October 10, 2021

Eduardo (Eddie) Guaracha, Diablo Range District Superintendent California State Parks (Sent via e-mail)

RE: Completion Date (7/15/2023) $1,500,000 Bike Turnout Project #2019-05 (MDSP)

Mr. Guaracha,

Background:

In 2016, California State Parks partnered with State Senator Glazer, Assemblywoman Baker and Mount Diablo Cyclists to expedite the completion of the “MDSP Road Striping & Signage Project.” Three pilot Bike Turnouts were included. In 2018, we collaborated to install ten Bike Turnouts ($5,000 -paint only). In 2020, we collaborated to install four Bike Turnouts ($79,055). These seventeen Bike Turnouts are unique only to Mount Diablo. Along with making the driving experience more comfortable and safer for park staff and visitors, Bike Turnouts have the potential to reduce Bike vs Vehicle Collisions and save lives.

MDSP Bike Turnout Project #2019-05:

The current start date of 3/15/2023 with a completion date of 7/15/2023 will significantly increase the probability for serious injuries and/or fatalities to park visitors. On June 2, 2021 and July 3, 2021, cyclists Gary and Ron were seriously injured in a Bike vs Vehicle Collision. They were hit on or near a blind curve at locations already identified for Bike Turnouts to be installed (Project #2019-05).

On August 23, 2021, at the Bike Turnout Ceremony, State Senator Glazer said; " it's our hope this project will get under way immediately and I hope to be back in 12 months."

Most hands were raised when cyclists at the ceremony were asked  "please raise your hand if you've ever been passed by a vehicle on a blind curve."

Milestone Descriptions – Projected Start & Completions Dates:

  1. What can California State Parks do to reduce the timeline and expedite the completion dates for ALL “Milestone Description” categories below?
  2. When can California State Parks provide an updated/expedited “Milestone Description” to reflect completion/installation Not Later Than October 2022?

Estimate Summary:

  1. How did the $1,500,000 budgeted (FY-21/22) for MDSP Bike Turnout Project #2019-05 become $1,008,000?
  2. Does the $1,008,000 actually reflect the expenditure for Bike Turnouts only? If not, what is the correct amount?
  3. Explain and justify the expenditure of $482,000 in detail per category.
  4. Explain each category, provide details, documents, surveys, maps, photos/videos, etc. from State Parks and/or consultants.
  5. Exactly who is spending the money and what they are doing?
  6. How much money is being payed to California State Parks employees and/or departments, consultants for their work on this project?
  7. How much money would be saved if Bike Turnout Project #2019-05 was completed/ installed Not Later Than October 2022 or earlier?

Sincerely,

Alan Kalin, COL, USA (Ret.) President Mount Diablo Cyclists

Linda Kwang, Vice-President Mount Diablo Cyclists

CC: State Senator Glazer, Assemblywoman Bauer-Kahan, Armando Quintero, Director California State Parks, Dan Bornstein, Editor East Bay Times

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Updates: $1,500,000 Bike Turnout Project#2019-05

  • September 21, 2021 - (2nd Request) Flawed Safety Criteria for Prioritization of $1.5MM Bike Turnout Project Locations, Email to Eddie Guaracha, Diablo Range District Superintendent
  • September 14, 2021 - Northern Service Center - Email From Eddie Guaracha
  • September 12, 2021 -  Flawed Safety Criteria for Prioritization of $1.5MM Bike Turnout Project Locations - Letter to Eddie Guaracha

September 21, 2021 - (2nd Request) Flawed Safety Criteria for Prioritization of $1.5MM Bike Turnout Project Locations, Email to Eddie Guaracha, Diablo Range District Superintendent

Good Morning Eddie,

Towns and Cities throughout the Bay Area annually review and analyze Traffic Collision Reports (TCR) as a critical part of their decision-making process. This allows them to make informed decisions when allocating funding and prioritizing safety improvements.

We strongly urge California State Parks to include ALL Traffic Collision Reports from 2010 to Present in their Screening Criteria in order to appropriately allocate the $1.5MM Bike Turnout Project# 2019-05 on Mount Diablo State Park.

