THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 5, 1996 TAG: 9604040118
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 116 lines
Anyone see the Associated Press piece in Monday's paper about the Virginia Department of Transportation starting to use psychology in the Manassas area?
Sure enough, it is. It's even named the idea ``residential traffic calming.''
It seems that the Manassas area has big problems with folks disregarding speed limit signs in residential areas. The department has decided to pull out the psychology books and come up with some ways to slow people down without them even knowing it.
Ideas include moving the white line to make people feel like there's less room to move around within the lanes and building protruding sidewalks here and there on both sides of a road to make drivers feel like the road swerves.
It seems that we don't have as big a problem with congestion here, nor do we have the majority of our main roads slicing right through residential neighborhoods, so if you're waiting for this ``calming'' effect to hit Hampton Roads, you'll be waiting a long time. Don't you just hate to hear that?
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Wayne, Kempsville Greens. With all these people running red lights, how about taking some unused police cars and parking them at the intersections like KEMPSVILLE and INDIAN RIVER ROADS or get a few mannequins and dress them up like cops? It may not stop them, but it might slow them down. Every so often they could put a real cop there.
Maybe after a while they'll get the message. Can't hurt and it's not going to cost much. Goodbye.
RW: Do you have any idea of the cost of a decent mannequin these days? Ha ha, neither does Road, but there is one hole in the idea - there are no unused police cruisers hanging around.
Lynn Holman, Cape Story by the Sea. I'm calling in reference to the repair work on the LESNER BRIDGE. I understand this kind of work is necessary but my concern is, as I'm sitting in traffic, what happens if Ocean Park Rescue Squad needs to leave and that traffic is bumper to bumper?
Someone's got to solve that concern before something terrible happens. Thanks for listening. Bye.
RW: Road called the folks at Ocean Park Volunteer Fire and Rescue and they've already got a plan. During peak times, when traffic is bumper to bumper and one lane each way (on the same side, mind you) they station a unit on both sides of the bridge. That way, if they get a call they can go in either direction. Or, they'll approach the bridge sirens wailing until they get to traffic. Then they'll turn them off so people don't freak out and think they've got to take a dive to let them by. Once they're peacefully over the bridge and clear of bumper-to-bumper traffic, they'll hit the switch again and on they'll go.
After all, as the kind gentleman told Road, ``safety and providing service to the community'' is what they're all about and that includes looking out for the safety of drivers and construction workers.
Tracy, Windsor Woods. I'm calling about a section on OLD FORGE ROAD. They ripped it up about a month ago and now there are potholes at least a foot and a half wide and 6 inches deep. When are they going to fix this problem? Thanks.
RW: Road called Dan Kiley, one of our hard-working paving dudes, and he said he isn't aware of anything going on at Old Forge Road. Could it possibly have been a water and sewer job or maybe even a utility project that resulted in the road being torn up? Call me back with some details on this, including the exact location, and we'll find out what's going on.
As for that pothole, the city is riddled with them after the harsh winter with extreme temperatures. Dan and his crew are working day and night to get those things plugged. In fact, as part of that work, a contractor just finished repaving Princess Anne Road from Landstown, or Dam Neck as it's now called, to the Courthouse because it, too, was riddled with holes. And, they did it in three days! Go Dan!
Cindy Farrow, Strawbridge. I have a comment on the new sign on INDEPENDENCE just before PEMBROKE BOULEVARD that has an arrow directing people to go right for Pembroke Boulevard.
Pembroke Boulevard also goes left for about two blocks. I work at a business on Pembroke Boulevard to the left of Independence and people can never find us. Can the city fix this? Thanks.
RW: Really, Cindy? Road's map shows that once Pembroke hits Independence, it turns into Witchduck Road. Do you work in the Pembroke Lake Circle area? That's just off Witchduck once you cross over Independence from Pembroke Boulevard.
Does your actual address list the street as Pembroke?
We can't ask for a new sign if we don't have our streets right. Road's anxiously awaiting your reply.
The following wrote to Road:
Don and Georgene Leiter, Bridle Creek Blvd. I hope that you will consider trying to assist not only the weary motorist but, as is our case, the weary pedestrian. Our problem is crossing Ferrell Parkway at Pleasant Valley. There is a button to push to cross Pleasant Valley, but there is no button for pedestrians trying to cross Ferrell Parkway. All we are asking for is a button for pedestrians to push so they can safely cross Ferrell.
Fortunately, motorists have been kind to us, and we have not been run over when the light suddenly turned green on Ferrell Parkway. Any assistance you can generate with the powers that be will be gratefully appreciated.
RW: Road's got a call in to engineers to see exactly why there is no pedestrian signal offering on Ferrell. Stay tuned next week for details.
Jeanne M. Macdonald, Bayside. We would like to know the best thing to do, especially when on the interstate, when using a cellular phone to call the police. Should we call 911 or call the state or local police for that area? We try to keep the police numbers handy in case of emergencies. Thank you very much. We appreciate your column.
RW: According to Tammy Van Dame with the State Police, if it's an emergency and you're on the interstate on a cellular phone you dial 911. That'll take you right to the State Police dispatcher.
If you're calling on a cellular phone, or any phone, about a non-emergency you can call the State Police at 424-6800. MEMO: Tell the Road Warrior about your motoring problems. Get 'em off your
chest. Call on Infoline, at 640-5555. After a brief message, dial ROAD
(7623). When directed, press 1 to deliver your message, and 1 again to
sign off.
Or, write: The Road Warrior, Virginia Beach Beacon, 4565 Virginia
Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va. 23462.
Don't forget to include your name, address and neighborhood. by CNB