Speeding follow up with COT

I did a follow up with the City of Tigard re the continuing speeding problem in the neighborhood.  I greatly appreciate the support of Christie at the COT for her sharing of information and support.  The latest is this:

1.  there is no specification for speed humps with the COT.  They contract out the installation and the contractor builds to their spec.  The COT then inspects the final work for approval.
2. The COT is working on a better solution to “calm” traffic than humps.  They don’t work, as the continuing issue in our neighborhood attests.
3. In survey after survey, people don’t like them (they don’t like speed limits, not using cell phones while driving, etc.) and are greater in number than those who do.  Thus, COT isn’t installing them anymore (our personal inconvenience overrides the safety issue).
4. Emergency vehicle people (ambulances, fire trucks) don’t like them even with the spacing for their vehicle wheelbase in them.  The spaces force them out into the center of the road and when other vehicles don’t pull over or vehicles parked in the street impinge, they can’t get through at the speeds they need to.
5. Drivers speed with speed humps in place.  They speed up to the hump, slow down to go over it, and then immediately speed up again (studies show they go faster after the hump than before!).
6. COT will  schedule us in for the cart display that shows speeds.  This is put in place on a priority basis to COT will look at our speed study and schedule us in as is appropriate.  This cart just shows speed; it doesn’t show a count like the original study did.

The take away from all this is that we still have a speeding problem in Washington Square Estates despite the speed humps, that problem will only be resolved by each of us as neighbors.  We need to ask and answer this question of ourselves:  do I care more about me and my need to speed or is the welfare of the neighborhood (people and property) my priority?  What’s your answer and action?

Respectfully,

Terry Crawford

Vice-chair, WSEHOA Inc. and neighbor