One thing that I didn’t even think about when I responded initially is that our neighborhood has no sidewalks. Having spent much of my life in the suburbs, I tend to take them for granted. Without them, especially along Rectortown and Maidstone roads, we walk on the street and compete with the traffic. I believe that some road calming measures would make the neighborhood safer and reduce noise, adding a dedicated walking path, at least on one side of the street, would improve pedestrian safety.
Thank you all for the time and effort you have put into this project.
As our house sits roughly 10 feet from the road we have called the sheriff's office on several occasions for damages to our property in relation to traffic violations and speeding. Just last week someone hit the stop sign at the end of Crenshaw at such a high speed it ripped the sign and post out of the ground. We need more consistent police presence to enforce speeding and traffic violations. Ticketing offenders whether it is via a patrol car or camera may deter commuters and the large commercial vehicles from using the small country roads. However
many of the offenders are locals with horse trailers, school busses, and young drivers.
Thanks all for the constructive input on this issue that affects us all. Agree speed bumps, signs and other calming mechanisms set away from the entry points of the village would both help reduce speeding while keeping the village free of additional noise, lighting and other unappealing items caused by said calming measures. Best, Aaron Fobes - Julep Chase
I am so enjoying the reduced traffic during the bridge construction! Some years ago we talked to our then current supervisor who said speed bumps were problematic for emergency vehicles when they are on call. 🙁. Open to suggestions - but more police presence and speeding tickets may be helpful!!
Thank you for everything you are doing - and thank you to those involved in previous efforts too. It's greatly appreciated!
There was a cop sitting at the post office this morning, although I don't think he caught anyone speeding. I could hear the cars slow down further up the road after they spotted him. But it definitely slowed people down! Now they're back to speeding again, so a more permanent solution is definitely needed. Perhaps a nail bed that automatically pops up at 35mph 😀
As others have stated, speed bumps might help slow traffic down. It's a challenge walking to the post office along Rectortown Road, especially with the deep ditches on either side of the road. If the photo cameras (like they just installed near the school) work to slow traffic down then I'd consider them, too.
I agree with the above sentiments. Walking on the road can be challenging especially on the way to the Post Office because there are ditches on both sides of the road.. Reducing speed on narrow twisted roads is the key so figuring out a way to slow down traffic once vehicles cross Atoka road into Rectortown. BTW line of sight at the Juction of Maidstone and Rectortown Road is hairy. Driving a car or horse trailer to make a right turn onto Rectortown Rd from Maidstone is challening.
I was involved in the original traffic calming years ago to get the speed down to 25 and 35. The signs definitely don't work anymore. The flashing electronic sign that recorded speed into Rectorown was tried and didn't last. I agree it is time for new ideas like speedbumps, cameras, or maybe even those 3-D looking stripes they use in Europe. When the 25/35 signs first went up, we used to be able to safely walk the loop of Atoka, Rectortown, Crenshaw and Maidstone with dogs at any time of day. Now I will only walk by myself, with a yellow vest and during small window of daylight; but it still stressful. And even crossing the street to get the mail feels really risky. It does make you feel like a prisoner in your own home.
I agree with those above. I’ve only recently started walking, but was even in the way of the bridge construction traffic, a small fraction of what usually goes past my house. It would not be possible to walk my dog along the road with the typical traffic.
I also agree that speed bumps in several places along Maidstone would help. I think the speed cameras are largely ignored—unless they were also equipped to capture license photos and issue tickets to speeders.
I think we are seeing at least some highway off-ramp traffic and people heading east along 55 who mistakenly use Maidstone instead of turning onto 55 again by the white church. I would suggest that we reach out to residents further down Maidstone for strategies to divert this traffic, especially heavy trucks and motorcycles, and to implement similar strategies for slowing the traffic on both sides of the bridge crossing Goose Creek.
Thank you for your work on this! I really appreciate you. It is extremely dangerous to walk near the road due to high speeds of vehicles. Speed bumps, increased signs informing of increased penalties for speeding and adding a restriction on the height of vehicles due to the amount of trees and brached along the road. I know this doesn't have anything to do with safety, but the amount of trash along the roadside is saddening and most of it is cans and bottles of alcohol.
Something MUST be done about the speed of vehicles traveling through Rectortown. Definitely cars, but this also includes trucks that speed through and very often the school buses too. My office sits right on Rectortown Road and I see many cars racing down the narrow road - after having not slowed down whatsoever from the 45mph zone. It's dangerous, scary, and we can't even enjoy a safe or quiet walk down the road as drivers will not slow down and often not move over for walkers either. It's only a matter of time before we're placing another cross on the road to mourn the needless loss of yet another life.
How about adding another 2 speed cameras like they just added outside of the school? Camera proceeds going to the upkeep of the town/signs/etc.
This is really great work! I will say, the bridge repair down maidstone has dramatically cut down on traffic volumn, but the remaining locals driving through seem to be the worst speed offenders. IMO, speed bumps on the outskirts of town would be the best way to slow traffic on both sides as even the one stop sign at Maidstone/Rectortown intersection doesn't stop people from flooring it up the hill going towards Marshall.
