Shore Drive Community Coalition

Background: Shore Drive Safety Task Force

Whether there is a difference of opinion as to who was at fault in the recent tragic fatalities & injuries involving pedestrians, Shore Drive is a major artery, the Bayfront community has the highest population density in the City, currently with over 24,000 people; the fact is Shore Drive is simply not safe for pedestrians, cyclists, joggers, even drivers.

Please continue reading the Background of why the Shore Drive Safety Task Force was formed.

Choose to get involved, email us your ideas on how to make Shore Drive safer. Follow this link to get started.

Background at SDCC.info:
5 pedestrians have been killed this year alone:
Burley Thomas Day III, Kristin Highfill, Charles Henderson, James and Dawn Hale. Entire City: 2004 - 4, 2003 - 5…[More info]
Shore Drive Safety Issues Section.
This holiday choose to drive 35 campaign.

Correspondence creating Task Force:
Request for Shore Drive Safety Task Force
SDAC Formally Requests
Petition drive in support of Task Force
Shore Drive Safety Task Force approved.
Jim Spore letter to Charlie Meyer, COO [PDF] appointing Mr. Meyer as Chair of the Shore Drive Safety Task Force.
Letter from Charlie Meyer to Kal Kassir, President SDAC [PDF] in reference to task force.
Letter naming members & task force schedule [PDF]. Members from SDCC are Daphne Atkins & Tim Solanic.

Members:
Chair - Charlie Meyer, Chief Operating Officer of the City
Louis Jones , Vice-Mayor, Bayside District
Jim Wood, Councilman, Lynnhaven District
June Barrett-McDaniels representing the Shore Drive Advisory Committee
Barry Frankenfield, representing Parks and Recreation
Dean Block, Director Public Works
Greg Mullen, Deputy Chief of Police
Bob Scott,  Director of Planning & Community Development
Daphne Atkins, representative from Shore Drive Community Coalition
Tim Solanic, alternate representative from Shore Drive Community Coalition

Schedule & Goals:
Limit the work of the task force to three meetings.

·  The first meeting would clearly define the problem that we are solving; determine what is already underway; classify those actions according to the time frames established in the Council resolution; brainstorm additional action steps classified by time frames.
·  The second meeting would solicit any additional recommendations for action; narrow the list of action steps and assign responsibility for fully developing the alternative action steps.

·  The third and final meeting would be to review the fully developed alternatives; determine budget recommendations for implementation; assign responsibility; set timeline for implementation, determine public communications plan.

The final recommendations will be presented to the Shore Drive Advisory Committee prior to presentation to Council.

Schedule:
First meeting of task force prior to January 20, 2006
First report to City Council on January 20, 2006
Second meeting of task force by February 10, 2006
Second report to City Council on February 17, 2006
Third meeting of task force by March 3, 2006
Third report to City Council on March 10, 2006
Draft Recommendations report by March 16, 2006
Present draft report to Shore Drive Advisory Committee by March 16, 2006
Briefing to City Council on Final Recommendations on March 28, 2006

A letter to the editor from June Barrett-McDaniels

June, a member of the SDAC, and newly appointed to the Shore Drive Safety Task Force, recently wrote a letter to the editor that was published December 28th in the Virginian-Pilot.

An excerpt:

His death has galvanized a community where we have experienced the tragedy of five pedestrian fatalities in little over a year, all within two miles of each other on Shore Drive.  This disproportionate number of deaths requires the immediate attention of a caring community.  Though each tragedy was unique, there were several unsafe pedestrian conditions common to all of them…

Continue reading her unedited version, reprinted with permission.

Last week Virginia Beach City Council unanimously passed a resolution establishing a Shore Drive Safety Task Force. In the wake of the most recent tragedy, the death of Burley Day on December 1st,  many of us Shore Drive residents feel it has become absolutely necessary to take immediate measures to protect pedestrians on Shore Drive.  Burley was running on Shore Drive that morning and was hit by a school bus.  By all accounts, Burley was a pillar of the community and, most importantly to him, a devoted family man.  His death has galvanized a community where we have experienced the tragedy of five pedestrian fatalities in little over a year, all within two miles of each other on Shore Drive.  This disproportionate number of deaths requires the immediate attention of a caring community.  Though each tragedy was unique, there were several unsafe pedestrian conditions common to all of them:

June Barrett-McDaniels
Virginia Beach

As always, please [encode=tsolanic@gmail.com?Subject=Please post this at SDCC.info!]email us[/encode] your letters to the editor, or any other opinions, ideas, rants or raves you’d like to see published at SDCC.info.

