Traffic Committee Grapples With Speeding Complaints

Fairhope, Alabama 

 

Mershon Avenue.

Traffic committee meeting.

SPEED BUMPS REQUESTED

During its October meeting, the city's street and traffic control committee was presented with a petition from residents along a stretch of Mershon Street, between Morphy and Nichols Avenues, to have speed bumps installed to slow traffic through their neighborhood.

5,648 vehicles passed through during a traffic study conducted by the police department for two weeks beginning September 20th; 3,373 of those exceeded the 25 mph speed limit, but the median speed was only about 26 mph. (95% were going 35 mph or less; the fastest one recorded was going 51 mph.)

Assistant public works director Ladd thought speed bumps were one of the only ways to ensure compliance with speed limits; but councilman Burrell worried about having too many; "putting them on every street in town."

He said they have been known to cause damage to vehicles, as well.

Burrell suggested something like installing "pinch points" to narrow the lanes may be better. (Ladd called them "bump outs" but planners often refer to such speed-reduction methods as "road diets.")

N. INGLESIDE TOO

Police Chief Hollinghead said two traffic studies had already been done on North Ingleside Avenue between Winn and Central Avenues where speed bumps were also requested some time ago, with similar results: median speed was 27 mph with 95% traveling 36 mph or less. (One was going 87 mph!)

Hollinghead said her main concern there is the high volume: 13,726 vehicles during a two week period beginning last July 11.

Councilman Burrell made a motion to ask the mayor to contact residents/consultants for further study of alternatives ... and consider installing the pinch points (landscaping, cross walks, etc) on both streets before more speed bumps (passed unanimously).

 

North Ingleside Aveneue

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