Blog Williamsburg

I would like to see neighborhoods submit specific requests for traffic calming measures they believe would benefit them the most and include this as a recommendation in the Comp Plan. This information is best if it comes directly from the residents who live with the problem day after day. The City’s traffic engineers, while very competent at their jobs, can’t possibly see all the issues. If people will step forward with requests, we can compile them and turn them over for further evaluation.

Excellent start. I strongly support the development of light rail on the peninsula, and the continued effort to improve the “walkability” and “bikability” of the City. This involves everything from providing adequate cross-walks and bike lanes to making sure our new buildings maintain a human scale.

The goal of providing an “acceptable level” of mass transit service is inadequate without the concommitant goal of making our citizens aware of that service. For example, I understand that there is free bus service between the Yorktown and Jamestown Settlements, Colonial Williamsburg, and our Transportation Center this summer, but I have seen no announcement of it in the Gazette.

So, the service might be there, but it won’t be used unless people are aware of it.

Cellphone-free intersections at certain places such as college corner where close pedestrian calls hav been routinely/regularly observed. Drivers might be required to interrupt the call and place the phone in their lap within so many feet of certain intersections. The usual sort of “do not” signage would be the alert that the upcoming intersection is cellphone-free.