I want to write the county to improve a road
October 15, 2008 12:44 PM Subscribe
I want to write the county to improve a road. How to go about it?
This is a 2-lane county road in Taos County, New Mexico, USA. The road itself is in pretty good shape, however, the character of the neighborhood has changed in the last 10 years, and hence the use of the road. Land has been filled in with more houses, more B & Bs, resulting in more pedestrian traffic (in addition to bicycles, dogs, and horses). The posted speed limit is 25 mph. If this were followed, there would be no problem, but it is largely ignored, making walking along the road pretty stressful. I want to suggest the installation of speed hump/tables (not speed bumps) on a section about 3/4 mile long.
When writing the roads dept, should I write just by myself, or get a number of signatures? or do the former and if I get no response, the latter? What should I say? A consideration is that I am an Anglo in a predominantly Hispanic population, ie could be seen as an outsider trying to force things my way.
Any other suggestions?
This is a 2-lane county road in Taos County, New Mexico, USA. The road itself is in pretty good shape, however, the character of the neighborhood has changed in the last 10 years, and hence the use of the road. Land has been filled in with more houses, more B & Bs, resulting in more pedestrian traffic (in addition to bicycles, dogs, and horses). The posted speed limit is 25 mph. If this were followed, there would be no problem, but it is largely ignored, making walking along the road pretty stressful. I want to suggest the installation of speed hump/tables (not speed bumps) on a section about 3/4 mile long.
When writing the roads dept, should I write just by myself, or get a number of signatures? or do the former and if I get no response, the latter? What should I say? A consideration is that I am an Anglo in a predominantly Hispanic population, ie could be seen as an outsider trying to force things my way.
Any other suggestions?
If it works like it does everywhere I've lived, you'll need the entire community along the road in on it, especially because it'll probably be paid for out of a special assessment (ie, you're going to pay). Folks may not like that part.
Get everyone along the road to sign a petition. Just make sure to do all this in terms that take everyone's needs into account. "I'm concerned your kids are going to get run over" rather than "I'm annoyed by this traffic."
posted by paanta at 1:22 PM on October 15, 2008
Get everyone along the road to sign a petition. Just make sure to do all this in terms that take everyone's needs into account. "I'm concerned your kids are going to get run over" rather than "I'm annoyed by this traffic."
posted by paanta at 1:22 PM on October 15, 2008
You should connect with your county commissioner or whoever the elected representative is for the neighborhood in question. It's that person's job to represent your concerns with the government. They should be able to get the local sheriff to do something. Around here they like to park an empty patrol car in the problem areas or set up the mobile "you are going xxx mph" sign to remind people of the speed limit. If they run an actual speed trap don't be surprised when 3/4 of the speeders are neighborhood residents.
posted by COD at 2:19 PM on October 15, 2008
posted by COD at 2:19 PM on October 15, 2008
And don't write the road department. Deliver the petition in person, with as many neighbors as you can muster, to your elected county representative, commissioner, or whatever they are. That person needs to get behind it, or it ain't happening.
Before going that route at all, get people to call the sheriff, or whoever enforces the speed limit, and ask for speed traps, and those flashing signs that tell drivers how fast they're going. Call often. Report license plates of speeders.
posted by beagle at 2:21 PM on October 15, 2008
Before going that route at all, get people to call the sheriff, or whoever enforces the speed limit, and ask for speed traps, and those flashing signs that tell drivers how fast they're going. Call often. Report license plates of speeders.
posted by beagle at 2:21 PM on October 15, 2008
What beagle and COD said.
Be careful what you wish for with the speed bump concept.
We've had several instances locally where the very people who requested, and subsequently got them installed, ultimately came back to the county to request their removal.
posted by imjustsaying at 3:09 PM on October 15, 2008
Be careful what you wish for with the speed bump concept.
We've had several instances locally where the very people who requested, and subsequently got them installed, ultimately came back to the county to request their removal.
posted by imjustsaying at 3:09 PM on October 15, 2008
Response by poster: @imjustsaying:
Yes, i've heard these stories before. This is why I would aim for speed humps/tables not speed bumps. They've installed speed bumps on another county road not too far away and they're terrible.
