Ruffin Road bike lanes are almost here
Thanks to the eagle eyes of BikeSD reader, Everett, we all may actually get those bike lanes on Ruffin Road by the end of the month as promised:
Everett notes that the photo was taken on the Northbound section of Ruffin. He just saw the spray trucks working on the Southbound section of Ruffin Road. With a smooth road surface, these bike lanes will be a joy to ride on. Next step? A buffer next to the bike lane to get even more people riding comfortably on that section of Ruffin Road.
Ruffin Road Bike Lanes Update: Partially Striped
Reader and local cyclist, Michael Ballard, just wrote in to state that Ruffin Road has been partially striped with a bike lane from Clairemont Mesa Blvd to Kearny Villa Rd along Ruffin Road. This is excellent news and I look forward to seeing the rest of Ruffin Road striped with a bike lane before the end of the month.
If you have photos or other updates, leave a comment or email admin@bikesd.org.
Open Thread: Ruffin Road Bike Lane Striping
Use this space as an open thread to discuss the Ruffin Road bike lane striping. Have you noticed any changes while riding the road? Do you have any photos showing new markings? How do you think the recent rains will affect the proposed completion date?
Previous coverage on the Ruffin Road bike lane striping
UPDATE: Earlier today Council Member Lorie Zapf of District 6 promised to follow up by stating this on twitter,
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/#!/LorieZapfD6/status/169149324045975552"]
She did and received a response from the City's project manager,
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/#!/LorieZapfD6/status/169175344916606976"]
So we have another 16 days before these bike lanes will be ready for use. Please to leave a comment if you see anything change or learn anything else before the end of the month
Ruffin Road bike lane striping delayed, again
To get an update on what is turning out to be an epic saga, I emailed Gaetano Martedi from the Public Works Engineering Department to get a status on the Ruffin Road bike lanes. I also included District 6 Councilmember, Lori Zapf, and our bike coordinator, Tom Landre, in the discussion. I received a response from Mr. Martedi stating that the bike lane striping would be delayed yet again,
The reason for the extension of time is as follows:
The engineering design standards were recently updated and changed. Therefore, the City needed to find additional funds to implement the new standards and complete the project. Currently, the additional funds have been attained and the project can now be completed. Our new schedule is to stripe bike lanes and complete the work in February, 2012.
This is a stretch of road that should have been striped last August, but was then delayed to January 2012. It will truly be a miracle of the year if and when this stretch of Ruffin Road gets a bike lane in 2012.
Bike Lanes in San Diego - Some Updates
Below are a few updates on bike lanes that are scheduled to be striped.
Ruffin Road Bike Lanes- The Project Manager overseeing the striping of bike lanes, Gaetano Martedi responded via email stating the following:
“The bicycle and vehicular loops have been installed. Final approval and inspection of the loops by the City is ongoing. I anticipate striping to be performed in January”
When I asked the reason for the delay as the lanes were supposed to have been striped in August, he responded,
“We had added additional loops and DLC’s to the project to meet current MUTCD and City standards. Due to the added work we needed to attain additional funding for the striping.”
A Senior Engineer with the City of San Diego, Abi Palaseyed, did confirm that the Ruffin Road bike lanes would be striped and ready for use by January 2012.
Balboa Ave/Tierrasanta Blvd Bike Lane - Bike lanes are finally coming to Balboa Avenue! Below is a map showing the 13.5 miles of bike lanes that will be striped beginning in February 2012 according to City Engineer Abi Palaseyed. The City is currently awaiting a Caltrans encroachment permit.
Jamacha Boulevard Bike Lane - After what seems like an eternity, cyclists can finally ride in comfort along Jamacha Boulevard.
For previous coverage on Jamacha Boulevard please read this post and this one.
Skyline Drive Bike Lanes - On Tuesday, Oct. 25, the San Diego City Council unanimously approved $1.1 million for construction to improve Skyline Drive . This council action paves the way for traffic calming improvements such as sidewalk pop-outs and raised medians, as well as street lights, pedestrian and bike enhancements, and signal modifications along Skyline Drive from 58th Street to Cardiff Street. Bike lanes will be striped from Greenlawn Drive to Cardiff Street. Construction is scheduled to begin in early next year and end in the summer.