Cow nosed ray for lunch?

He said the reaction was fabulous. One of the most popular techniq ues, Maxwell said, was marinating wing-cut fillets in olive oil, wine vinegar, oregano and lime juice, then grilling them.

Read the entire article at Pilotonline.com.

Throughout the area, residents are urging drivers to go 35 mph, instead of the speed limit of 45 mph

The 85th percentile is based in part on a study in the 1950s on rural, two-lane roads. Although widely accepted by engineers, the method has its detractors.

“There is no science behind it,” said Richard Retting, senior transportation engineer with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit research group in Arlington.

Read the entire article at Pilotonline.com.
Learn more about the holiday safety campaign mentioned in the article.

luis, lerin 3809 three ships landing

I would love to walk down to Lynnhaven Inlet or drive my bicycle to work.

One that mirrors what is seen across the bay on the eastern shore. Not what is being developed on the beach over the Lesner bridge.  Allowing developers to fill every nook with duplexes & condos will increase city revenues, but will force more spending on public infrastructure.

I would love to walk down to Lynnhaven Inlet or drive my bicycle to work. The lack of sidewalks and/or paths prevents me from doing it.

Shore Drive Safety Task Force approved

The Shore Drive Safety Task Force[SDSTF] requested by Todd Solomon and the SDCC, was approved by consent on Tuesday evening at City Council’s meeting.

Thank you to all who helped get the task force created, particularly Councilman Woods and Vice Mayor Jones for getting it on the agenda so quickly, Todd for having the foresight and wherewithal to ask SDAC to request the formation of the task force, Kal Kassir & the SDAC for requesting it and especially to Clay Culbreth & friends for rapidly organizing a petition drive, and finally to Nancy Day for having the strength to speak out.

The task force will have representatives from Public Works, Planning, the Police, Parks & Rec.,  SDAC and SDCC.

It’s possible representatives from other stake holders might also be added.

When members are named, and approved, we’ll let you know.

SDCC.info also looks forward to working with the SDSTF to make the process as transparent as possible and to be a conduit for the public to offer solutuions, opinions and prioritizing of safety recommendations.

12/15/05 Notes from SDAC(Jack)

Jack adds clarification to what he asked SDAC about at the meeting.

An Excerpt:
I asked SDAC as a sub-committee reporting to City Council to request City Council to task Parks and Recreation to expedite completion of the portions of this project that can be completed. To discontinue incorporating the necessity to complete a bridge or water crossing to the land based portions of this project.

Regarding Nils notes from the Dec. 15th SDAC meeting:

It would appear that delay has occurred as the trail approaches at water areas. I contend that building the sections of the Multi-Use “walking-biking-jogging” trail to those points now instead of waiting for the bridge will improve safety as we navigate within our own neighborhoods. There will be time to complete connectors such as walking bridges or address safe transit over the existing Lesner Bridge. Let traffic engineering work on crossings at areas of enticement such as beaches, restaurants and stores. It is recognized that people do cross the road now without these protections afforded them. Any early completion of these portions can add to safety by encouraging use of a pedestrian corridor off of Shore Drive.

Jack Bryan

Nils writes:

12. Jack Bryan, Baylake Pines, stated that speeding up the completion of the Bike Path would help get pedestrians away from the edges of Shore Drive. This was requested a year or more ago. Can we put the completion of the Bike Path on a fast track?
13. Mark Johnson, Public Works, stated that they are working on marking up drawings with plans to install temporary sidewalks, cost estimating for the request for added funding to get construction underway this winter.
14. It was noted that Parks and Recreation has a Trails and Bikeway Advisory Committee. They are requesting action on the trails proposed along Shore Drive.

Link to Nils’ notes from this meeting.

Shore Drive Safety Task Force Resolution most likey on Consent Agenda

Dear Shore Drive Residents,
First of all, terrific job on showing support for the proposed safety task force resolution.  Many phone calls have been made and emails have been sent.  The sign-up for safety campaign is off to an excellent start.  Keep up the excellent effort.

Second, just a quick update on tonight’s Council Session and the vote on the resolution.  I received the following email from Councilman Jim Wood stating that his opinion is the resolution will be placed on the consent agenda and be approved unanimously.

