To whom it may concern,

Access to Murray has been severely limited by the new traffic routes installed, but would be simply and inexpensively rectified by removing some no-left-turn signs, and repainting the "Keep Clear" on Hollis/7th.

Though a two-block long street might seem unimportant, access to such a limited section of road is all the more crucial.

Access to Murray is also extremely important.  Though we are a short street, there are dozens of businesses that *require* access for their customers.  And many artists and sculptors as well that have studio space on Murray and require 24-hour access to Murray to unload supplies.  There are also residents who access Murray St. many times every day from many different directions.

"Keep Clear" on Hollis/7th:
        Access to Murray from Hollis/7th is a *major* entry to Murray from the highway and from Emeryville.  The removal of the "Keep Clear" area has severely restricted access to Murray.  I'm sure this looks good on paper, but to those who require travel in the area, the removal of the "Keep Clear" area is probably the single worst change to traffic flow on Murray.

No-left from west-bound Ashby onto 9th:
        It's one of the worst restrictions because there is no access to Murray from west-bound Ashby between 4-6 *at all*, and very restricted access at other times.  I repeat: there is NO access to Murray from west-bound Ashby between 4-6 weekdays.  You cannot turn left on 9th from west-bound Ashby, and you cannot turn left from Hollis/7th because the "Keep Clear" has been removed.  And from the Ashby/San Pablo intersection, left-turn access is prohibited from 4-6 on weekdays.

The no-left from Ashby onto 9th really needs to be changed.  This is a very confusing restriction, since there's even room for a protected left turn.  I run errands on east Ashby often just before businesses close.  Again, I'm sure this looks good on paper, but does not work in practice.  The Ashby-San Pablo no-left is not the problem, but makes the no-left at 9th close off Murray entirely from the East.  A protected left turn light at 9th would be nice, but simply removing the sign and repainting the road lines is all that's necessary and is least expensive.

No-left from Murry to Hollis/7th:
        Many of us commonly go to Home Depot, Emeryville Public Market and other Emeryville businesses and restaurants from Murray.  The only south-bound access remaining is at the far end of the street onto busy San Pablo.  There is no other southward out-bound access now that this has been closed.  I'll say again, all south-bound outward traffic access has been reduced to the San Pablo end of Murray exclusively.

Summery:
        Because the length of Murray is so short, *all* access routes are extremely important.  And because so many businesses, artists, and residents, use Murray at all hours, this access restriction impacts *many* businesses, customers, artists, and residents.  Please replace the "Keep Clear" area, and remove the no-left from Ashby onto 9th, and allow left turns onto Hollis/7th from Murray.  These small and inexpensive changes will dramatically improve access to our business, workshops and homes.

Please note the maps I drew below.

Thank you!

An artist on Murray St. and customer to many Murray St. businesses





Cynthia Pettit
6000 Mauritania Ave.
Oakland, CA 94605
[I rent artist studio space at 1010 Murray.]

Cc: Murray St. businesses
Cc: Murray St. artists
Cc: Berkeley Chamber of Commerce
Cc: Oakland Chamber of Commerce
Cc: Emeryville Chamber of Commerce

Maps:

http://kiki.org/tmp/bad_traffic.jpg
http://kiki.org/tmp/good_traffic.jpg