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1. Parking needs to be maintained along the corridor.
There is concern that certain improvements such as widening
or bike trails and sidewalks might remove parking that is
necessary to support small businesses along the corridor.
Adequate park and ride facilities need to be provided or negotiated
so local businesses don't lose needed parking to people accessing
transit. Parking near the American River Parkway especially
is limited and can be overburdened during events.
2. Peak congestion is a problem for both access and operations.
Peak hour traffic has an adverse impact on business in the
corridor, with intersections and the roadway operating at
very low level of service. There needs to be good traffic
flow so customers can access businesses. The more congested
and slower that traffic becomes the worst business gets. When
congestion is bad, people don't want to lose their place in
the traffic stream and don't stop to shop. People can't get
into the businesses, or they don't want to stop because it
takes too long to get in and out during peak hours. Most of
the local businesses survive off local traffic, not through
traffic.
The inability to efficiently get around also dictates how
businesses schedule and keep their appointments. Many businesses
don't schedule appointments during rush hour because it is
too difficult for clients to reach them, or for them to reach
their appointments.
It is also critical that no limitations be put on the hours
of operations for trucks that serve local businesses. If truckers
are limited, it could critically affect deliveries. Mather
Airport is a key air freight airport, and Hazel is an important
access for deliveries coming from the airport to the east
part of the region.
Good traffic flow is needed along Hazel. Too many traffic
lights slow down the flow. People cut through parking lots
to avoid congestion at intersections. Although there have
been a lot of improvements to the three lanes at Madison,
it only helps until the next bottleneck. Although pedestrian
crossing lights are long to get people across the full wide
street, it further slows cars down and increases congestion.
3. Need to protect exposure and accessibility for businesses
and public uses.
Maintaining access to businesses along Hazel is critical.
Don't do anything to degrade access to existing businesses
that are dependent upon that access. If two-way left turn
lanes are removed, safe, left-in access points need to be
created.
Access during construction of any Hazel improvements is also
a concern. Both exposure and accessibility for businesses
and public uses needs to be maintained throughout any construction.
The areas upstream of the Hazel Bridge and in and out of
the fish hatchery is used heavily as a staging point for fishermen,
cyclists, equestrians and pedestrians. It is extremely important
for the Parkway, and the Parkway bike trail is used for commuting
to downtown. Entry and exits, especially on the south side
at the Aquatic Center and Lake Natoma Recreation area and
fish hatchery, and north entry for homeowners need to be enhanced.
Use of the Parkway should not be compromised in any way. The
quality of ingress and egress should at a minimum be maintained,
and hopefully improved.
4. Hazel is unattractive as a business corridor.
Businesses along Hazel compete with the Roseville area, which
has more landscaping and is more appealing. Improved aesthetics
along the Hazel corridor can result in higher land values
and better sales for businesses.
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