Thanks for your support on this.
I believe there will be a consenus to move forward on this by the council so the resolution will likely go on the “consent” agenda.  Items on that agenda are approved because there is no dissent and no opposition to them.  If someone wants to speak on the issue, then the item will be heard.
Again, thanks for your support.
Jim
Jim Wood
Member, Virginia Beach City Council
Lynnhaven District
Office:  (757) 340-8411
Fax:  (757) 498-6324

What does this mean?  I will try to give a brief summary of the situation.
1) The resolution is on the agenda toward the end after the BRAC issue and several other items.
2) Council decides at the early session which agenda items they all agree on and makes a motion at the 6:00pm session to place all of these items on a consent list. 
3) The consent agenda (list) is then voted on at one time.  This means the vote will be 11-0 in favor of all the items on the list.
4) Just prior to a vote on consent, you can submit letters, signature lists, etc. to the clerk to be made public record.  A general acknowledgement can also be allowed where everyone in support can stand and be recognized.
5) With all Council members in favor of the resolution, you are still welcome to speak in support of the item.  However, in order to hear the speaker(s), the item is pulled off the consent list and normally heard in the original agenda order.  See item 1).
Clear as mud?  I will be present at the meeting to answer any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Todd Solomon
Shore Drive Community Coalition - President

[encode=todd@sdcc.info]Email Todd[/encode]

12/15/05 Notes from SDAC Meeting(Nils)

Thanks to Nils for attending the SDAC meeting and taking such comprehensive notes.

An excerpt:

Clay Colbert, Chesapeake Beach, observed that 14 deaths in four years, if it happened on Atlantic Avenue, City Council certainly would have done something by now.

SHORE DRIVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING NOTES
December 15, 2005

