Dear Neighbors,
Thank you for all of your support in this effort. We, members of the Fairlawn Heights Neighborhood Association, have been working since June, with the chief goals of SAFETY for all, and keeping this neighborhood’s reputation of being a livable, trusted place to live a lifetime, from childhood to adulthood with children to retirements years.
Our Work
As advised, we
- Originated an online Petition and received over 350 signatures, supporting:
- a trial of camera-equipped speed guns that have proven successful (as close as Norton), avoid the chase and stop, and are free of cost to the City. We were not suggesting which guns to use, but requested a trial, as the current speed gun system is not successful;
- a traffic and signage study with appropriate changes to reroute traffic;
- Continued support of state highway patrol;
- Signage that indicated 25 mph limit and the words ELECTRONIC ENFORCEMENT
- Placed over 100 signs when requested by residents
- Met with Mr. James Hardy, Chief of Staff
- Addressed Council
- Summarized all efforts and listened to the Chief of Staff’s summary at the Annual FHNA meeting in October
Unresolved Issues and Challenges
There was legislation that approved a $10,000 budget allocation for updated speed guns that are hand-held and that require chase and stop, in the absence of a trial of the camera-equipped guns that are free and that do not require chase and stop, We were told that some Council members want officers to “establish a relationship” with stopped speeders.
- We are told that the Mayor does not want to move forward on anything until the first of the year due to work in securing the school zone cameras.
- We have not received confirmation of the promised trial of the camera-equipped, free speed guns.
- We have not received any promised updates; nor a promised timeline for a traffic/signage study.
The Good News
- We have noticed a decrease in speeding with the presence of the signs. We have suggested taking down the signs until the Spring, but many residents insist on leaving them up, due to the success.
- We have noticed the presence of Highway Patrol officers tracking speeders in the Heights.
- We have noticed officers on motorcycles tracking speeders during a weekend.
- We have seen the presence of an interactive, digital speed sign at the base of Ridgewood, near the expressway; we are not sure if it is temporary or permanent.
The Plan
- We would like to revive the effort in the Spring. Residents have the option of taking down signs for the winter or leaving them up.
- We hope to be able to continue our effort to stop speeding in the Heights.
- We feel that the city administration’s response is too slow and too deliberate to solve our problem.
- We feel that through our association’s efforts and the sponsoring of needed signage we are more committed to slowing traffic in the Heights than the City.
Sincerely,
Your FHNA Stop Speeding Committee
Mary Lynn Crowley
Greg Dunham
Diane Geiger
Derrick Hall
Donna Ross
Linda Woods
