Can We Really Call This Traffic Calming if Nothing is Ever Calmed?

My friend, I will have to respectfully disagree with some of the things you said. However,there are ways of using "no turn signs" / "do not enter" signs in a careful and strategic way that will benefit everyone...But just remember and please know I care about Vienna is why I will run for Mayor next time around, I have a traffic control plan that will allow everyone in the Town with a Vienna sticker to use all roads all the time. But it will prevent neighboring juridictions to use our town roads as cut throughs to save time to go to work. Be patient, have faith....Change is coming

If we could implement even one of these, it would help. Baby steps are better than nothing. I say tear down those "do not enter" signs. The streets in question are mostly paid for with state tax dollars. They do not belong to the residents who live along them, but to the state. For the state to get its money's worth, they should be open to everyone, not kept as semi-private drives.

C Rossi,
As I pointed out, the streets in Vienna are paid for mostly with state funds. Would you think it proper for say, Fairfax City or Falls Church to ban Vienna residents from using their streets? These are public streets and they rightly belong to the public.

Uh, Mr. Rossi, we don't have Town stickers anymore. Just like the County. Are you proposing residential parking stickers? 2007 Town stickers should have already been removed. I'd like to hear more about your plan.

HOW ABOUT REMOVING THE SILLY HALF BARRICADE ON CHURCH ST. NW BETWEEN LAWYERS AND PLEASANT ST, WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW TRAFFIC FLOW FROM LAWYERS TO PLEASANT ST. HOWEVER, IT DOES ALLOW TRAFFIC FLOW TOWARD THE DANGEROUS OFFSET CORNER OF LAWYERS AND CHURCH BY THE POST OFFICE. GO FIGURE!

Anne,
Obviously you dont have kids that may play outside. Taking back our residential streets for the people that live there as a resident is what they were intended for. Not for people to cut through mostly speeding so they can get to work. Endangering a kid playing in the front yard just so someone can get to work isn't something you truly support is it? Just because public funds are used doesn't and shouldn't give the right for anyone to be careless, disrespectful. Its clear to me you don't live on a cut through street but would I am cordially inviting you over to my home at 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Bring your Mother and anyone you love so they can be in danger like my 81 year old neighbor is when she tries to cross the street. Oh by the way I live 4 houses from Town Hall, be careful for the people in Manassas cutting down Locust Street to miss a light or 2. Our streets were designed for neighborhood traffic...not a main thorough fair...I hope you want to join the team and solve the problem with your neighbors and not against them.

Mark,
I proposed this idea to the traffic commission far before they voted to get rid of the stickers. People would be happy to have the sticker back on there cars if it meant a piece of mind. Especially those that live on the 22 streets I call "Cut Through Streets"

Charles, I'll bet my next paycheck that you cut thru others neighborhoods when it is more convenient. Who are you trying to kid. If you do not have Abbotsford opening on your agenda, go away.

Mr. Rossi,

Is Tapawingo Road (between Nutley and Park Streets) on your list of cut-throughs?

Charles,
No, streets were not supposed to be kids' playgrounds. they were designed and paid for so that drivers can get where they are going--even if it's "just" to work. It's hard to tell from your post whether you're angry that people are speeding and driving up on your lawn, hitting your kids, or that people who don't live in your neighborhood are using "your" street. Those are two different issues. If drivers are, in fact driving recklessly, that needs to be dealt with immediately, whether they are Vienna residents or not. If you object to strangers using a public street, maybe you need to move to a gated community where your streets will be privately owned, funded, and maintained. You can't live on a public through street and expect it to be your private playground.

We actually got some traffic calming measures that were long overdue on Church/East NE. This is used as the primary alternate/cut through from all those streets that have the 'do not enter' signs. We accepted that living there, but had some serious concerns just crossing the streets to go to Anita's for breakfast in the morning. We didn't ask for stop signs or speed bumps - we asked for consideration of alternate methods to address the speed at which cars traveled through that area. That part of Church, from Beulah to East NE is nothing but a very wide, flat surface that cried out 'go, speed racer, go!' The intersection is extremely wide and was packed with dense trees and brush. We filed a petition, meet with the TSC a number of time, came to an agreement of what to try -- The TSC presented it to the Council -- and lo' and behold -- we actually made changes!!! We are happy with the signs (yes, this is a residential area for all you speeders who look surprised to see someone walking on the sidewalks there) and we now have crosswalks, a speed limit sign on Church! and a few other mechanisms that, in the very least, makes the drivers aware of the pedestrians who are using that area. It was a long haul, but it actually worked..Thanks to the TSC Chair, Steve K.