1. The first speaker talked about the difficulties and time he spent (five years) getting sidewalks constructed on Greenwell Road.
2. The next speaker asked what was the mission and charge of the SDAC.  He was provided a copy that he read aloud.  He asked if the Committee members thought they were performing it.  Several responded that indeed they were and outlined their performance activities and accomplishments.  He further asked when they addressed safety.  Kal outlined the various steps and ways safety gets addressed in their committee functions and pointed out the special meeting last week with Public Works to address safety concerns and the requested Safety Task Force initiated to accelerate safety improvements on Shore Drive.  The speaker stated he wanted to see concrete trucks placing sidewalks next week.
3. Al Strazzullo commented on the time and money spent to date on the Shore Drive studies and improvements and stated we can’t wait 10 more years for these safety measures to be completed within the Phase I, II and III Projects.
4. A speaker from Ocean Park spoke on earlier requests to drop the speed limit on Shore Drive.  The City representative at that time referenced some traffic studies that said it shouldn’t be reduced.  She requested a copy of the study and was told the City can’t find them.  The area has undergone much change and if a new study is required to change the speed limit do it now.
5. Todd Solomon, President SDCC, advised that new speed counts are being taken now, but only in the area between Greatneck Road and First Landing State Park.  The area between North Hampton Blvd and Greatneck Road is not included.  He quoted some of the data figures being obtained from the study.
6. June McDaniels stated that the Task Force needs to look at Pedestrian Safety not vehicle safety.
Speed limits and sidewalks need to be addressed together.
7. Another speaker asked what and how is “action” by SDAC?
8. Kal responded:
o make recommendations to Council
o timing is political/funding dependant
9.    So why are the Councilmen not here?  Tied up with BRAC issues.
Kal noted that public pressure is what moves City Council.  The ultimate lever is in the voting booth.
10. Clay Colbert, Chesapeake Beach, observed that 14 deaths in four years, if it happened on Atlantic Avenue, City Council certainly would have done something by now.
11. Daphne Atkins, Chicks Beach, noted that various groups have repeatedly made requests and recommendations but PW only tells us why things can’t be done.
12. Jack Bryan, Baylake Pines, stated that speeding up the completion of the Bike Path would help get pedestrians away from the edges of Shore Drive.  This was requested a year or more ago.  Can we put the completion of the Bike Path on a fast track?
13. Mark Johnson, Public Works, stated that they are working on marking up drawings with plans to install temporary sidewalks, cost estimating for the request for added funding to get construction underway this winter.
14. It was noted that Parks and Recreation has a Trails and Bikeway Advisory Committee.  They are requesting action on the trails proposed along Shore Drive.
15. Todd Solomon noted that Parks and Recreation has a funded $500,000 CIP for Trails and Bikeways that could be used now.
16. The earliest opportunity to push City Council for action is at their Council Meeting next Tuesday night.
17. The 35 MPH sign campaign.  Read about it on the SDCC website http://www.SDCC.info .  Local businesses are supporting it.  Get behind and push it.
18. Chesapeake Beach resident – you can run through neighborhoods on side streets and roads except for short sections of Shore Drive where neighborhoods don’t connect.  Put temporary sidewalks in those spots now, not next year.
19. Leslie Cornwell, Baylake Pines, stated that the action on this one is up to people.  People have to get behind it with emails to Council, letters, voices, and bodies at meetings.  Numbers speak.
20. Mark Johnson, in response to why it takes so long, noted that there is much to be considered.  That includes set backs, drainage, utilities, curbs and gutters, runoff filtration and settlement requirements, cost estimates and budgets, pedestrian concentration (avoid them getting hit), the farther away from the roadway the better, stay in the Right of Way (off of private property).
21. How soon under best assumptions could the necessary temporary sidewalks be in place? (end of 2006)
22. Worst case – included in Phase I construction (end of 2007).
23. Burly Day’s daughter – Areas where sidewalks are needed most are those areas that will take the longest time due to all of the utilities and obstructions that must be removed to make room.
24. A recommendation to SDAC – let Shore Drive Constituents know what you need to get some action from City Council.  Publicize this with newsletters and emails.
25. Cathy Hessler – use the media to get the word out, use the Pilot and the Beacon.  Get the civic leagues to get their people out Tuesday night.
26. Kal responded, the media are invited to each meeting.  He clarified his earlier comment about “not keen on doing this” when meeting broke for the TV interviews as not being related to talking to the media, but his objection to interrupting a public meeting for media requirements.  It should have been done either earlier or later.
27. Nancy Day, wife of Burly Day, thanked the members of SDAC for all of their work as volunteers.  She had not known of all of the activities being pursued to make Shore Drive safer.  She will speak for her husband at Council meeting Tuesday night and requested that everybody who can, come to the Council meeting Tuesday night to support a call for some action now.
28. Leslie Cornwell asked how quickly action can be taken after the next code violation at Dirty Chicks (Eddies Big Easy).  Police action – immediate cessation of noise violation; Court action – 30 days to close them down.
29. Todd Solomon – regarding SDAC issuing recommendations on new private developments, will you be taking a stand on density in your development review?  Response – comments only, no recommendation.
30. Public question – Do you give advice to Council?  How is that different from recommendations? (response not clear)
31. Public question – On Funding, does SDAC have ability to get funding for projects?  Efforts to get sidewalks must not be limited by funding.  Study after study 97, 98, 99, 2002, 2005 lots of money for studies, but no money for a sidewalk!
32. Kal – come to the Council meeting Tuesday .
33. Dorinda Ennis – SDAC meeting minutes are only communication of Committee issues and activities.  They are available on the internet only 30, sometimes 60 days after the meetings.  Sooner and wider distribution would help.
34. Todd Solomon noted that, while not the official meeting minutes, SDCC members do take notes and place them on the SDCC website to inform the public.  Todd offered the site http://www.SDCC.info for SDAC use for quicker public notice and/or info.
35. Richard Norman, Lynnhaven Dunes, made another request for public attendance at Tuesday’s Council meeting.
36. Kal Kassir made a closing statement, noting that the committee members are not “them”, but concerned, caring citizen volunteers just like “us “.  Its not “us” and “them”, we’re all working for the same thing together.  He noted that he does know the Day family’s feelings; his family has also been touched by a tragic death on Shore Drive.
37. The next meeting will be January 19th.  Adjourned

Submitted by Nils

12/15/05 Notes from SDAC Meeting(Nicole)

Thanks to Nicole for attending the SDAC meeting, her first, and for emailing us her notes to be posted.

An excerpt:
There was general consensus in the meeting that the time is now to push the City Council to improve Shore Drive.  We are entering into an election year.  This is the time to ensure City Council understands how important this issue is and that change is implemented immediately before someone else is hurt on Shore Drive.

