Poll: Roads, traffic are top priorities

With the failure of Measure Q, Petaluma’s 1-cent sales tax hike, the city’s coffers will not be replenished. Projects that relied on the tax for funding have been left to compete over the city’s dwindling dollars. When asked what projects should be prioritized, Petaluma’s notoriously poor road conditions and bumper-to-bumper traffic topped the list for those who took part in this week’s unofficial online poll. Here were some of the comments:

“Traffic in Petaluma has gotten increasingly ridiculous and exponentially frustrating over the last year. The city ought to be ashamed.”

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“There’s nothing more important than public safety services. The public just generally takes them for granted. It’s the most important and basic service any city should provide.”

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“The city needs to evaluate and then budget correctly to meet all the varied needs of the community. The council has a daunting task ahead of them and they need to plan and handle this correctly.”

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“Since street repair seems to be well underway, we need to do something about how those roadways are used. Maybe we need to think about synchronizing the street lights, one way streets and creating actual turnouts at transit stops.”?--

“Traffic mitigation and the Rainier cross-town connector are one and the same. Petaluma voted down the large ‘forever’ tax, not the need or want of the connector. Hopefully our elected leaders can come up with an alternative plan.”

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“Police and fire do not need more money. Roads, traffic and parks and recreation do.”

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“Lower the cost of the public employee compensation packages to an affordable level so the city will have adequate funds to pay for the Measure Q priorities.”

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“Concentrate on building the Rainier cross-town connector that’s been in the general plan since 1960. The police and fire departments would appreciate it.”

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“All of the above. No one seems to be talking about all the revenue that is generated at the two new shopping centers. Where is all that tax money going?”

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“After road repairs add back police officers.”

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“A lot of traffic problems could be corrected with a paint brush by making turn lanes longer to accommodate more cars. Maybe hiring a bright junior high student to figure out how the mitigate our traffic problems would be the best idea.”

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“Fix the roads and stop making excuses. Accountability is what I look for in my elected officials.”