According to the city of Lompoc website and various press releases, “Lompoc community members are invited to complete a short Local Roads Safety Plan (LRSP) survey, and/or provide information on unsafe driving, walking or biking locations via an interactive map. Input is being accepted through Oct. 11, 2023.”

These sorts of surveys give the public the impression that they have some say as to how a local town, city or county is planned. In this case, what can be done to improve an existing roadway network that was laid out by surveyors starting 125 years ago?

The answer is, there is a lot that could be done to improve roadway safety, but it would cost millions of dollars that aren’t currently available to make those changes.

The first is to provide better separation between bicycle and motor vehicle traffic. Allowing bicycles to “share” the road with motor vehicles invites collisions that always hurt and sometimes fatally injure the bicycle rider.

Narrowing traffic lanes to accommodate bicycles on major thoroughfares simply impedes motor vehicle traffic and increases congestion.

In July 2022 in a joint meeting, both the Lompoc City Council and Planning Commission approved the Lompoc Streetscape Multimodal Improvement Plan. When this plan is implemented, it will dramatically improve bike rider and motor vehicle operator safety along Highway 1 as it passes through Lompoc. 

Pavement in residential areas is in poor condition and damaged pavement causes vehicle damage and unnecessary obstructions for bicycle riders.

There are several sections of the city where sidewalks and curbs are missing (see “missing sidewalks map). Adding curbs and sidewalks where none exist will improve pedestrian safety and accommodate safe passage of children walking to school.

I am told by people who are very familiar with repair costs that it could take upwards of $70 million to bring the road system up to minimum national road condition standards.

While the city works hard to maintain the primary and lateral road network to serve the greatest number of vehicles, there is no money left to repair residential streets.

Removing homeless camps, including tents, shelters and RVs from the public right-of-way would improve pedestrian and vehicle access. If a business wanted to use the public way, it would have to obtain an encroachment permit from either the city or Caltrans, but the homeless, who seem to think they “own” sidewalks, bike lanes and bus stop shelters, seem to have a vested right to squat wherever they want.

Lastly, driver safety training and traffic etiquette are long overlooked skills. I am sure you have seen drivers on cell phones, eating their lunch, applying makeup, ignoring speed limits, cutting in and out of traffic, and racing through intersections just as the light turns red. Each of these actions subjects both the errant driver and anyone in their path to a collision.

Driving a vehicle is a privilege, and before you first operate a vehicle you are required to take a written and a road test to demonstrate you know how to operate the vehicle and follow the rules of the road.

Driver’s licenses all have expiration dates, and must be renewed periodically. In some cases, written or practical retesting are not required.

Driver’s inattention and other unsafe acts account for many injuries and deaths each year.

Lompoc is no different than any other community in the U.S. — unsafe, deteriorated roads, missing sidewalks and poor drivers are abundant.

Traffic survey:
https://www.cityoflompoc.com/Home/Components/News/News/2623/16

missing sidewalks map: https://www.cityoflompoc.com/home/showpublisheddocument/25954/636971418515800000

Lompoc Streetscape Multimodal Improvement Plan: https://www.cityoflompoc.com/home/showpublisheddocument/37854/638222721604470000