Wyltn,
I live 4 houses from Town Hall behind Magruder's on Locust Street. It depends what you call cutting through. Do I use my neighbors streets to benefit my time just to miss a few lights...HELL NO....Do I drive down cottage to Cedar Lane to go to Home Depot...yes I do....I am solely talking about the people that actually use our neighborhoods to cut through when they don't even live in Vienna. Common sense is the key, Wyltn, and I'm sure you have plenty of it. And yes, I due realize the problem at Abbotsford Way. Hang with me, help me with a positive attitude and we can together get it fixed. Lets make it happen...

Pontific8tor,
Tapawingo is in the top 5. You better believe it's on the list. Join with me and lets make it happen.

Lets all face it folks, nothing will change unless the good people here and others seriously step up to the plate. I am going to put my ass out there in due time and I truly want to meet all of you so you can see the determination I have in my eyes and heart. Maintain Faith. I have a huge plan.

Anne,
Look up the word residential in the dictionary. I repeat residential. It appears to me that although you may be a good person, your not quite up to speed on the initial problem. Feel free to contact me directly and I'll be more than happy to sit down with you and explain the difference between a residential Street, a highway, a route, etc etc.

Anyway, I'm looking for good people that want the town problems solved, with common sense. If that means keeping out of my neighborhood or other streets affected by cut through traffic by upsetting folks that don't live in the town then I'm sorry. My concern is Town residents. Not some guy zig zagging through our streets to save time to go to work. Even you Anne knows that our streets were NOT designed to carry that kind of traffic....thanks and good luck. Oh and by the way Anne, what street do you live on? Let me look it up

actually, I'm not a good person, but I'm quite well versed on the meaning of residential. In fact, some people consider me an expert on residential topics. I've lectured on residential best practices at a top university, been quoted by several major newspapers, and, well, I actually do know what I'm talking about. Also, I have worked with two of the country's leading experts on residential traffic and I've never heard either one of them propose a solution like yours.

Julie F,
Yes, the changes you mention on Church are exactly the way to calm traffic. And you're right--the problem stems from streets that are too wide. Over the long term, the state should review it's standards and reduce minimum widths for RESIDENTIAL streets.

Perhaps, streets are too wide. It does seem like a waste of space. I do like my street parking, though, but I guess you can restrict it to one side of the road.

I just find the whole NE Church Street "calming" to be very, very unattractive. Aesthetically speaking, it's borderline offensive. And, I am not really sure who is calmed since I followed behind a car recently who viewed it as some sort of Speed Racer obstacle course.

BTW, when is the last time, one of you spent a day viewing the drag strip that is Windover Avenue? It's nice and narrow and seems to be built for speed according to the drivers I witness daily. And, stop signs along Windover?! They should obviously just be removed since I cannot remember the last time I saw someone stop at one. We ain't got no stop signs. We don't need no stop signs! We don't have to show you any stinkin' stop signs!'

Mr. Rossi,

Speaking of looking up where people live, I couldn't help but notice that you list a Florida mailing address on the online tax assessment for your house on Locust Street. What's up with that?

For your information Florida Driver Mr Rossi is Junior and his house is probably deeded to his father. Regarding speeding, keep in mind that Mr. Rossi's house is just steps away from the Vienna Police station. Cut through traffic is a direct result of town councils action that stopped Abbotsford Drive from being completed. "Careful what you wish for". Charlie Robinson, Jr. had admitted that closing Abbotsford was a mistake.

Thanks Anne for your comments. Let's give you an easy example. And yes I'll use my street as an example. My street is designed for 400 cars a day due to the width of the road when is was constructed in 1955. It's in any traffic study, Fairfax codes,etc. Now, there are 5000 cars a day depending what study you read, no less then 4000 per day. 86% of those cars reside outside of the Town of Vienna. You are OK with that?

Yes or NO!

By the way, are you a town resident? If so what street? This is the 2nd time I asked you.

As for my address in Florida...I have a house there. My accounting firm that pays my taxes, does my Federal / state taxes from there. So instead of getting my tax bill sent here to my Vienna home, I simply have it mailed down to Florida. One time I accidently through out a tax bill because it was caught up in all the junk mail we get. I'm sure you understand that problem.

Anyway, Since I announced I will run for Mayor in 2010, I have communicated with many and do see an obvious pattern of those who truly want to help Vienna and those that just post things because they don't have much better things to do. Its easy to see who supports the same old policies / Mayor Seeman and those that truly care about your fellow neighbor...

