Rich

Eastbound on Webb Br. Rd., the left turn traffic light sensor does not work. If there is no eastbound car in the through-travel lane, no left turn light triggers. This is particularly troublesome at early (pre-dawn) AM hours when traffic is very light.

Growing numbers of cars and trucks significantly exceeding the 25, 35, and 40 mile per hour posted limits on City Center segment of Haynes Br., Academy St., and Westside Pkwy. are creating an increased hazard to public safety.

Coupled with the heavy (and, speeding) dump truck traffic associated with the downtown area's new development projects, bicycling at all times of the day is increasingly dangerous. Additional speed limit signage is needed to help remind drivers what our community considers safe on our core city streets. Additional bike lane stenciling is needed to indicate where space is dedicated to bikes. Also, the encroachment of vehicles into narrow bike lanes makes bike travel more hazardous than it should be. Anything to increase driver awareness of where road sharing is required would be helpful.

Particularly:

- The 25 mph segment of Haynes Bridge between Publix and Academy could use additional speed limit signage on the north and southbound sides to remind drivers what's safe between the traffic circle and Academy. Currently, there is only one 25 mph speed limit sign in the northbound segment at the exit from the circle. An additional sign nearer Tiffany Square would help remind drivers to slow down approaching Academy St. There are no posted speed limit signs on the southbound side. Is this an oversight?

- The "no trucks" icon signage on westbound Academy St. to stop left turns onto Haynes Bridge is largely ignored, nor are any signs in place for prohibiting northbound trucks at Old Milton Parkway. Aren't trucks restricted from using this narrow road segment in both directions? Damage to curbs, sidewalks, and medians is evident from too wide vehicles navigating the stretch.

- The eastbound, downhill Academy St. segment from the City Center toward the Fire Station is sorely in need of additional 35 mph signs. Currently, only one sign near the City Hall and Haynes Bridge is not serving as sufficient reminder to drivers as they accelerate downhill past Academy Park. The next sign is located about 2,000 feet past Haynes Bridge, near Webb Bridge Ct., and on this downhill segment it is not unusual to find vehicles traveling 50-60 mph. With a minimal bike lane (unmarked), this is a very hazardous roadway that should be more tightly controlled if we are to be successful in tying our City Center to the neighborhoods' pedestrian and bike pathways.

- Similarly, on this same segment westbound, the road's straightaway, downhill/uphill design seems to cause driver's to accelerate far beyond the 35 mph posted. Additional signage could help serve as a reminder to maintain a safe speed. Currently, there is only one 35 mph sign westbound near the fire station. This half-mile stretch to City Center's 30 mph segment is sorely in need of better speed limit signage and aggressive enforcement.

- The westbound, downhill Webb Bridge segment from the GA400 overpass to Westside Parkway is marked with just one sign indicating the reduced limit from 40 mph to 35 mph. As a bicyclist, this is one of the most dangerous portions of Webb Br., and coupled with the narrow (no shoulder/bike lane) segment from the overpass to the Westside intersection, motor vehicles exceeding the 35 mph limit present a serious hazard to public safety. Improvements to signage for the reduced 35 mph speed limit and a wider, marked bike lane could make a huge improvement to public safety.

- Westside Parkway's 40 mph limit is largely ignored in all directions and all segments. This roadway should serve as an ideal north/south path for bicyclists, and has bike lanes in many stretches (but, not all). Stenciling bike graphics could help raise driver awareness about sharing the road and the need to control speed. The typical vehicle at any time of day on Westside can be expected to be carrying a speed of 50+ mph. Matching bike traffic to an un-enforceable 40 mph limit is a recipe for disaster. What signage solution can be deployed on Westside to help raise awareness of the 40 mph limit and shared use? More aggressive, sustained enforcement by our ADPS team could help raise awareness of our city's seriousness about improving pedestrian and bicycle access to neighborhoods and shopping.

While not necessarily a Code Enforcement issue, the abandoned homes lining Thompson St. have had their recycling and trash bins awaiting pickup for months from the appropriate services. They have all been empty of trash, but open lids are letting bins accumulate water and are harboring mosquitoes.