CC 01-22-2025 Item No. 8 Stevens Creek Blvd. Bike Lane Project_Written CommunicationsCC 01-22-2025
Item No. 8
Stevens Creek Blvd. Bike
Lane Project
Written Communications
From:Santosh Rao
To:City Clerk
Subject:Fw: Defund concrete cinder block bike lane projects.
Date:Friday, January 17, 2025 9:02:54 AM
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Dear City Clerk,
Please include the below in written communications for the upcoming city council meeting.
Thank you.
Thanks,
Santosh Rao
Begin forwarded message:
On Friday, January 17, 2025, 9:01 AM, Santosh Rao <santo_a_rao@yahoo.com> wrote:
Subject: Addressing Spending Priorities and Resident Concerns
Dear Mayor Chao and Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing to express my deep disappointment regarding the priorities reflected
in the first agenda under the current leadership, following nearly 40 days without
a council meeting.
Residents made their voices heard loud and clear in the 2024 election. The
resounding message was frustration with the city’s repeated disregard for
common-sense solutions and its ongoing focus on projects that prioritize costly,
disruptive infrastructure—such as concrete cinder block bike lanes—at the
expense of road users. Yet, the first significant proposal brought forward is a $1.6
million allocation for more such bike lanes.
This decision feels entirely out of step with the will of the electorate. Residents
have overwhelmingly rejected the notion of eliminating road lanes, restricting
right turns, and making it harder for commuters to travel across our city—all
while plans for thousands of new housing units on already congested streets like
McClellan Road and Linda Vista Drive move forward. These are the very issues
that led to the defeat of candidates advocating for these policies, yet the agenda
appears to reflect their platform instead of the resident mandate for change.
Over the past months, I spoke with countless residents who expressed their
frustration with the city’s fixation on bike lanes at the expense of the 60,000+
daily auto users. If the only solution the city’s traffic engineering department can
offer is concrete bike lanes, it may be time to reassess this department’s
leadership, goals, or even its necessity. Cupertino needs traffic engineers who can
focus on meaningful road improvements and solutions that address the needs of
the majority of residents.
The city must refocus its priorities on critical infrastructure and inter-agency
collaboration, including:
Fire readiness: Ensuring adequate water in hydrants and reservoirs, and
effective communication between city, fire district, and water agencies.
Emergency preparedness: Strengthening oversight and cooperation with
key agencies like County Fire District, County Supervisor, Valley Water,
SJW, and the County Sheriff’s Department.
Road infrastructure: Addressing the immediate needs of our auto users
while maintaining safety and efficiency for all commuters.
I strongly urge the council to reject the $1.6 million expenditure on additional
concrete bike lanes and redirect those funds toward infrastructure that benefits the
broader community, including fire and emergency readiness and road
improvements.
Moreover, the city should prioritize initiatives that enhance community
engagement and quality of life, such as:
1. Fully funding an all-day July 4th community celebration, including daytime
festivities at Blackberry Farm and evening fireworks.
2. Reducing consultant expenditures and reallocating those funds toward
Parks and Recreation events that are affordable and accessible for
Cupertino residents, with tiered pricing for non-residents.
Additionally, I request that the traffic engineering department provide transparent
data on bike usage for recently constructed bike lanes, such as those on De Anza
Boulevard and Stevens Creek Boulevard. The community deserves to know
whether these projects are delivering meaningful value.
Finally, I ask that the council and the mayor set a higher standard for agenda
items, aligning them with the resident mandate. Consultation with recently elected
officials who campaigned on resident-centered priorities may help ensure the
council’s focus remains on the community’s needs.
It is not "business as usual." Residents are increasingly frustrated and expect
meaningful change. Please listen to their voices, reject wasteful spending, and
redirect resources toward critical infrastructure and community-benefiting
initiatives.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters.
Sincerely,
San Rao
Cupertino resident