Channel 29 reported this evening that the city is moving ahead with traffic calming plans, attempting to slow vehicles in 12-14 locations around town. We’ve already spent $120,000 on slowing down cars on Park Street, a project that has been met with much grumbling. There have been a number of comments on George Loper’s site [1, 2, 3, 4]. For some background on this, you can read the Progress’ February article. No timeline for the $570,000 project has been mentioned in the press.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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Of course people are upset about about traffic calming on Park Street. Who says “gosh, I sure do like taking longer to get from point a to point b”? Not a whole lot of people. Everybody wants to shave that 12 seconds off their drive and go 40mph on Park Street instead of 25mph. The only people that will appreciate the slowdown are Park Street residents. So when city councilors complain that people don’t like the traffic slowdowns, they need to recognize that this is a good thing. It means that it’s having the desired effect.
Waldo
Traffic “calming” is against the nature of, well…traffic. If there’s a problem on Park Street due to too many drivers, slowing down those on it won’t alleviate that problem, it will just make it safer. This is more of a case of treating the symptoms rather than the disease.
Me, I’m into chugging vodka tonics while driving up and down park street. If you’re good, you can do it without hitting the benches in the middle of the road.
Are you kidding? That’s 10 points for each bench that you’re missing out on! (50 points if an old lady is sitting on it).
Well, yeah. It will make it safer. Isn’t that a good idea?
Let’s be honest here- people like their cars. It’s not a matter of money- they just don’t *want* to ride the bus. And if we raise taxes and stuff to reduce the local population, you and I are the ones who’d be forced to leave. Wealthy, SUV drivin’ neuvous riche will still be here.
Any focused, local efforts at reducing the overall volume of traffic would, at best, take years or decades to create results. In the meantime, it’s probably a good idea to keep people from zooming through residential neighborhoods like they were on the bypass.
I personally hate to drink and drive…every time I do I hit a bump and spill my drink. What we should be discushing ish tha eparent lacks of unnershtanding yall have wiff da way we…..