Thank you

Charles Rossi for Mayor 2010
121 Locust St SW
Vienna Virginia 22180
703 498 6882
rossihere2@hotmail.com

I'm all for "helping" Vienna, as it has gone without much for a long time. Before you ask, I do live in the Town, on Woodland Ct. NW. But I have a couple of questions: First, the phone number you show is an Occoquan exchange. Is that a work number? It's not the number shown for you in the phonebook. Second, you state "86% of those cars reside outside of the Town of Vienna". How was that number culled? By counting stickers on the vehicles? Tracking tag numbers? And when was that information taken? I guess if I drive down Locust during the next count, I'll become part of that number. When my car was inspected in May, the inspector scraped off my expired 2007 ToV sticker, as he should have (at the Bengali Sunoco, formerly Vienna Mobil). When I asked you about the sticker business previously, you said that this was something you had proposed to the Council some time ago. So, with the stickers gone, how are you identifying cars that should/should not be using Vienna streets? Come on, man, give us some meat!

Mark I believe Rossi already explained that he did the study before the town stickers were abolished.

Mr. Rossi, when the streets were closed around the golf course it was proposed that local residents be excused from the restrictions. The answer was no because it would be difficult to distinguish them from non residents. Question now is at this late date is that rule being enforced.

Considering many or most of my friends are not from within the town limits, it gets so frustrating to hear this us vs them mentality. Town Residents (and future politicians): non-residents may not be voting for you but they are supporting the same businesses, sending kids to the same schools and involved in the same civic organizations.

Most of my local elementary is out of towners but we all still share the same common town even if some cannot vote in elections (well, I guess none of us really do anyhow ...)

Uh, yeah, thanks 'Wyltn'. Just as I pointed out above your post. Which leads me back to, yet again, how is a "Vienna" driver distinguished from a County driver? Whether he or she is on Locust, Country Club, Follin Ln., just what determines a "local resident"? Do we set up check points on Old Courthouse in the afternoon after they're moved from Creek Crossing use in the morning? Please. Let's hear what you've got, Mr. Rossi. Thanks.

Mark,
Your a funny guy. Are you the guy that I also see cheating in the carpool Lane? If you cant comprehend that the residential roads that were built in the town was built for residential traffic. Not for people who live in Warrenton, Manassas, Fairfax etc...to cut through residential neighborhoods. Look everyone who lives in Vienna pays Fairfax County tax and Vienna Tax. The people in the other jurisdictions dont pay Vienna tax. If anyone would like to discuss this issue or any other issues, please contact me directly. If your not a supporter in making a Vienna a better place to live, then I ask you to vote for what you have. If your interested in your fellow neighbor and your quality of life with out worry about if your going to be run over by car whos saving time getting to work when you want to walk across the street and visit your 81 year neighbor, then contact me...Thanks everyone. Now to the next topic.

making Vienna better by sh%tting on people who live 1 house outside of town limits will NOT solve our traffic problems. making our roads even more restrictive than they currently are, shows very little imagination - just "knee-jerk-to-hell-with-them" attitude.

personally, HV original ideas are better than anything else currently proposed.

I'm afraid Mr Rossi shows the exact same kind of provincial, isolationist mindset as Maude and the rest of the current Vienna govt. It's not the way to solve problems, but he will fit right in.

Anne,
I am an outsider looking in and my background and the trust that many people have in my capabilities gives me a good chance to break the current cycle. I asked you to contact me directly either by phone or my personal email address, but of course I haven't heard from you. Anyone can do nothing and post negative comments or attack someones character who you dont even know.

I wont entertain anymore more your negative comments. So please in the future if you really want to solve the problems in Vienna, dont be a problem ok?

Take care and good luck

Charles Rossi for Mayor 2010

Its funny everyone who won't contact me directly about my traffic control plan are very negative. And the hundreds I ave sent my plan to love it or put in some positive comments about it and I revised it. All of you that would like to see what my plan has to offer....try contacting me instead of saying such things...Is that really the right way to handle something?

What about other options for traffic calming on Vienna's streets, especially on roads designated as bike routes. Streetfilms.org has quite a few suggestions. One of the links is listed below.

http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/berkeley-bike-boulevards/

Our fear, Mr. Rossi, lies with the fact that you have not compiled even one gramtically correct post since arising here, which leads us to believe that though you may be sincere, you are inept to run for Mayor for our Municipality at this point in time.

