Description
Over the past few months, the average traveling speed for vehicles driving North on South Willard has increased substantially. I don’t own a radar gun, but I’m positive that the average speed of cars on South Willard has gone from 5-10mph on the 25mph posted speed limit. Cars are now traveling upwards of 50mph constantly, throughout the day and evening hours. I have contacted BPD about the issue of speeding on South Willard, but without paying for an BPD officer to perform a “detail” on South Willard, solely enforcing the speed limit. Obviously BPD handing out tickets won’t stop this issue, as it’s most cars and stopping one car won’t “slow” this problem. Route 7 is a Vermont State Highway, but there are obviously no VSP or Chittenden Country Sheriffs being paid to patrol Burlington streets for speeding. What can be done to slow the excessive flow of traffic from Shelburne Rd, North on South Willard?
6 Comments
Burlington, VT (Verified Official)
Benjamin (Registered User)
ChittendenDriveHomeowner (Registered User)
ChittendenDriveHomeowner (Registered User)
Hvt (Registered User)
Good afternoon John,
I am emailing you to get in touch about an issue that has been perpetually continuing throughout the South End. Most traffic that is travelling North from South of Burlington continues onto South Willard from Shelburne Road. Many years ago, the speed limit on South Willard from Shelburne Rd to Cliff St was 30mph., but after Burlington decreased the speed limit on South Willard St. from 30mph to 25mph, the average traveling speed of vehicles heading North on South Willard has increased to an average speed of over 37mph, 12 miles per hour fast than the speed limit (on a residential road). I am certain that I will be able to obtain well over 1/3 of the residents of South Willard Street from Shelburne Rd. to Cliff St.'s signatures easily to begin the "request" for "traffic calming enhancement program." Although I believe that this course of action is the best method for dealing with the issue of excessive speed, two to four years is a great amount of time when vehicles (locals and out-of-staters) are traveling in excess of 20mph over the city's speed limit. I have been in contact with BPD a few times; the initial contact was cut short because the answering officer stated, "Unfortunately if you would like an officer to "detail" your street, you're more than welcome to pay for a detail, otherwise we can notate that you'd like us to patrol "that area" more frequently." Obviously, as a Burlington resident I am not going to provide payment to the Burlington Police Department for a job they should already be doing, secondly after speaking with them this afternoon, they stated they cannot have someone sit on South Willard, but if I have a specific vehicle complaint they can investigate that (one) complaint.
I am wondering what your advice is to reduce the speed of vehicles on South Willard, between the Shelburne Rd. Rotary and Cliff St., besides initiating a 2-4 year long "Calming Neighbor Enhancement Program". Vehicles are traveling AT LEAST 20 miles per hour over the Burlington mandated speed limit, which is close to a misdemeanor charge –– only 10mph away from RECKLESS DRIVING. I would appreciate any ideas you may have, as stopping one or two vehicles who are traveling 10mph won't impact the extreme impact of speeding on our neighborhood.
Regards,
Jack
Acknowledged Burlington, VT (Verified Official)