Monday, March 28, 2016

Friends of Cardiff Rail Trail encourage community turnout on Wednesday

From the Inbox:
This is the Big One: The City Council Meets on March 30 to Reconsider the Cardiff Rail Trail and Montgomery Crossing

Below is a letter sent to Mayor Gaspar and the Encinitas City Council in advance of the March 30 meeting to reconsider the Cardiff Rail Trail and Montgomery crossing projects (which starts at 6pm). We are going wide with our Council input because the Mayor was unwilling to schedule the meeting so that the founder of the Friends of the Cardiff Rail Trail could attend and speak, leaving the group's leadership feeling disrespected and unheard. Even a week's delay would have worked. Our group has over 1,700 supporters at this point, so we don't understand the slight. Another member of the group will speak on our behalf at the meeting.

Please attend the March 30 meeting regardless of how you feel about the rail trail and crossing projects. Anyone who's been following our group knows we are conflicted about elements of the current plan - but the underlying community needs that were answered by the trail and the crossing are still very much there. We want to make sure that the Council hears about these needs and addresses them with any new plan or change to the existing plan. So... go to the meeting. Speak. Tell the Council what you think. If you have any feelings at all about the rail trail, the Montgomery crossing, and the current state of the Cardiff Rail Corridor, then this is the one meeting you should attend.

If you are intimidated by the idea of attending the meeting and speaking, don't let that stop you. The process is not that scary. The City building is across Vulcan from the Encinitas train station (to the east). Simply show up a little early (at 5:30p or 5:45p), ask for a speaker slip, fill it out, and hand it to the clerk before the meeting starts. You'll be called up and will have three minutes to address the Council. Watch some of the video on the City web site from previous meetings if you feel shy... speakers are not always super articulate or polished in their presentations. However, they do speak from their hearts because they care about their community. What matters is that you are there, that you are heard, and that you are on the record.

Below is our official input to the Council meeting, sent to the City Council, press, and a core group of our supporters in the form of personal emails.


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Mayor Gaspar and Encinitas City Council:

I am writing on behalf of the 1,700 people who support the Cardiff Rail Trail on the east side of the tracks. We acknowledge the recent issues with the trail and crossing that led to the March 30 Council meeting to reconsider these improvements. However, we need you to understand that any changes to the plans going forward must address deep community needs served by the current projects.

Mayor Gaspar, we know that you and some other Council members have listened to the organized and vocal rail trail opposition who have done a tremendous job of surfacing their own issues and concerns. We urge you to heed those concerns. But that doesn’t mean you can ignore the needs of the other half of your community. Hear us as well.

First of all, you must know that we have a big problem on North San Elijo Avenue. The bluff top is a mess with haphazard parking creating an obstacle course for pedestrians and cyclists, forcing them out into traffic. This stretch of road is not safe for walkers and bikers, and it stands between Cardiff and the wonderful pedestrian underpass at Swami’s. We need a better answer, a safe path accessible to all.

To the south we have issues with beach access. People are crossing the tracks and Coast Highway illegally, risking their lives as well as a misdemeanor ticket and a huge fine. A consultant hired by the City recently documented up to 90 people crossing per hour on a busy weekend day. Let’s be clear, this is an accident waiting to happen.

There are other factors to consider. NCTD will fence this rail corridor in the next few years regardless of whether or not there is a rail trail. They’ve gone on the record. There are other projects that may affect access as well, such as a concrete drainage ditch running beside the tracks.

There is ultimately only one answer: A safe and legal crossing at Montgomery Avenue. This needs to happen now and not a decade or more in the future.

Also, we know that many of our supporters are not well served by the current dirt path to the south. A lot of Cardiff residents love this path, but it is not accessible to all pedestrians and is not a good answer for many cyclists. We need a path for people of all ages and abilities that connects the Cardiff market area with the Swami’s underpass to the north. It doesn’t matter if this path is wide or narrow, or runs along the road instead of through the unimproved natural areas. The goal is to get us out of our cars and onto our feet or bikes, to open up and connect our communities.

