Traffic Patterns

It was interesting to note the story not to rebuild the Cacique Street bridge but instead build a better bike lane at a cost of half a million bucks. The bridge, having been destroyed over 30 years ago, has never been rebuilt. Had this bridge been anywhere but the Eastside, I am sure it would have been rebuilt pronto.

This bridge was to be an important access to the freeway and the beach for people on the Eastside. Now the only access to these areas is to go down Carpinteria, Quarantina, or Mason streets to Milpas. All three of these streets have heavy traffic, and Mason Street goes by an elementary school. The Cacique underpass (a beautiful structure) off the freeway was built to accommodate traffic to the freeway and access to the beach for Eastside residents.

The news article stresses that the Cacique Street area residents do not want through traffic — duh, who does want traffic in their neighborhood? My experience with city bureaucrats is that when they do not want to spend money (especially on the Eastside) is ask the residents. Well, duh, did anyone ask the residents on Carpinteria or Quarantina or any other street that carries traffic onto Milpas from Salinas, who are also greatly impacted by such traffic? I am sure they would have a different point of view since now they have been impacted by traffic that used to go down Cacique Street.

Let’s do what is best for the whole Eastside instead of one street that used to share the traffic load. Instead of hoodwinking the Eastside residents, use that half million bucks toward a usable bridge for cars as well as bicyclists.