|
August
2008 | by Harold
Feder
 After
three years,
the City Council
has approved
the permanent
use of chicanes
as one of the
Crest Road traffic
calming measures.
Supporters believe
that these traffic-calming
measures have
been and will
be effective
and aesthetically
consistent with
our beautiful
neighborhood.
The
following summary
of relevant
facts demonstrates how
vetted these measures
have been:
Solving
the traffic
problems on
Crest Road started
with a broad
solicitation
of suggestions
from throughout
the community.
Input was solicited
from the City
staff, Public
Works, Fire
Department,
engineering
consultants,
and the
town's traffic
engineer. Every
suggestion was
discussed and
debated for effectiveness
and whether significant
consensus could
be achieved from
most of the community.
 Many
residents most
affected by
the
traffic sought
measures much
more extreme:
Making Crest
Road one-way south; turnabouts;
no left turns
for North-bound
traffic; and
closing Crest
Road entirely
to traffic. These
suggestions were
rejected because
of opposition
from some of
our neighbors, especially
those who reside
on adjoining
streets to Crest:
at least 20
different proposals
were considered.
To reach the
widest consensus, options
were discussed
at numerous neighborhood
meetings, TPAC
hearings and
Council hearings
-- a three-year
process.
This
final plan
--
15 MPH speed, a
new stop sign
and chicanes
-- is a significant
compromise.
The facts say
this plan has
been and will
be effective
in lowering
traffic speed
and volume on
Crest, will
not adversely
affect traffic
volume or speed
on adjoining
streets, and
is consistent
with the Community
Plan's goal
of promoting
pedestrian traffic
and biking.
Chicanes are
aesthetically
consistent
with the surrounding
vegetation.
Many communities
literally beg
for chicanes
for traffic
calming.
Comments
from a few
vocal
critics included
allegations
that there was
no traffic problem, that the
measures posed
a fire hazard
and that only
a few Crest
Road residents
see it as a problem. None
of the "comments" are
factual.
Traffic
studies clearly
show a significant
traffic problem
on Crest that
affects the
whole
community (1800
cars a day). There
are traffic
and speed issues
on Crest and
adjoining streets.
Traffic affects
all of the town's
pedestrians and
bikers who walk
and bike on Crest
and those who
walk their dogs and
babies here.
The engineering
consultants and
we continuously
consulted with
the Fire Department
on all traffic-calming
measures. All
Fire Department
suggestions
have been incorporated into
the plan. These
measures are
not for a few
on Crest Road
. In reality, Crest
residents will
sacrifice more
with these
measures. Speed
and yield signs
are in front
of our homes
and we hear
the sounds of
traffic stopping.
Chicanes are
in front of
our homes and
affect parking.
We drive on
Crest more and
suffer the alleged "inconvenience" of
driving slower
and safer.
We are
helping fund
the chicanes.
Private citizens
have never
before helped
the town defray
the costs of
safety measures.
We
support these
measures for
one reason: turning
dangerous conditions
into a safe, beautiful
environment that
is an
asset to the entire
town. We
know that traffic
is a dominant
issue in our
town. How aggressive
we are in combating
this problem
will determine
whether Del Mar
maintains its
village atmosphere
or turns into
a massive thoroughfare
for resident
and non-resident
speeders and cut-through
traffic trying
to escape I-5.
The traffic-calming
measures on Crest
are a good beginning
in maintaining
our village environment.
© 2007-08
Del Mar Community
Alliance, Inc. All
rights reserved. |
