease being an issue once the project is completed. The City Council has delayed the completion, saying they want to get feedback on the current configuration of the project for several months before completing the protected intersections.
What are the risks of not completing the project?
The Santa Fe Dr. Project was designed as a holistic system that provides the maximum benefit for its users when all its components are integrated. City Council’s decision to delay (and potentially omit) the protected intersections compromises the effectiveness of the original design and increases the potential for collisions between pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
The city faces potential liability if they don’t protect the intersections at Nardo/MacKinnon and Windsor/Bonita. Due to the incomplete implementation of the project, cyclists entering the intersection are more vulnerable to being hit by motorists turning right onto these side streets. The protected intersections would slow right-turning cars and improve the visibility of pedestrians and cyclists.
We need your support!
The Santa Fe Dr project has the potential to improve the safety of students at San Diego Academy (SDA), provide additional convenience for Bobby Riggs patrons and ultimately enhance walkability and bikeability for the surrounding community. City Council will only complete this project to its full and intended design if they hear from Encinitas residents who support it.
For inspiration, here is a link to a letter I wrote to the Encinitas Advocate about the project.
To make it easier for you to contact your council member, here is a sample letter that you can use as is or rewrite in your own words. 👇
Dear Mayor Ehlers, Deputy Mayor Lyndes, and Councilmembers O’Hara, Shaffer, and San Antonio,
Over the last several decades, the City of Encinitas has been steadily upgrading our streets, making them safer for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers – with improved sidewalks, lots of buffered bike lanes, separated bike paths and joint-use walking and cycling paths. While we’ve made enormous progress, there is still much to do.
The Santa Fe Dr project has something for everyone – separated bike paths, improved sidewalks, a mid-block crossing, and additional parking. When fully completed, the intersections at Windsor/Bonita and Nardo/MacKinnon will be protected – creating order and safety from chaos. Don’t stop the project before it’s done. It will set the city up for liability if left incomplete.
Of course, the project has some shortcomings—as many innovative projects can. However, the overall safety benefits of this project eclipse the minor issues that can be assessed and resolved.
Keep SDA students safe! Keep Encinitans safe! Complete the Santa Fe Dr project.
Regards,
Mayor and City Council Member Emails
| Mayor Bruce Ehlers | behlers@encinitasca.gov |
| Deputy Mayor Joy Lyndes | jlyndes@encinitasca.gov |
| Council Member Jim O’Hara | johara@encinitasca.gov |
| Council Member Marco San Antonio | msanantonio@encinitasca.gov |
| Council Member Luke Shaffer | lshaffer@encinitasca.gov |
| City Clerk Kathy Hollywood | khollywood@encinitasca.gov |
