Contact
Person:
Linda Oldenkamp
(503) 325-3981
Astoria, OR
For Immediate Release: August 21, 2007
Determined to address the issues of noisy and speeding vehicles in their neighborhoods, a group calling themselves
“Astorians for Livable Neighborhoods” (ALN) has formed.
Organizers
are concerned about traffic speeds in excess of the 25 MPH limit in residential areas and excessive and unreasonable vehicular
noise. The group believes that increasing levels of vehicle noise and unsafe traffic speeds are eroding the quality of life
in their neighborhoods, and that excessive vehicle noise is a health hazard, as well. ALN is circulating a petition asking
the City Council to “acknowledge these problems and work toward solving them”.
The
group has met with Astoria City Counselor Blair Henninsgaard, City Manager Paul Benoit, and Chief of Police Rob Deu Pree.
In addition, ALN has communicated via e-mail and phone with the Mayor and other City Councilors. From those discussions and
communications, the City Council, Mayor, City Manager and Police Chief have conveyed the message that they don’t see
a problem with vehicle speeds and noise in residential areas.
Astoria’s
beautiful hills and historic neighborhoods were not meant to be used as drag strips, racetracks, hill climbs, vehicle playgrounds,
or vehicle launching sites. Noise, caused by modified (to increase exhaust noise) or defective mufflers and excessively loud
vehicle sound systems (boom cars) is a big and growing problem in Astoria’s neighborhoods. Besides being annoying and
disruptive, such vehicles cause direct and cumulative adverse health effects. By its own admission, the APD has not enforced
Oregon’s or Astoria’s vehicle noise laws. ALN has urged the City of Astoria to take action to stop this trend,
but to date, the City has taken no effective action.
Speeding
vehicles are no less a problem. The group has learned that in Astoria’s 25 MPH residential zones, drivers are free to
drive at speeds up to 35 MPH or more without fear of receiving speeding citations. The Astoria Police Department’s lax
policy on speed limit enforcement is particularly worrisome considering vehicle and pedestrian safety issues caused by limited
visibility on Astoria’s hilly streets.
In
March, ALN reviewed speeding and noise citations issued by the APD during the 14 month period from January 2006 through February
2007. The review showed:
·
No citations were issued for excessive
vehicle noise caused by exhaust or audio systems.
·
Of the 253 speeding citations, only
41 were issued in residential areas. Of the 41 residential citations, 30 were issued along 7th Street. Despite
public complaints about speeding vehicles, only 11 citations (less then one citation per month) were issued in all other residential
areas of Astoria ( 8th Street, 16th Street, Irving Avenue, Niagara, etc.) In residential areas, no speeding
citations were issued for speeds of less than 35 MPH.
·
In residential areas, the average
vehicle speed recorded on speeding citations was 40.6 MPH.
Organizers
say they have no problems obtaining signatures for the petition. The feedback received from petition signers is that complaints
have been made for years and nothing is ever done. The problems are city-wide, and 400 signatures have been obtained to date.
When their goal of 1,000 signatures is reached, ALN, will deliver the petitions to the City Council, asking the Council to
acknowledge them and work toward solving the issues.
The
petition reads, “To the Astoria City Council: As residents of Astoria, we are concerned about (1) traffic speeds
in excess of the 25 MPH limit in residential areas and (2) excessive and unreasonable vehicular noise caused by exhaust and
audio systems. Increasing levels of vehicle noise and unsafe traffic speeds are eroding our quality of life. Excessive vehicle
noise is not only a disturbance, but a health hazard. We would like the City Council to address these health, safety and environmental
issues. We, the undersigned, ask the City Council to acknowledge these problems and work toward solving them. Thank you”.
ALN
is asking anyone interested in signing the petition or who is concerned about the noisy, speeding vehicles in their neighborhoods
to contact them at: ALN, PO Box 1234, Astoria, Or, (503) 298-3369, or aln-info@earthlink.net.
