Using call click connect

Yeah, the theme for the frequent enforcement of stop signs in Old Town seems to follow the saying, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” which means no complaints = no enforcement

To my fellow forumites: If you live and/or travel through any part of Alexandria and see any issues, please report it to Call.Click.Connect which can be accessed here (I recommend creating a user name as it’s easier to manage your submissions): https://request.alexandriava.gov/CCC/#tab=Find

Here’s a couple of improvements I have experienced from my submissions to the site with case numbers if you want to see how they were submitted (navigating the search takes some getting used to):

• removal of a bollard (there used to be 2) at the approach to Braddock Rd from the Potomac Yard Trail (#80210)
• repaving of a badly deteriorated section of pavement on the Holmes Run Trail access path from Sanger Ave (#101099)
• removal of multiple downed trees on the Holmes Run Trail (#90649, #90650)
• replacement of a post holding a pedestrian button that was knocked over by a vehicle (#98990)
• follow-up from Sargent Seckler regarding drivers not stopping for pedestrians on the Duke St/I-395 on-/off-ramp crosswalks near Landmark (#101100)

I submitted the bane of my existence which happens to be an intersection near my apartment where I regularly am nearly run over by people driving who can’t be bothered to yield the right of way. I’ll continue to do so in order to draw attention to these issues. If anything happens, I’ll be sure to post an update.

@bobco85 146299 wrote:

What intersection is it? I ask because there are Alexandria BPAC members on the forum who could help (same goes for the other items that people have posted on this thread).

South Pickett and Duke.

I am a BPAC member, by the way.

@scorchedearth 146296 wrote:

I submitted the bane of my existence which happens to be an intersection near my apartment where I regularly am nearly run over by people driving who can’t be bothered to yield the right of way. I’ll continue to do so in order to draw attention to these issues. If anything happens, I’ll be sure to post an update.

Lots of people complained about those bumps. I would like it fixed too but in the city’s mind, it is. They had the contractor (or someone) come back and reduce the speed bump height (they were 6″ too tall). I have asked for flexiposts here. But the maintenance folks delayed those for the Van Dorn St lanes for at least a year.

@Zack 146351 wrote:

Oh and I used click call connect to report the midblock crosswalk on Braddock Rd in front of 7 Eleven.

Thanks for taking the time to file a report about this crosswalk, and I’m glad to hear that the APD is interested in taking a look. I filed a report about the same crosswalk last year, and was disappointed by the noncommittal response I received from T&ES three months later. See below for details. Hopefully, with more reports filed, we can get the City to take this crosswalk more seriously.

My click.call.connect request, October 25, 2015:

Have you thought about installing a flashing beacon for the crosswalk that crosses Braddock Rd. at the southern end of the Potomac Ave. trail?

Last weekend, I saw a female jogger down on the ground in the crosswalk. I didn’t see the cause, but based on the car that was stopped awkwardly next to her, the crowd of concerned onlookers gathered around her, and the sirens of the approaching EMS vehicles, she appeared to have been struck by a car. This was mid-afternoon on a clear day, so visibility shouldn’t have been a problem.

More generally, I routinely ride across that crosswalk as part of my evening bike commute, and my experience is that the westbound cars never stop. (The curve of the road as it goes through the underpass probably makes it more difficult for drivers to see people who are waiting to cross.) I know that there are already signs to warn the oncoming drivers, but the signs don’t seem to be enough.

Thanks.

Response from T&ES, Jan. 21, 2016:

I am responding to your call-click-connect request submitted back in October. First off, let me apologize for the long overdue response. To answer your question, we did not consider a rapid flash beacon at this crosswalk. This location does not meet the required standards for the installation of such a signal. The main reason is the Potomac Yard Trail crossing is in such close proximity to the traffic signal at Mount Vernon Ave. and the rapid flash beacon just to the east on Braddock.

That being said, we certainly understand your concerns regarding pedestrian safety at this location. More and more people are using the Potomac Yard Trail, and safety at this intersection becomes even more critical with additional people crossing. We have removed one bollard at the trail entrance that had become an issue, and we are looking at other measures to improve safety at not only this location, but other trail access points throughout the city.

@Zack 146351 wrote:

Oh and I used click call connect to report the midblock crosswalk on Braddock Rd in front of 7 Eleven. While the eastbound drivers (1 lane) are very good at stopping, the westbound drivers (2 lanes) are not. Later that day, I had a very nice conservation with Sgt Seckler’s new deputy and they plan to send someone out to take a look.

I think a light would be super helpful there, and give a good warning from further back that someone is in the crosswalk. That intersection is VERY difficult to see from a car thanks to the curving road, the hill, signposts and the bridge blocking sight lines. As a driver, even going slow I’ve had some issues there where pedestrians have darted out, not realizing that in my car I can’t see them until I’m pretty close.

+1 on lordofthemark’s note. APD seems impressed by volume of requests.