Finally, we must consider the needs of the larger North County community. The Coastal Rail Trail is a regional project and will eventually run from Oceanside to San Diego. By choosing an alignment for the Cardiff Rail Trail, you are defining the future path for the rest of the CRT through Encinitas. You are making decisions for the Highlands, downtown Encinitas, and Leucadia, who have not had a voice in this rail trail debate. This is not just a Cardiff issue. A hasty, ill-considered, and reactive approach to selecting the CRT alignment will endanger the entire regional project and will not serve the rest of our community well.

Mayor Gaspar, we need leadership. You cannot simply kick the can down the road and ask us to wait for some nebulous rail corridor visioning exercise that won’t bear fruit for years or even decades. We’re still waiting for the underpasses promised in 2009. We’ve gotten one out of four built after seven long years. That’s not good enough. You need to make decisions and get results sooner rather than later.

You cannot unsee the damning information recently presented to you by your own consultant about the number of illegal railroad crossings; you own this now. The inevitable accident won’t happen because an able-bodied resident failed to stop, look, and listen before crossing the tracks – it will happen because someone’s dog or child wanders onto the tracks at the wrong place at the wrong time and the owner or parent reacts instinctively. Situations like this are why we’ve seen injuries and fatalities in other parts of the rail corridor. You put your community at risk if you ignore this issue.

Even if you decide to ignore the safety of your community and punt on the crossing, eventually NCTD will act first and fence off the rail corridor. You’ll find yourself reacting once again to yet another community outcry when it happens. What will be the answer then? Why will it be any easier or cheaper than what we could do now? Think ahead, show some vision, and solve this problem now!

You also should not ignore the mess on North San Elijo Avenue. It’s unsafe, unsightly, and unpleasant.

You should not ignore the deep need for an accessible path that connects our communities.

And you must not compromise the entire regional Coastal Rail Trail project by hastily and reactively choosing the alignment through Cardiff.

These are all hard problems to solve and there are lots of government agencies and interests involved. But you are elected to solve hard problems. Lead us to a better plan quickly, one that serves all of us.

Thank you,
Michael Verdu
Cardiff Resident
UPDATE: Mayor Gaspar responds on timing of meeting.

29 comments:

  1. Will Blakespear be handing out her mayoral campaign buttons with a slash across the rail trail referendum?
    I guess Gaspar can't be the alternative either.

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  2. Personally, I think it took a lot of courage for Blakespear to change her mind in light of new information regarding the Montgomery crossing. This project, in my opinion, should never have been voted on last May, as no one knew what it entailed. Why the Mayor is not waiting, I have no idea. But, having said that, there are plenty of people on both sides of the tracks ( excuse the very poor pun) that can speak up and share what they chose to share. It should be noted that Mike Verdu, who has lead the Pro Rail Trail Group, and Joe A., who has lead the Anti- Rail Trail Group are both out of town. That sort of levels the playing field, at least as I see it.

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  3. I don't know Mr. Verdu, however I think his views represent a very small number of people that are upset that other people come and park across from his home to watch the sunsets. I've lived here since 1973 going to the beach, over the tracks, and his histerics about an accident waiting to happen is just not true. How many deaths have occurred in Cardiff that were accidents with the train? One at the legal crossings since I've lived here. The rail trail belongs next to the ocean so that people can walk and enjoy the ocean. More than one crossing needs to established. Not only do you need one at Montgomery but you need another between there and Santa Fe.

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  4. With good planning and common sense, we can have a rail trail that runs along our beautiful ocean. Carlsbad knows how to get it done and so should we.

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  5. If one is to believe Mr. Verdu, he has 1700 people he is representing that think the CRT is just fine the way it was voted upon before Blakespear changed her vote. And, he is pissed that the Mayor scheduled a Council meeting on a day he is not in town. Me thinks the man protests too loudly. If he has that many people, I am sure they will show up in droves. Good grief, get a grip. The Mayor can't please all the people all the time. And, as another poster said, the other guy heading up the No side isn't going to be there either. Is he also have a seizure over this?

