Dear Editor,
I would like to comment regarding the tragic death of the
5-year-old child, hit by a truck near the intersection of 10th and
Church streets.
Dear Editor,
I would like to comment regarding the tragic death of the 5-year-old child, hit by a truck near the intersection of 10th and Church streets.
Gilroy’s quality of life is at stake. The intersection of 10th and Church has become a traffic nightmare. When the traffic light on Church and 10th was installed, there was inadequate thought to the needs of pedestrian traffic. Equally, there does not seem to be adequate planning in regard to the use of residential streets.
Designated as a “collector” street 25 years ago, city fathers now allow Church Street to be used as a “haul” route. For two weeks, aggregate rock diesel trucks, cement trucks, flatbed trucks carrying heavy equipment, etc. crossed 10th going up Church Street from the sports center to Las Animas Park via Church street. These trucks would never be allowed to use Highway 85 and yet, our traffic engineers allow them to use a two-lane residential street. Children play near the street and walk to school often crossing streets.
I have been warning the city fathers that allowing commercial grade trucks to use a residential street was an invitation to a tragedy. I have reminded them that diesel fuel is a known carcinogenic and thus every resident on Church Street (especially young growing children) are getting dangerous exposure.
It is my hope that the traffic study will include more than just a turn signal. What this city needs is designated (and enforced) truck routes. Truck traffic and commercial grade traffic must be kept away from residential centers. The tragic death of a 5-year-old child is a clear call to Gilroy’s elected officials. There has to be more attention to public safety and quality of life; less attention to profits and growth.
Sharon Wolbach, Gilroy