Perhaps you might consider some educational background prior to your public pronoucements.

I humbly suggest you consider a course in Basic English Writing, or perhaps in Recourse or Debate -

Try again later!

gramtically???

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

JM,
When typing here in this blog, the last thing I care about is a typo or possibly not wording something to meet your standards. I think you should take a good look at yourself before casting stones. At least Im not affraid to say who I am, where I live and all my contact information. I dont hide behind initials. Stand up for what you believe Mr. JM.

Its funny how people can be so critical and negative when they wont even contact me to see a copy of my traffic plan. But then again there is some people that truly care and there is others the pretend to.

Feel free to contact me at 703 498 6882

Charles Rossi for Mayor 2010

Charles, I wonder if you messed up that last post purposely We understand the premise of your traffic plan and think it stinks. So why would we want to see the plan?

Mr Rossi,
You are planning to run for mayor based on a single proposal for a single problem. What are your other proposals? Many on this site have discussed major crime issues around Cedar Lane. What is your plan for that? What about the historic district that is probably illegal? Will you work with the neighborhood to resolve those issues? What about budget issues? Sidewalks, aging water and other infrastructure, fireworks, parades... the list goes on and on.

It seems to me that you are quite angry about the traffic running along your street and you plan to become mayor so that you can close off your street to the public. I would expect a mayor to have more to offer than a traffic plan, which appears to be unenforceable at best, and unconstitutional at worst.

Sorry for being so negative.

Miss Mary, Since you know my plan why dont you give me just 2 major points that I want to propose.

I bet you cant and Im beginning to think this isnt a serious site for honest sharing...that is with people that truly love the town...Its time to move on

Mr. Rossi,

Have you really told us where you live? Your explanation that your tax bill is somehow more accessible to your accountant if it is mailed to your house in Florida doesn't make much sense. If you really live most of the time in Vienna, wouldn't your tax bill end up in a giant pile of junk mail at your house in Florida? Or does your accountant have a key to your Florida house so he can collect your mail on a regular basis to check for tax bills? Or is the out-of-state mailing address just a means to avoid paying income tax in Virginia?

Likewise, you talk about your connections and abilities, but Googling your name is a fruitless exercise. I can't claim the same sort of public accomplishments that you do, but Googling my name yields LOTS of hits. Ditto for Googling the names of the regular posters on this site. How have you hidden your accomplishments so well from public view?

Finally, if you want people to marvel at your traffic plan, email it to HV.com for them to post on this site. The whole world will see it then. If it's as great as you say it is, maybe it will inspire several people will run for the town council next spring, and it can be implemented sooner than your promised run for mayor in 2010. If you care about Vienna, that's what you would do.

VM ---

Got me there! :)

Not a "gramatical" error, but a spelling one!

One has to love our posting "spellchecks!"

Then again, I haven't proposed running for Mayor for TOV! ;0

Perhaps it is I that should go back to school!

I cast my ballot for fewer restrictions on traffic. Making certain streets one-way streets and prohibiting left turns can be beneficial from time to time, but the focus should be on completing roads that are now discontinuous (e.g., Abbotsford), and on separating pedestrians from cars by building more sidewalks (maybe even a pedestrian bridge).

I have not seen much of a benefit from the changes to Church St. They have mostly just reduced the amount of on-street parking. Why did the Town not simply put in one or two curb extensions to narrow the road at select points and then paint parking spaces along the street as is done at the other end of Church? A raised crosswalk mid-block would help more that the ersatz median.

Under state law Vienna is completly responsible for the roads in Town and are reimbursed for maintenance by the State. Vienna is lacking in expertese however any complaints about bad decisions they make are rebuffed by VDOT. The only recourse VDOT has is to withhold funds if they are not used to properly maintain the roads. The markings painted at the Church Street inersections are not traffic calming but are more or less what should have been applied when the street was designed or repaved.

Wyltn,
that the town council is "lacking in expertise" is surely a problem. And even worse, when expertise is offered, they say "No thank you, we know what's best." I'll never forget attending the Maple Ave revisioning session a few years ago. Maude got up & said that the consultants were there to verify that what she wanted was indeed correct. No learning there.

Vienna mommy,

Your comments about the intersection of Church St NE and East St NE scream that you are uninformed about this intersection. I live near the intersection and it has been one of the most traveled and dangerous residential intersections in the entire town of Vienna overlooked and ignored for 25 years. Prior to the Foleys spending a year demanding something be done, nobody in 25 years ever stepped up and took on the effort, not because it was not needed, but because people assumed Vienna would do nothing.