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  6. As Mark Muir advised Catherine after she and her cabal were attempting to rush thru a Salt Lake City Interim Complete Streets ordinance that has had absolutely no public noticing nor discussion,"Er, perhaps you might listen 'before' rather than listen 'after'; Mr. Muir referring obviously to her hasty 'approval' of SanDag's near invisible 'eastern' design for the Cardiff Rail Trail on Vulcan Ave. While Catherine did not acknowledge Mr. Muir's sound advice, let us see how far she and her Complete Streets cabal get once the public learns the truth that once again she is attempting to 'proactively' make new law without public-hearings or staff input. What a child she is. Tizzy tizzy tizzy. Ya ever seen a full-growed-woman have a tizzy before? Watch Catherine Wednesday night, she won't let us down.

    Let's set a record for attendance Wed. night and see if Tony Kranz can stubbornly stick to his position on the CRT and buy himself a ticket to a jet plane headed for Idaho.

    Still 2 months until Lisa announces that while she never intended to run for 4 more years, BUTT, Teresa and her sickofants have popularly-demanded Shaffer run again! Oh joy!!!

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  7. Would someone in the media do their job and follow the money on this one. Why is this being pushed so hard when basic infrastructure is suffering? What particular companies stand to make $$$$$$$. I'm not one to kneejerk NO on any change around here but this one stinks.

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  8. Oh boo hoo Mr. Verdu won't be at the meeting. What are we supposed to do, put our lives on hold?? I don't think so. This pandering to special interests has got to stop.

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  9. This isn't the only stinker going on behind our backs. Renaming the library has now progressed to a MOU! wtf!

    What happened to us, the taxpayers, their public, having our say over this whole issue of selling out our public treasures to the highest bidder?

    Why won't this be allowed to go the Planning Commission first where the public can have its say? This is another sell out by our council avoiding any public input into their actions.

    Why is this even allowed to be in their hands without public review?

    How much else was offered behind the scenes to smooth the Mizels way to our council? This is an election year after all, as if we can't forget that, even if we tried.

    The stench is rising. Peeeeuuuuuuuu! Our council has stepped in it big time with bypassing our opinion before issuing a Memoranda of Understanding! Understanding just what, may I ask? That our elected council members are selling out our town with this whole issue is undeniable.

    They know this has been a contentious issue from the beginning and deserves our input before any action including the MOU that has already been proffered. This stinks.

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    1. I agree with 3:31. What a down right slap in the face to us, the taxpayers. Shame on our mayor for allowing the renaming of our library to come before council. This is a decision that should be put to a city wide vote.

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    2. Probably should check out the donors for Gaspar's supervisorial campaign.

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  10. NCTD has already applied for a grant to find the fence independent of the rail trail. The decision on the grant is expected in the next couple of months.

    The fence may be coming no matter whether or where CRT goes.

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  11. 4:59- Not true. At the present time there is no money in the NCTD's budget for a fence. In fact, it was Council member Tony Kranz that suggested the fence to the NCTD in the first place. Can't help but wonder if he would just keep his mouth shut if we could have had Pacific View for less money, and we might not see a fence for a very long time. The P.V. deal is done, but check it out yourself on the money for the fence. It just isn't there.

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    1. I didn't say they had a funding source secured, I said they have applied for a state grant, which they have.

      http://www.friendsofthecardiffrailtrail.com/blog/nctd-clarifies-position-on-fencing-for-the-encinitas-rail-corridor

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    2. Smooth move, Kranz!

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    3. If the NCTD puts the fence in, let's name it "the Kranz." He deserves a legacy.

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  12. Let's all give thanks to the COE for removing the flashing streetlight at Balour and Enc Blvd. Now TWO lights at that intersection are non-operational. Way to go COE, always placing public safety last and salaries and pensions first.

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  13. Here is some further thanks to the COE. Every day, all day long, every time I drive over the hill on Leucadia Blvd., I see several street lamps by the golf course on both sides of the road are on all day long. This must be what all those homeowners in the Encinitas Ranch district are paying for with the added illegal [questionable] assessments and they don't know it.

    In these times, it is hard to fathom why the waste of energy is allowed but there it is, every day, all day long. The antique street lamps are attractive but come on, why are these left on during daylight hours?

