Description

Driving down Currituck road yesterday I noticed road markings for what appears to be traffic calming devices. What is strikingly obvious to me is that this is about to become the most dangerous road in North Hills. Placing obstacles in the road, especially on a hill, is going to cost someone their life. Similar traffic calming devices are in place on Reedy Creek road just off of Edwards Mill road. Where the center islands exists, drivers are running off the road and into the grass. The ruts are clearly visible.
The petition process for this, as with the petitions for other traffic calming projects, was not done in the best interest of the citizens in the neighborhoods. The petition signatures have been suspect, people on adjoining streets were not notified of the meetings, and there is no record of signatures of people opposed to the project. Further, there is no evidence of a speeding problem. The city placed a counter on Currituck for a 24 hour period and determined from that a speeding problem existed. The real issue all over Raleigh is not speeding, but rather increased traffic because of the growth of the city. One of the problems with forcing people to drive slower is it gives them more opportunity to send text messages or check email. Both are much more dangerous than driving five miles per hour over the speed limit.
The city has hired people to run this traffic calming program and they have to find something to do and this is the result. I am very annoyed in the continued waste of my tax dollars on this program. I am also frustrated to no end that the city council refuses to acknowledge the opposition to this program.