From Dan O’Donnell, District 4 City Council member, May 17 –

I wanted to share with everyone that this item will be on the agenda at the upcoming council meeting on Tuesday, May 27th at 5:30pm. I encourage all of you to show up if possible.

Since installation, I’ve been in regular contact with our engineers, Fire Chief, and Sheriff’s Captain. Some real concerns have come up that weren’t fully recognized earlier when these were approved.

Given that, and the feedback from the community, I agree that this deserves another look and it will be coming back before the Council. I’m reevaluating my initial support with public safety at the forefront.

As an elected official, part of the job is recognizing when new information calls for a reassessment of an earlier decision. Intentions matter—but so does impact. When outcomes fall short, we have a responsibility to respond accordingly, and I intend to do that.

Thank you again for all of your feedback. I ask that if you can’t show up in person, that you please send an email so that it can be added to the public record and our council packets.

I can be reached at [email protected]

Kind regards,

Dan O’Donnell

Vista City Council- Dist. 4

Background on This Project

From Dan O’Donnell, District 4 City Council member, May 16 –

I want to take a moment to directly address the concerns many of you have shared about the new protected bike lanes being added in South Vista.

I know changes like this can be disruptive, especially when they affect how we move through our community. Like many of you, I drive my vehicle every day—whether it’s commuting to work, visiting the Civic Center, picking up my son, or running errands—so I personally understand the day-to-day experience on our roads and the concerns that come with infrastructure changes.

When I ran for Council, a consistent concern I heard from residents in District 4 was speeding (particularly on Melrose, Sycamore, and Shadowridge) and how it was making people feel unsafe. These concerns were specific and serious to both drivers and pedestrians. I’ve also spoken with traffic deputies who have reported instances of extreme speeding on South Melrose and Sycamore, sometimes in excess of 100 mph during the day. That level of speed poses a real safety risk to everyone on the road – drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.

I have spoken with many riders and pedestrians who feel unsafe while walking, running, or riding along Melrose, Shadowridge, and Sycamore. Since joining the City Council, I’ve also seen the consequences of unsafe roads firsthand, including crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists, some with fatal outcomes.

These incidents are part of why the Council voted unanimously (5-0) to add protection to existing bike lanes, in an effort to address long-standing safety concerns for all road users.

This decision followed significant discussion and review, even prior to my election. The Council voted unanimously in favor of moving protected bike lanes forward on March 28, 2023, and again on October 22, 2024. At that time, I spoke with first responders ahead of the vote, and they expressed support based on the potential safety benefits. I’ve also spoken to them since they were installed, and there has been no disruption in their ability to respond to their calls. At the time of our discussion, there was no data indicating that raised berms would increase accidents. On the contrary, data showed this kind of infrastructure often helps calm traffic and improve safety, without requiring measures that have historically been unpopular in District 4, such as roundabouts, red-light cameras, or speed bumps.

As for Longhorn Drive, I live right off it and regularly see excessive speeds, vehicles swerving, and students biking on sidewalks because they don’t feel safe on the road. Over the past two and a half years, student safety has been the most frequent concern brought to me by students at Rancho Buena Vista High School. That’s a major reason for retiming the Melrose intersection to make it a complete street crossing and for the implementation of these lanes near the school.

I recognize that no solution is perfect. If you’ve spoken with me before, you know I keep an open mind and value all perspectives, even when we disagree. As these installations move forward, I ask for your continued community feedback. Please know that I have already been in contact with our traffic engineers to modify or remove berms near some business entrances and exits. I have also asked for the striping of the berms with reflective paint to be prioritized. Once the berms cure, the painting will begin next week and bollards will be added to enhance visibility. However, if it becomes clear that parts of this plan aren’t working as intended, I will personally agendize the item for a future council meeting.

I appreciate everyone who has reached out, whether to share support or voice concerns. Please continue to do so, I’m here to listen and work with you on this and any other issue facing our community.

Kind regards, Dan O’Donnell

Vista City Council District 4 ph: 760-650-2598