On 15 December the Shore Drive Advisory Committee hosted a public meeting at the Bayside Recreation Center.  The first part of the meeting covered normal SDAC issues.  After regular business was covered, the SDAC opened the meeting for a public discussion on Shore Drive Safety issues.  There was a strong public turnout to discuss this important issue and to express support for immediate action to improve safety on Shore Drive. 
Overall, the attendees expressed their appreciation of the time and effort of the members of SDAC; however, this appreciation is tempered with a frustration by the lack of action taken by the city.  The safety issues and concerns that were sadly highlighted in the past year by the tragic pedestrian deaths are not new.  For years, there have been committees and reports to look at how to make Shore Drive safer and the safety problems have been communicated on numerous occasions to the city.  Several people in attendance voice their dissatisfaction with the lack of response by the city and pointed to the fact that the time for talk and studies has past, it is time for the city to take action. Many also noted their belief that if these safety issues existed on Atlantic Ave on the beach front, the city would have taken action a long time ago. 
Possible interim solutions and concerns that were discussed by the attendees are as follows:
- It is understood that there are large demonstration project plans for Shore Drive, but the timeline for the implementation of these plans is too long.  Interim steps could be taken immediately to address the problems.  As a friend of Mr. Burley Day’s family noted, “the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.”  If we wait for funding and approval to address all of Shore Drive, it will be years before any steps are taken.  Smaller efforts can be implemented immediately to greatly improve safety without infringing upon larger demonstration project plans.
- A member of the SDAC developed a map of Shore Drive showing where sidewalks are available and where no pedestrian walkway is present.  Several sections of Shore Drive represent the only passageway available for pedestrians and bikes to travel through the corridor.  This is the case for the section of Shore Drive where the most recent pedestrian death occurred.  Where neighborhoods don’t connect, pedestrians and bike riders are forced to travel on Shore Drive.  These are the areas that should be addressed first.  While sidewalks are of course the ultimate goal, an extension of an asphalt path, at a minimum, would at least provide a safer place for non-vehicular traffic.
- Currently, there are very few pedestrian crosswalks available across Shore Drive.  The city should install fully functioning pedestrian crosswalks on Shore Drive.
- The city has repeatedly cited traffic studies as the justification for a speed limit of 45mph along Shore Drive.  When requested to provide copies of these studies, the city was unable to locate a traffic study completed on Shore Drive from the State Park to Northampton Blvd.  City files extend back to 2000.  This means that any traffic study that may have been completed was completed at least six years ago and clearly could not take into consideration the rapid population growth in the area.  The city now has speed studies planned for Shore Drive.  These studies will provide the average speed of drivers on the road but will not include a more in depth study to determine if the current speed limit is correct considering all factors (number of vehicles on the road, number of lanes, number of turn lanes, number of pedestrians, etc).  The city should review posted speed limits and determine if they are set appropriately on Shore Drive.
Several attendees noted that the only way to drive change is to ensure our concerns are heard by the city.  On Tuesday, a plan to establish a Safety Task Force to identify immediate, mid-term and long-term safety solutions will be brought to vote at the City Council meeting.  Please plan on attending Tuesday’s meeting to show your support of this task force and the implementation of immediate measures to increase safety on Shore Drive.  If you are unable to attend, please take the time to contact the city council to voice your concerns.
There was general consensus in the meeting that the time is now to push the City Council to improve Shore Drive.  We are entering into an election year.  This is the time to ensure City Council understands how important this issue is and that change is implemented immediately before someone else is hurt on Shore Drive.

Submitted by Nicole

Shore Drive Safety Petition update

Update: Over 1600 signatures have been collected in support of creating the Shore Drive Safety Task Force. Again, thanks to Clay Culbreth and friends for starting this petition drive!

According to Jim Wood, the Resolution to create the task force will be on the consent agenda this evening, Tueday, December 20th. Learn more here.

An excerpt of email forwarded to our councilmen:

“As of this writing, several thousand signatures have been collected. A large group of your constituents will also be attending Tuesday’s Council session in support of this task force and the immediate need to address some of the more dangerous places along Shore Drive.

Update: Jim Wood emails the Resolution will most likely be put on “consent"agenda.
Stay tuned.

Dear Councilman Wood and Councilman Jones:

Kindest personal regards,

Rebecca Bump

Shore Drive Safety Petition

[As of this writing several thousand signatures have been collected, with many more petitions outstanding.]

Clay Culbreth and friends organized a petition drive that started Saturday morning at Taste Unlimited.

