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Residents press Richmond on traffic-calming, access and how to engage with planning and public works
Summary
Residents described congestion and cut-through traffic from recent street changes and a nearby fire closure. Michelle Milam encouraged participation in neighborhood councils, offered contact names for planning and public works, and urged residents to file agency reports such as Caltrans CSRs.
Residents raised concerns that traffic-calming measures and the Carlson Boulevard closure have caused increased congestion, cut-through driving on residential streets and longer commute times. Ahmad, a resident, said the combined impact of construction, lane narrowing and closures has left some streets heavily congested at peak hours and has increased emissions from idling.
Michelle Milam acknowledged the concerns and urged residents to weigh in on planning projects that affect their neighborhoods. She identified relevant city contacts for planning and public-works inquiries: Lina Velasco, community development director; Avery Stark, lead planner; and public works directors Daniel Shavarria and Tafiq Halaby. Milam also advised residents to ask departments to attend neighborhood-council meetings and to file CSRs with Caltrans for freeway/right-of-way problems to ensure those issues are tracked.
Milam noted the police department provides input on public-safety impacts of projects but that planning and public works make many of the design decisions. She encouraged residents to participate in public meetings, attend the department’s block captain training and use neighborhood councils to elevate concerns.
The meeting recorded no formal changes to traffic projects. Milam said she would share residents’ concerns with the planning and public works teams and asked participants to complete a neighborhood community survey to inform future priorities.
