Twitter
Facebook
Editor’s Note. The following commander’s action line question was edited for accuracy, brevity and clarity.
QUESTION: There is a continuing trend on Lawn Avenue, between Arnold Circle and Harmon Avenue (the main road adjacent to the bowling alley).
I’ve called law enforcement requesting assistance and informed them of this problem. The response I get seems to be one of concern, but not priority. There is an issue with motorists exceeding the 30 km/h speed limit down that roadway, which is frequently crossed by pedestrians on a daily basis. Bike-patrol stings and posted squad cars have done little to dissuade excessive speeding down this roadway.
As a pedestrian, I cross this roadway multiple times a day for duty and I utilize the crosswalk directly in line with Bldg. 2108, to and from the Chili’s parking lot. I make a point of that because over the past year, I had five incidents of nearly being hit. I filed a complaint and reported the incident to security forces. I have fellow Airmen and customers daily who all had similar situations.
This driving attitude carries itself into the adjoining parking lot where motorists drive in excess of 20 to 30 km/h. This issue is further complicated by the lack of a walking path between vehicles. Why can’t we put speed humps in this area?
I appreciate your attention to this matter. If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know.
RESPONSE: Thanks for bringing these safety items to our attention. Speed humps are considered a traffic-calming device, not a traffic-control device, and are used mainly for school zones and residential streets. They are not considered transit (routes for busses or trucks) or snow routes. A site must have a legitimate speeding problem verified by observation and radar surveys with the 85th percentile speed at least 5 mph (8 km/h) above the posted speed limit.
Lawn Avenue between Arnold Circle and Harmon Avenue is classified as a secondary roadway (non-residential). The posted speed limit is 30 km/h and the 85th percentile is 32 km/h. The average daily traffic flow is 4,698 vehicles with 16 percent being truck traffic. This section of roadway is a bus and snow route. Data collected indicated the average gap time between vehicles was 30.70 seconds, well above the eight second minimum required for pedestrians to cross the street.
Based on data collected and the guidelines provided, speed humps will not be used. However, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron will add crosswalk signage at both crosswalk locations.
Once the new signage is installed, CE will monitor the traffic along Lawn Avenue again. The parking lot for Bldg. 2140 is a multi-use parking lot with no definitive destination.
Two crosswalks across the length of the parking lot would eliminate much needed parking stalls. The speed limit for these parking lots is 15 km/h as specified in AWI 31-201 chapter 4.2.2. Security forces will engage with those driving in excess of the posted speed limit.
CE will add reminder speed limit signs at the entrances along with speed limit markings on the pavement. The Ramstein Air Base traffic engineer will monitor the situation and keep in contact with 86th Security Forces Squadron and 86th Force Support Squadron with regards to future issues or concerns with the Bldg. 2140 parking lot.