It ends Monday evening, in time to gather the petitions and then present them at the City Council meeting Tuesday night.

The Shore Drive Petition States:

I support immediate efforts to ensure pedestrian and vehicular safety on Shore Drive

Download Shore Drive Safety Petition.[pdf]
You can print as many as you want from 1-1,000 or more. Thank you for helping raise awareness and for supporting the efforts to make Shore Drive safer now!

Get to City Council meeting this coming Tuesday

Dear Shore Drive Area Residents,
As you are all aware, there has been a growing number of safety issues (pedestrian and vehicular) along Shore Drive over the past year.  Current plans to redevelop residential property into multifamily dwellings and possible plans to construct 700+ residents on Pleasure House Point have the potential to make matters worse. 

The Shore Drive Community Coalition and the Shore Drive Advisory Committee have requested City Council to expedite safety related improvements and to initiate temporary improvements wherever possible (see SDCC & SDAC letters at http://www.sdcc.info).  A very important step in making things happen at an accelerated rate is the creation of a Shore Drive Safety Task Force.

On Tuesday December 20th, 2005 at 6:00pm in the City Council Chambers (Bldg #1, 2nd floor), City Council will vote on a resolution to establish this Shore Drive Safety Task Force.  A large turnout at the Council Session is desperately needed to show support for this request.  You are also encouraged to attend and express your concerns and possible solutions for safety along Shore Drive.

With such a short notice, extra focus will be needed to get the word out.  Please forward this email to all your neighbors.  Hand out flyers, hang posters and make phone calls.  Tell your neighbors to turn our in force.  The future Safety of Shore Drive may be dependent on the outcome of this vote. 
Excerpt from December 20th Agenda:

L. RESOLUTIONS/ORDINANCES

2. Resolution to ESTABLISH the City Manager’s advisory Shore Drive Safety Task Force regarding enhancing pedestrian and vehicular traffic safety.

Link to December 20th Agenda.

WVEC news reports on Taste Unlimited event on Saturday

For years, there have been committees and reports to look at how to make Shore Drive safer. But now, many people say there has been enough talk, and they are ready to see improvements, before someone else is hurt.

Click to read entire article and view video aired on WVEC TV.

Taste Unlimited Saturday - Sign-up Sheets to Support Improved Pedestrian Safety

N O T I C E TO: Citizens Living Along Shore Drive, VB, VA RE: Sign-up Sheets to Support Improved Pedestrian Safety Clay Culbreth and many helpers are meeting at Taste Unlimited on Shore Drive at 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM Saturday December 17th 2005.

They have 250 sign up sheets to be carried to homes and businesses and filled with signatures supporting efforts to improve pedestrian safety along Shore Drive. The objective is to obtain 5000 or more signatures to show support of the City Councilmen James Wood and Louis Jones and other members appointed to the Shore Drive Safety Advisory Committee. This “5000” support is to be presented by our collective Shore Drive Communities of “live bodies” present at the City Council Meeting Tuesday, December 20th 2005 at 6:30 PM. Please help us achieve our objective by picking up a sheet or two, fill them with supporter signatures and return the completed sheets to Clay and crew at Taste Unlimited before 5:00 PM Saturday.  Your efforts will help give impetus to improve the safety for our/your children and loved ones in the future and allow those who have predeceased us on Shore Drive to be motivators for our common good! Please join us at Taste Unlimited on Shore Drive at 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM Saturday December 17th , 2005 and Tuesday evening at the City Council Meeting at 6:30 PM.

Prepared: 12/16/2005

Photos of construction at new shop where Lazy Daisy was

Here are photos, from today, showing grading that was recently done on the shop where Lazy Daisy was located. The lots are across the street from Croakers restaurant.

We learned at yesterdays SDAC meeting that the new owner of the lots were given a one year deferral on creating a BMP, and on upgrading the parking lot and vegetation buffer. On a personal note, I was surprised to hear that.

Does anybody know who makes those kinds of decision and are they made in public?

This photo shows existing sidewalk on Shore Drive destroyed and covered over with trenching left uncovered.

Another shot of where the sidewalk was before grading.

Are silt fences needed on commercial projects, particularly when there is grading being done?
Update:Yes they are, when over 2500 sq feet is disturbed.

You can see how safe this sidewalk is now after the work is complete[?].