(1.) When are you available to review and analyze All Traffic Collision Reports from 2010 to the present? California State Parks has All of the TCRs.......

(2.) When are you available to create a map(s) showing all of the Traffic Collision Locations on the roads of Mount Diablo State Park? Using the same maps in MDSP Bike Turnout Project#2019-05......

(3.) Please reply to the attached letter sent to you on September 13, 2021.

September 14, 2021 - Eddie Guaracha, Superintendent Diablo Ranger District, Email 

I will contact the Northern Service Center (NSC) Project Manager Phil Tabor and let him know you are requesting a project timeline. I will make sure to include where Scope of Work Description, Drawings, Bid Package, Public Advertisement, and Award fall within the project timeline. I don’t think he will be able to provide you with any specifics of each phase at this time, except for the anticipated timelines of each phase.

The Northern Service Center will be able to provide specifics once they reach each targeted phase, but the approved Project Evaluation Form for the Bike Turnout Project #2019-05 does not contain enough information to go straight into a contract. This contract will require additional workload to create detailed scope of work. Northern Service Center understands this is a priority project

September 12, 2021

To: Eddie Guaracha, Superintendent Diablo Range District,  Ryen Goering, Chief Ranger Diablo Range District

Subject: Flawed Safety Criteria for Prioritization of $1.5MM Bike Turnout Project# 2019-05 Locations

Dear Eddie and Ryen,

In order to appropriately allocate the $1.5MM for Bike Turnout Project# 2019-05 on Mount Diablo State Park we urge California State Parks to utilize ALL available “Safety Data” in their Screening Criteria. As part of the decision-making process to prioritize Bike Turnouts. To understand the importance of “Safety Data,” please watch this video: Please Raise Your Hand if You have ever been Passed by a Vehicle on a Blind Curve

Allow us to clarify our previous emails, safety concerns and your emails dated August 10th and September 9, 2021:

In January 2021, Ryen and Alan met to review and reprioritize only 15 Bike Turnouts. It was an excellent meeting. Ryen listened to the safety data and together. Alan requested to continue this excellent collaboration for the remaining Bike Turnouts - Ref: Bike Turnout Project# 2019-05. Unfortunately, Eddie has repeatedly said "NO" to any further collaboration to prioritize the remaining Bike Turnouts. As a result, the existing Bike Turnout Prioritize “Draft” for the remaining Bike Turnouts was created without our input and critical Safety Data.

In addition, over the last several months in both in-person and Zoom meetings, we have repeatedly asked that the safety data be included in the "flawed screening criteria"(below). We have repeatedly stated since 2010, that it's essential to review ALL Safety Data (2010 to present). Unfortunately, Eddie has repeatedly said NO to our repeated reasonable requests.

For Example: the following "Safety Data" for South Gate Road, Entrance 2.5 miles to Kiosk was NOT included (map below) in the Screening Criteria for the decision-making process to Prioritize Bike Turnout Locations; Traffic Collision Reports (TCR), Public Safety Reports, State Wide Integrated Traffic Reporting System (SWITRS), San Ramon Valley Fire Department records, Public Records Act Requests, vehicle and bike surveys, vehicles passing cyclists on blind curves, filmed near-miss bike vs vehicle collisions and actual collision stories.

For Example, Map Below 2008 to Present: Red Tabs represent Bike vs Vehicle Collisions/Locations. Orange Tabs represent Near-Miss Bike vs Vehicle Collisions/Locations & Vehicles Passing Cyclists on Blind Curves/Locations.

As part of the decision-making process to prioritize Bike Turnouts, we strongly urge California State Parks to utilize all available Safety Data in their Screening Criteria in order to appropriately allocate the $1.5MM for Bike Turnout Project# 2019-05 on Mount Diablo State Park.

Sincerely

Alan Kalin, COL, USA (Ret.) President Mount Diablo Cyclists

Linda Kwong, Vice President Mount Diablo Cyclists

CC: State Senator Glazer, Assemblywoman Bauer-Kahan, Dan Weintraub, George Escutia, Shawn Kumagai

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