Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 31, 1994 TAG: 9403310061
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Jeanette Manns, a resident whose two grandsons were hit by a truck this month, organized the gathering at her house. She said she has been pleading her case to the city ever since she moved to the area 20 years ago.
"We don't see the city doing one blessed thing," said Manns, who has gathered 10 signatures on a petition for a traffic signal.
In a letter to City Council and the mayor, Manns invited city officials to see the problem for themselves Wednesday afternoon. Dolores Daniels of the city's Community Relations Department was the only official present.
"The others had prior commitments," Daniels said. "I came here to listen, to get information and we'll have city officials who will meet with Manns."
The problem, residents say, is that vehicles crest a hill on 10th Street at Hunt Avenue and continue to pick up speed as they head south. The posted speed limit is 25 mph.
The traffic and the speed of the vehicles makes it difficult for pedestrians to cross the street and for neighbors to enter or exit their driveways, especially during rush hour.
Manns' grandsons were attempting to cross the street when they were hit. One boy suffered a head gash and the other child was knocked unconscious for a moment, she said.
Residents say that city officials have dragged their feet on the issue because the area is a low-income, primarily black neighborhood.
City officials disagree, saying they have studied the area for years. A traffic survey by the city's traffic engineer last year did not support installing a traffic light in that area of 10th Street. According to the survey, the area did not meet federal requirements for a signal.
Police say they have continually monitored that strip of 10th Street. On Tuesday, police were doing just that when they attempted to stop a car for traveling 49 mph. The car led police on a high-speed pursuit for several miles. The driver abandoned the car in downtown Roanoke and ran from police, eluding them.
Since the beginning of the month, police have written about 17 speeding tickets along 10th Street between the Interstate 581 bridge and Orange Avenue. On Tuesday, police say the average speed for about 140 vehicles was 29 mph.
"Anytime we get complaints we send an officer to conduct a survey to see if we need to follow up," said Sgt. Ron Ratcliffe of the traffic division. The 29 mph doesn't show a "major problem," he said.
But Manns claims that police were not monitoring the cars at the top of the hill, where the speeds would have been greater. The bottom line, Manns said, is that she not only wants a traffic light but also some respect from city officials.
"But you don't see them out here, so you know what that means," she said.
by CNB