Another shot. Does this look like a safe sidewalk to you?

You can see the unprotected open drain on Shore Drive in the upper right of the photo.

Close up of unprotected drain showing earth pushed toward drain. On a side note, Shore Drive east and west of Dupont Circle, drains down Dupont Circle to a residents drain at their front door.

And finally, you can see there is not a 15 foot vegetative buffer, as required, adjacent to residential zoning. This upgrade was deferred for a year.

Why was this posted in ‘Shore Drive Safety Issues”?
In light of the unsafe pedestrian conditions on Shore Drive, it is difficult to allow existing sidewalks to be randomly destroyed without appropriate follow up and recourse.

FOIA Safety Info from the Police

Recently we FOIA-ed the city for more information related to safety issues on Shore Drive.
Check the Read More link below to read the most recent FOIA requests.
How to FOIA.

SDCC latest FOIA requests:
Lesner Bridge Trail Crossing Approach Improvements CIP 4.039 - we’d like every email, note, report, including transcripts and/or minutes from any public or private meetings including city council meetings, planning commission meetings, etc and staff and elected representatives who were involved with this from when it was originally funded and added to the CIP to when, how and why it was dropped from a list of priorities to complete.

we’d also like the list of projects, their numbers and location as to what was raised in priority above CIP 4.039.

a list-summary of traffic and pedestrian fatalities and injuries listing all, or top 20,50, whatever - roads in the city. if possible, it would be helpful if the reports were from like 1990, 1995, 2000, and year to date.

emails, discussion,notes, documentation, everything - whether from legal and/or traffic engineering, public works, any city employee or department that shows it’s “illegal” or “creates indefensible liability” to NOT be able to synchronize traffic lights at a different speed from the posted speed limit.

also the same information that shows why signage cannot state that the traffic lights are synchronized to a different speed from what is posted as the legal speed limit.

also - if state or federal guidelines are sited, those guidelines that are sited, definition, name, number etc. that identifies said guidelines.

city staff member who is ultimately responsible and is the decision maker in making decisions based on above mentioned criteria. ie. is it a supervising engineer, director of a particular department, city manager, or city council person.

Various Police Department Reports.

Shore Drive Safety Task Force resolution announced today

...Vice Mayor Louis Jones and I are co-sponsoring a resolution creating a Shore Drive Safety Task Force.

Announced this afternoon at the SDAC meeting.

Due to my obligations with HRT, unfortunately I will not be able to attend tomorrow.  However, Vice Mayor Louis Jones and I are co-sponsoring a resolution creating a Shore Drive Safety Task Force.  This will be on next Tuesday’s council agenda.
The task force will be chaired by a senior member of the city manager’s staff and will be composed of senior members of Planning, Police, Public Works and Parks & Recreation.  We would also like the SDAC chair to appoint one member to this committee, and will ask the SDCC to do the same.
This task force will investigate and recommend short-, mid- and long-term solutions to these issues.
The text of the proposed resolution will be available online on http://www.vbgov.com when the agenda is posted, probably Friday afternoon.  I hope that the members of the SDAC will join us in support of this effort.
Jim
Jim Wood
Member, Virginia Beach City Council
Lynnhaven District
Office:  (757) 340-8411
Fax:  (757) 498-6324

Get involved and call, or email your councilperson to pass this 11-0.
Their contact info at VBGov.com.

The safety of Shore Drive will undoubtedly be an election issue in 2006.

WAVY TV, only media to cover today’s SDAC meeting

Mr Kassir, President of the SDAC, asked if there was any media in the room after WAVY TV filmed the room and did some interviews on a short break.

No other media attended.

Shore Drive has a bad reputation…

Link to a compelling stoy & video that aired tonight as the lead story at 5:30pm.

On another positive media note, WHRV’s Hearsay with Cathy Lewis has added a link from their website to the SDCC’s safety campaign from this page.

And the Editor from Portfolio magazine has not yet returned our emails trying to pitch an indepth story that could be done about Shore Drive.

The Virginian Pilot has interviewed several people this week in reference to safety issues on Shore Drive and also about the “This Holiday choose to drive 35 on Shore Drive” safety campaign. This story may be run later this week[end].

Highfill & Henderson’s deaths preliminarily concluded

As a result, police have preliminarily concluded that the victims’ drunkenness was the sole cause of the fatal accident, according to testimony.
Read the article at Pilotonline.com.