Willow Glen Resident
News
Blewett avenue residents cheer traffic-calming pilot program
By Emilie Crofton
When San Jose City council members told Blewett Avenue residents they would face more bumps in the road on their quest to slow speeders, the residents cheered.
That's because on Oct. 23 city council members unanimously approved a traffic-calming pilot project that will place speed lumps on their street.
"This is a huge step forward. Residents are still in shock," said Blewett resident Bill Cardoza. "This will change the atmosphere of the street completely."
Blewett Avenue parallels Lincoln Avenue and serves as a cut-through to Willow Street and Minnesota Avenue. Because it is a long, straight street, residents said, drivers often ignore the 25-mph limit and travel at speeds close to 60 mph. Speeding on Blewett has been an issue for the past 20 years.
Between four and six temporary rubber speed lumps will be placed on the street within 30 days, according to District 6 Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio.
The pilot program will be re-evaluated after one year; if it is ruled effective, the rubber speed lumps will be replaced by asphalt and become permanent.
The idea for the pilot program came after San Pedro Street residents wanted their street removed from the traffic-calming pilot program because the homeowners could not come to a consensus on participating. Oliverio then explored the possibility of transferring the pilot program onto Blewett Avenue.
Oliverio said he believed the pilot program would be a great way to try out new ideas, since Blewett did not meet the city's Department of Transportation requirements for future traffic calming solutions.
For two days Oliverio went door to door and collected the signatures of 56
out of 62 households to demonstrate that the majority of residents were in favor of speed lumps, which will be paid for through the Department of Transportation.
"It's exciting to see the hard work pay off and that we have some success in traffic calming for Willow Glen," Oliverio said.
Cardoza was quick to thank Oliverio for his efforts.
"Oliverio worked hard to get this done," Cardoza said. "Residents came together to speak out, but he made sure the city listened."
Cardoza had another reason to celebrate. The day before the decision, Cardoza's wife Heather gave birth to their first child, Eva Jane Cardoza.
"This has been an amazing week for me," the happy father said. "Now I feel a lot safer raising my daughter on Blewett."
Child safety was one of the biggest reasons the Cardozas became traffic calming advocates for their neighborhood.
The Cardozas and Jean Dresden, another Blewett resident, said the positive outcome is a result of residents working together.
"This is clearly a win," Dresden said. "Everyone came together. It shows how neighborhood advocacy persistence can ultimately reach a solution."