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    Replies
    1. The city likes to waste our money.

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  14. I wouldn't bet on Catherine flipflopping tonight.

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    1. You mean flip-flopping from her original vote, or flip-flopping from her recent flip-flop?

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  15. Trench and cover the tracks and put a parkway on top. It is the only reasonable way to approach the expansion of the railroad here in Encinitas while mitigating the environmental factors.

    Put in some business and/or homes to mitigate the long term costs and this will be more affordable than the piecemeal measures the City and NCTD/SANDAG are working to incrementally remove our access to the beaches!

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  16. Ride the train to San Clemente and you will see at grade crossings on the railroad tracks every 50-100 feet by residents there...

    Why does NCTD make such a big deal of our continued access to the beach when Metrolink has it in so many places?

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  17. Perhaps because our reps have no standing and let them do anything but solve one of our biggest dividing [literally] local issues. Trenching and covering would solve so many problems.

    Take some of the billions away from the 5 expansion and get 'er done!

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  18. What happened last night?? Rhetorical question, to some degree. Seemed as if those wanting the trail east of the tracks had better arguments and just as strong a presence as those "keep it natural" folks--maybe even more in attendance supported the safer passage on San Elijo. No one on council listened--except for Lisa. Why did Tony cave? Seemed as if he agreed that San Elijo is unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclists--then POW! he voted in favor of Gaspar's motion. So disillusioned.

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    1. Unmmm there were a ton more no on east side than yes...and the Berlfein and hubby Dadla took up 15 minutes of the east side yes men, so perhaps that skewed your impression of support. Berlfein made a colossal error in judgment when she showed her true not-so-enlightened colors by insulting the yes crowd so rudely that folks yelled back at her.

      As for Tony caving: why, it's an election year, of course! He actually thinks flipping on this one issue will help him, poor fool.

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  19. 10:54pm. You obviously were not there or are part of the yes group, like the misguided Dadla and his Judy. Anyone who was there could plainly see the overwhelming numbers that the no group had organized.

    Dadla and Judy may be private citizens but from my observations over the years, they are usually aligned with city staff against the majority of community members trying to preserve some semblance of the community character we all fell in love with in the first place.

    I cannot recall the issue at the moment, but a couple of years ago I spoke to them during a break, mistakenly thinking they were there to support the rest of the community, and finding that they were on the opposite side. Since then, I have had little confidence that they will support this community's concerns when it comes to an issue between the city staff's position and us. They have been on the wrong side in the past and last week they were again. They may as well be working for the city with the positions they have chosen to support.

    Thanks to Julie Thunder and her group, we will have a better plan for the trail project.

    Yes, San Elijo Dr.deserves a better, safer way for pedestrians and cyclers to share that road, but the trail project went wrong when Tony moved it off the 101. Amazing what an election year can bring to clear the minds of our council to do the right thing. This trail project is intended to have a unifying effect in providing a trail from SD to O'side. Moving off and back onto the 101 for no good reason was wrongheaded to even consider if anyone looks at the bigger picture of the whole trail.

    Maybe now we can unite behind a plan that works for all. The trail project on the 101 and San Elijo getting its own mitigated bike/pedestrian changes is the best solution. Keeping it natural!

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    1. Dadla and Judy are sweet people, but their backing of Teresa Barth and her various Planning Department aligned policies are misguided. They are among the handful of Barth's base who have not turned their backs when Barth turned her back on citizens.

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  20. I agree they are sweet people, but their chosen support for certain issues does not inspire confidence in the slightest that they represent this community's future well being. They supported a DB project wholeheartedly a couple of years ago that just did not fly and yet there they were, speaking up for the developer.

    Just looking at them, one would think they would know better and stand with us against the onslaught of infill that we have become such a target for.

    I would not bet against them coming forward to support the HEU, if they haven't done so already. That will surely show where their loyalties lie, as much as anything else they could do. They are misguided and should know better. It would be great to welcome them back if they wise up and stand with this community. There is little evidence that this is within them to join us. Why, is theirs to answer for.

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