To the Editor:
The article, “Money Talks” (Oct. 20-26, 2016) revealed that Alexandria has allocated $1.5 million in the 2017 budget for “Complete Streets” and that there is a backlog where neighborhoods want more complete streets and the city willing to spend a healthy $500,000 a year for them. This means more traffic calming “to make city streets more accessible to bicycles, pedestrians, and buses in ways that fit with the needs of that community.”
An example of traffic calming recently is the reduction of the long-standing 35 mph speed limits to 25 mph on Quaker Lane from King to Duke streets and extended on King Street from Janney’s Lane to Quaker Lane together with a reduction of lanes from four to three on King — plus two almost unused bike lanes.
My call to Deputy City Manager Emily Baker to protest these unrealistic new limits elicited the information that while these reduced speed limits are not yet final, staff were “monitoring the situation” but it seemed the reduced speed limits were working — apparently to reduce traffic speed as intended to 25 mph.
Although this “Catch 22” may seem final, it appears that the city might reconsider the speed limit reductions if sufficient protests appeared. So, if, like me, readers who may not be part of the adjacent community feel the reduced speed limits are unnecessary or irksome or even dangerous make their displeasure known, there is the possibility at least the speed limit reductions might be reversed.
Please let your concern be known. Take the time to email or phone the City Manager’s office at703-746-4549.
A call or text to the mayor and City Council at 703-746-4500 might not be wasted either.
Stephen Newman
Alexandria