Comments on: Tough to make a SMART decision at Jennings Avenue crossing

By: barbi

barbi — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 19:21:34 +0000

Every time you see the word “Smart” just remember that you have entered into Opposites Universe. “Smart” actually means DUMB!

I have a great solution to the problem that will cost nothing. Here it is:

Look both ways before you cross. If you don’t and you get hit by the train, then it is your own dumb (oops, SMART) fault.

And I just don’t know how we survived without the geniuses on the Santa Rosa City Council! I think we should demand a study and report to determine how each one materially benefits from his/her position on the council.

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By: Que Sera

Que Sera — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:53:04 +0000

make a crossing similar to the one for cars etc and place it on the track so bicylists can ride across it. They then carry the people want to cross the tracks on their bikes which pay no road taxes. Perhaps the cyclists would care to donate seeing they dont do much else for city or county or people of this city!

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By: becker

becker — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:39:17 +0000

In San Clemente they have crossings over the commuter train tracks to the beach. I saw no problem with this the bars came down the people waited the train went by the arms went up the people crossed over to the street.

Why is this so difficult? Are people in charge trying to justify their jobs?

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

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By: Steveguy

Steveguy — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:28:53 +0000

Hmmm, $1.7 million for a bridge when the 101 ‘bicycle bridge’ is pegged at over $20 million. That seems fishy to me.

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By: Dan J Drummond

Dan J Drummond — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 20:54:52 +0000

I like the third option, build a 25-foot-high overpass made up of two 310-foot-long ramps. I hope the ramps corkscrew upward like the old pedestrian bridge over Highway 101 at the end of Sonoma Avenue by Luther Burbank School. That old bridge sure made getting to the Prince Greenway more fun. Too bad it’s gone.

Maybe the city could reduce the overall cost by combining this project with building a new bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Highway 101 at the end of Jennings Avenue? Providing a safe motor vehicle free path from the east side of town to the Junior College would be a great improvement for the city, a good use of tax dollars. Possibly a grant is available for this type of safety improvement.

And when you look at the area on Google Earth, you’ll notice a great deal of undeveloped land off Jennings, between the railroad tracks and Highway 101. As the population grows, sooner or later that land maybe used for housing. Perhaps a small development fee could be assessed to help offset the cost of the safe path project, since people that move there may use the bridge more than others.

Good use of tax dollars = thumbs-up
Waste of tax dollars = thumbs-down

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By: hannnon sutro jr

hannnon sutro jr — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:20:13 +0000

Leave it as it is, do not spend any more money, if people get run over then they are stupid and deserve to be killed. It does a twofold benefit, 1, quits wasting money on stupid things, and 2, gets rid of the stupid people that shouldn’t be alive anyway….

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By: BigDogatPlay

BigDogatPlay — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:42:10 +0000

The easiest solution…. fence the right of way completely between the nearest already in place at grade crossings on either side of this spot. Walk to one end or the other and cross safely, plus get some exercise in the fresh air into the bargain. In the end I would expect SMART will do the dumb thing and go for the biggest and most costly solution, simply because that’s how they roll.

People are not intelligent enough to not cross tracks when the barriers are down. I used to write those tickets all the time, and I’ve noticed Petaluma PD recently enhancing it’s revenue stream by sitting on crossings when the freight trains are moving. In many counties the fine is similar to running a red traffic light, which ain’t cheap.

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By: Steveguy

Steveguy — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:52:53 +0000

Isn’t there supposed to be a bike path down the whole line ? When are we/they allowed to cross the tracks ?

I am serious here.

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By: James Bennett

James Bennett — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:12:01 +0000

Welcome to insanity.

Well, look at the bright side…

OK, I guess there is no bright side.

I wish I could change the channel.

The word unbelievable seems to take on new meaning every day.

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By: MOCKINGBIRD

MOCKINGBIRD — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 23:06:50 +0000

The city council beat this bush last night and didn’t really find an answer except to put more money into research. Because, I believe that we cannot find a way to make a train crossing 100% safe. People will find a way to get through fences, walk the tracks stupidly and in general put their own lives in danger. Then they talked about money which I WISH they would put toward the transit bus system and not into MORE RESEARCH ON THE SUBJECT.

Just like the crosswalks with careless, distracted drivers. We can’t make those crosswalks 100% safe.

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By: GAJ

GAJ — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 22:04:01 +0000

Dan, your suggestion is perfectly logical except in a Lawsuit happy world.

The City has ID’d this “crossing” as such and thus must address it to mitigate against future lawsuits.

$451,000 is a ton of money for the upgrades, no question, but could prevent millions in potential losses down the road from the ambulance chasers.

But perhaps the $140,000 wall would accomplish the same thing…and that option would cost the City “nothing.”

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By: Kirstin

Kirstin — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 21:16:21 +0000

What stupidity on the part of the PUC. Close other street crossings so a crossing can be allowed at Jennings? Absurd! The city needs to sit down with the PUC and overcome this ridiculous restriction. There has been an unofficial crossing at Jennings for who knows how long. Now, with SMART coming, we want to make it an official (and logical) ground crossing. What is so blasted hard about that??

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By: Dan Drummond

Dan Drummond — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:18:43 +0000

Do we know how many people actually use that crossing in a week? Is it 10? 100? 1,000? Might help to know how much use the crossing gets before dropping a bunch of cash on it.

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By: GAJ

GAJ — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:58:03 +0000

Dear lord; do the logical thing and go with an at grade crossing just like the dozens of others along the train route.

If people along the route are expected to be smart enough not to cross tracks whether by car or on foot when the barriers are down I think the people using the Jennings Avenue can handle it…or does SMART think the people who will use that crossing are especially dim?

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