One thing that I didn’t even think about when I responded initially is that our neighborhood has no sidewalks. Having spent much of my life in the suburbs, I tend to take them for granted. Without them, especially along Rectortown and Maidstone roads, we walk on the street and compete with the traffic. I believe that some road calming measures would make the neighborhood safer and reduce noise, adding a dedicated walking path, at least on one side of the street, would improve pedestrian safety.
Thank you all for the time and effort you have put into this project.
As our house sits roughly 10 feet from the road we have called the sheriff's office on several occasions for damages to our property in relation to traffic violations and speeding. Just last week someone hit the stop sign at the end of Crenshaw at such a high speed it ripped the sign and post out of the ground. We need more consistent police presence to enforce speeding and traffic violations. Ticketing offenders whether it is via a patrol car or camera may deter commuters and the large commercial vehicles from using the small country roads. However
many of the offenders are locals with horse trailers, school busses, and young drivers.
Thanks all for the constructive input on this issue that affects us all. Agree speed bumps, signs and other calming mechanisms set away from the entry points of the village would both help reduce speeding while keeping the village free of additional noise, lighting and other unappealing items caused by said calming measures. Best, Aaron Fobes - Julep Chase
I am so enjoying the reduced traffic during the bridge construction! Some years ago we talked to our then current supervisor who said speed bumps were problematic for emergency vehicles when they are on call. 🙁. Open to suggestions - but more police presence and speeding tickets may be helpful!!
Thank you for everything you are doing - and thank you to those involved in previous efforts too. It's greatly appreciated!
There was a cop sitting at the post office this morning, although I don't think he caught anyone speeding. I could hear the cars slow down further up the road after they spotted him. But it definitely slowed people down! Now they're back to speeding again, so a more permanent solution is definitely needed. Perhaps a nail bed that automatically pops up at 35mph 😀
As others have stated, speed bumps might help slow traffic down. It's a challenge walking to the post office along Rectortown Road, especially with the deep ditches on either side of the road. If the photo cameras (like they just installed near the school) work to slow traffic down then I'd consider them, too.
I agree with the above sentiments. Walking on the road can be challenging especially on the way to the Post Office because there are ditches on both sides of the road.. Reducing speed on narrow twisted roads is the key so figuring out a way to slow down traffic once vehicles cross Atoka road into Rectortown. BTW line of sight at the Juction of Maidstone and Rectortown Road is hairy. Driving a car or horse trailer to make a right turn onto Rectortown Rd from Maidstone is challening.
I was involved in the original traffic calming years ago to get the speed down to 25 and 35. The signs definitely don't work anymore. The flashing electronic sign that recorded speed into Rectorown was tried and didn't last. I agree it is time for new ideas like speedbumps, cameras, or maybe even those 3-D looking stripes they use in Europe. When the 25/35 signs first went up, we used to be able to safely walk the loop of Atoka, Rectortown, Crenshaw and Maidstone with dogs at any time of day. Now I will only walk by myself, with a yellow vest and during small window of daylight; but it still stressful. And even crossing the street to get the mail feels really risky. It does make you feel like a prisoner in your own home.
I agree with those above. I’ve only recently started walking, but was even in the way of the bridge construction traffic, a small fraction of what usually goes past my house. It would not be possible to walk my dog along the road with the typical traffic.
I also agree that speed bumps in several places along Maidstone would help. I think the speed cameras are largely ignored—unless they were also equipped to capture license photos and issue tickets to speeders.
I think we are seeing at least some highway off-ramp traffic and people heading east along 55 who mistakenly use Maidstone instead of turning onto 55 again by the white church. I would suggest that we reach out to residents further down Maidstone for strategies to divert this traffic, especially heavy trucks and motorcycles, and to implement similar strategies for slowing the traffic on both sides of the bridge crossing Goose Creek.
Thank you for your work on this! I really appreciate you. It is extremely dangerous to walk near the road due to high speeds of vehicles. Speed bumps, increased signs informing of increased penalties for speeding and adding a restriction on the height of vehicles due to the amount of trees and brached along the road. I know this doesn't have anything to do with safety, but the amount of trash along the roadside is saddening and most of it is cans and bottles of alcohol.
I agree with speed bumps (large enough to matter) and cameras. I walk and cars mostly act like I’m in their way.
Something MUST be done about the speed of vehicles traveling through Rectortown. Definitely cars, but this also includes trucks that speed through and very often the school buses too. My office sits right on Rectortown Road and I see many cars racing down the narrow road - after having not slowed down whatsoever from the 45mph zone. It's dangerous, scary, and we can't even enjoy a safe or quiet walk down the road as drivers will not slow down and often not move over for walkers either. It's only a matter of time before we're placing another cross on the road to mourn the needless loss of yet another life.
How about adding another 2 speed cameras like they just added outside of the school? Camera proceeds going to the upkeep of the town/signs/etc.
This is really great work! I will say, the bridge repair down maidstone has dramatically cut down on traffic volumn, but the remaining locals driving through seem to be the worst speed offenders. IMO, speed bumps on the outskirts of town would be the best way to slow traffic on both sides as even the one stop sign at Maidstone/Rectortown intersection doesn't stop people from flooring it up the hill going towards Marshall.