By 2030, 22,000 vehicles per day—including 1,500 heavy trucks —will use Washington Avenue (Rt. 213). Currently, an average of 13,800 use the state road, with approximately 80 trucks per hour.
David Bowering, a spokesperson for the Washington Avenue Association, presented an interpretation of a recent State Highway Administration study of Washington Avenue traffic to the town council during their Monday meeting. “By using percentages and percentiles as relative measures of volume rather than the actual traffic counts, obscures what the actual data tells us about the problem.”
Bowering, a Washington Avenue resident instrumental in making the SHA aware of the local traffic issue, feels that the data collected during their study, while sufficient, needed further analysis to properly identify the magnitude of the issue.
He said in his evaluation of the vehicle study that “The authors of the report minimize the amount of heavy truck traffic by stating that the heavy truck traffic is a “small proportion” of the total daily traffic (only 7% of the of the traffic are heavy trucks). What is not mentioned is what this 7% actually represents in terms of volume.”
He continued by pointing out that the 7% translated into 80 heavy trucks per hours over a 12-hour period.
An earlier study conducted by the SHA in 2010 established the average daily total at between 14,000 and 17,000. The high end of that study would mean that 1,000 trucks per day use the Washington Avenue corridor.
Bowering also highlighted the study’s data about speeding. “During the weekday period, 50 percent of the vehicles are constantly over the speed limit throughout the day. Given the average daily limit of 13,800 vehicles, this is not insignificant for a residential neighborhood—6,900 vehicles exceed the speed limit of 25 mph each day.”
It was also pointed out that speed cameras are not a possible deterrent. Speed cameras can only be used in the vicinity of public schools through high school. Washington College does not qualify.
Janice Dickson says
Public schools? Where is the public school on 291 heading toward 301 out of town? How many of us have sent $50. to an out of town collection point?
Since the speed camera wasn’t in the vicinity of a PUBLIC school, are we entitled to a refund?
Joe Diamond says
Seems David misspoke. I couldn’t find a reference to only public schools. Schools are places for kids up to grade 12. I did not find a reference to public or private…just schools. Not colleges, as he correctly stated. You can go try to get ten bucks back. Fines are $40.00 for camera violations with no points.
What surprised me was that the State Highway Administration (SHA) had anything to do with traffic laws. Apparently towns must apply to the SHA for a school zone designation and then erect signs and cameras. I didn’t check to see if C Town & SHA have all the paperwork inplace.
Slow down and live…….only you can prevent forest fires….the life you save may be your own……….smoke detectors save lives…..go and sin no more,
joe diamond says
Washington Avenue Association? Really? Washington Avenue is a major truck route. Everything you and your association eats arrives by truck. Likewise the stuff you don’t eat but use anyway…toilet paper, fuel and cat food…..(bet you are a cat person) arrives here by truck. The stuff arrives on a heavily taxed rig and operated by a heavily taxed driver who is licensed, insured and monitored at great expense to bring you your stuff .
You can say thank you any time.
Then there is the other issue. Did you fail to notice the road in front of the residence you purchased the place?
I fail to see a suggestion, conclusion or presented alternative to traffic on Washington Avenue. So stop reading those studies. They will just make you nuts. Your presentation seems to be directed to folks from a different planet.
How about this? If we get the local cops to bust all sinners above 25 MPH…could the trucks go through unmolested AND can we take down the six traffic lights?
Carol Mylander says
The traffic is much much heavier than when I bought my house on Washington Avenue AND it is traveling at greater speeds now, different than before. This isn’t about appreciation of trucks but, protecting pedestrians and especially school children. I have had big trucks and cars jump the curb onto the median strip in front of my house, many are texting and not paying attention while speeding. We have Garnet School, Chestertown Middle, church schools and Washington College on or near #213 and a Baptist school on Morgnec Road.
joe diamond says
All that is covered in the rules. Within 1/2 mile of a “school”, and there are two, Garnet & Chestertown Middle, where children cross streets the SHA will grant a school zone sign and speed cameras. They can be operated between 8:00Am & 8:00 PM.
One possibility might be that as DOT, county & sheriff cops get “certified” to inspect trucks on 301 the drivers elect to go where the cops are not. These trucks are not smuggling terrorists…they just go from point to point while, nationwide, local cops treat interstate commerce as a source of revenue. The trucks may be using the rural roads because the cops with their donuts are out on 301.
The other possibility is that, as the population shifts to internet shopping more goods move by truck to local addresses that previously when people went to stores.
You might be able to fix the speed but not the volume of traffic…until the Chester River bridge fails.