@COD:
good point about the county comissioner. Also, I know that many of the speeders are locals. I've even talked to one woman who agreed that something needs to be done, and I have witnessed her going pretty fast. I think she's just not aware of her speed.
posted by allelopath at 3:19 PM on October 15, 2008
Yes, i've heard these stories before. This is why I would aim for speed humps/tables not speed bumps. They've installed speed bumps on another county road not too far away and they're terrible.
@COD:
good point about the county comissioner. Also, I know that many of the speeders are locals. I've even talked to one woman who agreed that something needs to be done, and I have witnessed her going pretty fast. I think she's just not aware of her speed.
posted by allelopath at 3:19 PM on October 15, 2008
Response by poster: @beagle:
What would be the point of calling in license plate #s? I don't think they're going to go find the person and give them a ticket.
posted by allelopath at 3:21 PM on October 15, 2008
What would be the point of calling in license plate #s? I don't think they're going to go find the person and give them a ticket.
posted by allelopath at 3:21 PM on October 15, 2008
I'm going to write a book about local politics someday...... condition of road is county issue. start at the top (Board of County Commission) & work your way down. that has worked for me. speeding is law enforcement issue. Demand the sheriff clamp down on speeding on your road. If sheriff does not respond to your concerns see step one above. Even if you have a elected sheriff the BCC holds the purse strings. Be prepared to get at least one ticket yourself. Form a homeowner assoc. Political power comes with numbers. Numbers of taxpayers. Be polite at all times but do not take no for a answer. And good luck
Pat, Alleged Community Leader (as described by our local newspaper)
posted by patnok at 6:40 PM on October 15, 2008
Pat, Alleged Community Leader (as described by our local newspaper)
posted by patnok at 6:40 PM on October 15, 2008
I think there's good advice in this thread.
On the topic of county road repairs, I can't speak to your region, but I worked for a Texas State Representative and this one was one of the things he did for constituents.
Not literally. He would have interns call around agencies and local officials. Our job was to share the representatives concern and politely suggest prioritizing certain projects for the public interest. The people on the phone respond a little differently, more helpful it seemed, when the call came from an elected official.
It was a road safety issue for us as well. The road had a lot of major accidents involving college commuters due to high speeds and improper signage indicating intersections.
I don't know who handles that particular road. I'm just stating that there might be aspects that involve different levels of government (state/county) and its good to find a person who can corral them together.
I also think the best approach is to focus on the safety aspect. It's hard to argue against safety.
posted by abdulf at 8:35 PM on October 15, 2008
On the topic of county road repairs, I can't speak to your region, but I worked for a Texas State Representative and this one was one of the things he did for constituents.
Not literally. He would have interns call around agencies and local officials. Our job was to share the representatives concern and politely suggest prioritizing certain projects for the public interest. The people on the phone respond a little differently, more helpful it seemed, when the call came from an elected official.
It was a road safety issue for us as well. The road had a lot of major accidents involving college commuters due to high speeds and improper signage indicating intersections.
I don't know who handles that particular road. I'm just stating that there might be aspects that involve different levels of government (state/county) and its good to find a person who can corral them together.
I also think the best approach is to focus on the safety aspect. It's hard to argue against safety.
posted by abdulf at 8:35 PM on October 15, 2008
I would call the road department first. They field questions like this all the time. What you want to find out is what the county already has planned for this particular road. It could be as simple as "Yes, there's a major rebuild scheduled for 2010" or just "We get a lot of complaints about that and we'll be looking at it next year". You may find that traffic volume is just below a certain threshold.
Speed bumps are always controversial. There are a few people who want them, and a larger number who have to drive over them on their way someplace and hate them. You'll have to get a group of people to support this at the political level, I'm afraid.
Speed enforcement, in the absence of speed bumps/humps or other traffic calming, is the responsibility of the police or sheriff. Contact the appropriate agency and they may have a squad do paperwork there occasionally.
posted by dhartung at 10:57 PM on October 15, 2008
Speed bumps are always controversial. There are a few people who want them, and a larger number who have to drive over them on their way someplace and hate them. You'll have to get a group of people to support this at the political level, I'm afraid.
Speed enforcement, in the absence of speed bumps/humps or other traffic calming, is the responsibility of the police or sheriff. Contact the appropriate agency and they may have a squad do paperwork there occasionally.
posted by dhartung at 10:57 PM on October 15, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by zeoslap at 1:12 PM on October 15, 2008