Prior to these traffic calming measures being put in place over 6,000 cars a day traveled through this RESIDENTIAL intersection and incredibly high rates of speed with absolutely zippy regard for pedestrians and a complete ignorance to the fact that this is a RESIDENTIAL intersection. Residents were afraid to even cross the intersection because it was so dangerous and cars raced down Church St at speeds clocked at over 70MPH on some occassions.

The Foleys did more with this one petition than anyone did in 25 years and as someone who lives there I can tell you it has made huge, huge difference in waking up drivers and bringing a sensitivity to self absorbed drivers like yourself who are "offended" that this is a RESIDENTIAL intersection.

I find it intriquing that you are not offended that cars speed, run stop sign, drift in other lanes of traffic, don't yeild for pedestrians. But some paint is put on a street to remind drivers of where they are and to slow down and you find this "offensive". Sadly you probably represent the me me attitude of most drivers which is why people had to take action.

Unbelievable that you are "offended" by some lines on the street and a couple of cross walks, are you kidding me.

You are probably going to have a breakdown when I tell you that speed humps are going to be installed on Church later this year and median strips are going to be installed.

You should be applauding the Foleys for getting involved, caring about an issue and working so hard to make the street around their home safer for them and their neighbors. They did not seek to divert traffic or anything like that but simply wanted to make it safe enough to cross the street for goodness sakes.

What have you done lately??

Anne Smith,

Hate to tell you this but the roads in fact DO belong to the residents. The roads are designated residential. To suggest that these roads should be open to cut through traffic to allow 6,000 cars a day to travel down a quiet residential street so a driver can save a precious 30 seconds of their much more valuable lives just makes me shake my head in disbelief.

In a community like this you have to compromise. You have collector roads and artial roads to use. You mean to tell me that you get that upset because you have to spend an extra 30 seconds, come on folks are you kidding me!?!

I do not live on a restricted street but frankly I am perfectly o.k. with it. I have Rte 123, Folling Lane, Creek Crossing, Court House Rd etc. I have many options, why do I need to dilute the quality of a homeowners life simply because I am in a hurry. I think some citizens really need a reality check.

Tell us where you live and let's pump 6,000 cars a day down past your mailbox and then come back and tell us what you think about restricted roads then.

Clearly you lack understanding for the shear volume of cars that cut through the Town of Vienna.

Wyltn/Church St,

One of the biggest issue with Church St and East St NE is that drivers are seemingly unaware that this is a residential street. The TSC actually is probably going to be coming back to add more solutions. When the petitioners submitted their request they agreed to try incremental approachs. The thrust of the petition, as I understood it, was not to divert traffic but to bring a sensitivity and awareness to drivers that this is a residential street and intersection and to slow down.

At the intersection it actually has had quite an effect on drivers behaviors, they go slower through the intersection, tend to stop at the stop sign and seem more aware. On Church St. it is likely that the TSC will install speed humps by the end of this year.

Remember funding is one consideration. The costs to do the things you suggest is probably far more expensive than you may realize. Just to paint the crosswalks and the lines and install an access ramp it costs $10,000.

As someone who lives near the intersection, I can tell you first hand, the improvements are signifficant. The biggest issue is slowing down cars that scream down Church St.

Vienna1:

Members of my family have lived on the 200 block of Church Street for nearly 30 years. Orange stripes, speed humps and cones are cosmetic measures. We are not solving our road problems at all. Major issues need to be tackled before Tyson's goes further in the direction to completely revamp itself and adds a Metro.

Knee-jerk attacks are so necessary on here.

Interesting that Vienna1 has the same grammatical style as Charles Rossi. They must have gone to the same schools.

Vienna Mommy,

I really think you would be well served to inform yourself a little more about the Church St East St NE traffic safety measures that were implemented. The intersection for years was treated as if it was an industrial on ramp onto a freeway. It was so dangerous that residents would never think about crossing at that location nor parking their cars along there.

Now for the first time in years I see families walking across the intersection, walking their dogs and cars slowing down and stopping.

Pedestrians now have the right of way vice the previous conditions. Cars used to race around the the 'S' curve and now the speeds have noticably decreased.

Yes, cars still go fast down Church St, and yes it is a cosmetic change, exactly but the purpose of painting the lines, painting the MPH and installing signs on Church St was to create an awareness to drivers, 'hey, this is not the Indy 500, you are in a residential area, slow down'.

From what I've read on the petition the TSC wanted to try incremental approaches and have already approved speed humps and medians for the intersection.

I am not attacking you, but you seem quick to criticize other people but seem to not provide any solutions. I don't think you realize the heruclean efforts that took of the Foley's to get these changes in place. The data that the Foley's presented at one TSC meeting was breathtaking.

Look you are not ever going to get rid of the traffic, it is like trying to hold back the Ocean. You have to strike a compromise and balance your wants and needs with the wants and needs of others. Frankly most of our neighbors were delighted at what the Foleys did.

Are you even aware that Mr. Foley took it upon himself to have all of the street lights and lenses replaced on Church St between Beulah and East St. Prior to that it was pitch dark. He did this on his own time and made it happen within days. The lights were dark for years prior to that.

Why not grab onto some of the positives and take a moment to applaud the efforts and results. You seem to be quick with the beat down on folks.

vienna mommy,

I think one distinction to make here based on your posts is that you are focused more on Traffic Calming vice Traffic Safety.

Most people have come to associate traffic calming with the idea of diverting traffic away from roads. I think you have to step back and look at reality.

There is not much anyone is ever going to do about traffic in Vienna. What are they going to do build a parkway in Vienna? Obviously not so you have to accept that reality and MANAGE the traffic that is coming through the town. I think what was done on Church St and East St worked toward making the roads safer for drivers and pedestrians.

Did it accomplish what YOU want to see which from your posts looks like diverting or decreasing traffic, no, but that was not the intent of the petition. If you read the petition one of the things it stated was the residents of the community accepted the cut through traffic as a fact of life in Vienna, but what they did not accept was the recklessness with which drivers came through the neighborhood.

Actually I thought it was great petition and resulted in one single resident getting the TSC to spend $10k. I think if you live near the intersection as I do then you would be pretty impressed at the difference it has made.

Does anyone except Maud remember when the horse and buggy riders complained about the new automobile going five miles per hour. The performance of the modern vehicle plus the volume of traffic actually requires traffic to "GO". To hold it back is assanine. Grow up and realize that the town is gridlocked and we need to feed traffic any which way we can. Any complaints about the necessity should be discussed with the town officials and I might add the Chamber of Commerce, who objected to the completion of Abbotsford Drive. Perhaps the current economy will neccesitate bicycles and electric cars to aleviate the speeding issue. For as old fashioned as Viena proclaims to be they have outlawed horses, cows, sheep, chickens, et cetera. Just think of how many trips to the supermarket would be avoided if we could get our eggs and milk in our back yard. While on the subject I wonder why they have not outlawed deer in Vienna.

V`1 you are preaching to the choir. All my driving is in Vienna, except for the occacional trip to Costco. I do not encounter anyone speeding recklessly. The only cars I had seen go anywhere near seventy miles per hour are the Vienna police. Strangely these high miles are registred on every study. Perhaps the study provokes a challange for young drivers. Recall the jump on Hunter Mill Road that put many a young person in the hospital when they head struck the ceiling of their car.
Somethings got to work and maybe you got lucky on Church St. In the aggregate speed bumps in Vienna are overdone. They could put one in front of my house, but I would object because of the noise cars jumping it would create. The Town maintenance crew has done enough to create that situation without speed bumps.

I'm opposed to speed just as you are, I think they bring a lot of unwanted side affects.

I'm also opposed to the inappropriate use of stop signs.

I reconcile myself to the fact that I live in a great town that has a huge amount of cut through traffic. All that I ask of the drivers is that they come through the town safely.

Until people start walking, biking, taking metro etc. we will not solve the volume problem. There is no solution to accomodate the volume of traffic.

I live on a street with speed humps, and will also state that it has made a difference in speeds! It has not diverted traffic (but we did not expect that) but it has slowed it down considerably. And I don't hear noises from cars "jumping" the hump.

I think folks overblow the negative impact of speed humps. Yes they are a bit of an inconvenience and a pain in the rear end to have to drive over.

However, let's face it, 70% of the traffic in Vienna is cars cutting through to get to where they are goind and in that desire to get there they speed usually with disregard for the fact that they are navigating through residential streets. Our streets have become residential highways in effect.

I dislike speed humps as much as anyone but would rather see those as opposed to cars racing at high rates of speeds down narrow neighborhood streets.

You know what I love, Vienna residents never cut through other community streets and never speed on residential streets. And Maud never uses Locust Street but rather travels Maple Avenue to her house on Courthouse Road.Ha Ha.