The City Council, City Manager & Police Chief have dismissed the severity of Astoria's speeding and vehicle noise problem. They are ignoring Astoria's residents.

Comments Made By Astoria Residents

“It is so unsafe on Irving that I had to start walking my dog at a different time or risk getting hit last month when I was having some ambulatory problems. The cars are going 40-55 MPH in a 25 MPH zone. Dogs, deer, and older people don't have a chance at those speeds and we have plenty of each on Irving.”

-- Kathleen Paino, Irving Avenue

“The police have for years cited the "Oregon Basic Rule" as their reason for not ticketing speeders. The law says a driver must drive at a safe speed and the courts don't seem to think exceeding the posted limits is necessarily unsafe. My question is safe to who or what? Safe to the community (those of us outside the car) or safe to the person strapped into a couple of tons of high impact plastic and steel? Now personally I think that means safe to the community, after all laws are written to protect the community , not just the individual. Well that's how it's suppose to work anyway. I fought this battle for to long, logic will not work with this "city hall". I wish you luck.”

-- Resident. Astoria

I want to STOP hearing genuine STREET RACING on 16th (I think) at 3 am!  I'm always afraid to call the police because I only HEAR and can't actually SEE the racing, but the sound I hear is the sound of RACING!

  -- Kensington Avenue Resident

Cars and trucks regularly roar up and down this main through street at speeds of 35-45 miles an hour. There are blind intersections.

 -- Franklin Avenue Resident

16th Street is very dangerous ... my friend was almost hit by a car.

 -- 1st Grade Student at Star of Sea School

Nasty noise and very dangerous speeding going past Gray School. Most always on the weekend usually  after 5 PM. Most often on Friday evenings. It looks & sounds like 50+MPH and most are 35+mph accelerating further as they pass in front of the school.

 -- Alameda Avenue Resident.

I live in the Alderbrook neighborhood***. I just relocated here from Vancouver, WA. The first night I moved in there was an accident on HWY 30 redirecting traffic onto Cedar Street. People were driving 60-80 miles per hour until traffic got jammed. This problem has continued accident or no accident on HWY 30. Buses, trucks, vans and cars zooming down the road in the day and night. I'm shocked to see the Tongue Point Bus going 50+ miles per hour. Also the local Astoria buses are way over the speed limit. I have an eleven year son, two year old nephew and 11 month old niece. Safety is a huge concern to me and my family. I don't even want to send my son out to the bus in the morning without supervision.

 -- Jennifer Cerf, Cedar Street Resident

I would like to invite Chief Oja to sit on my front porch at xxxx 15th Street for one hour to see how noisy it is!  There is one car in particular that goes by at 5:45 every morning that roars through the neighborhood and wakes me up...its like an alarm clock from Hell! I wish they would let people on 15th and 16th Streets take down the license plate numbers of people as they speed by, or are so noisy and turn them in....couldn't we maybe propose a neighborhood watch sort of opportunity to catch these people and turn them in. Obviously, the APD has no clue as to the annoyances we must endure hourly. I applaud your (ALN’s) stick-to-it attitude...

-- 15^th Street Resident

I hold my breath every time one of our visitors pulls out onto 16th Street .

 -- Administrator, Clatsop Care Center

We are concerned and upset about the lack of enforcement of vehicle noise and speed laws in Astoria. As vehicles make the turn onto 15th from Jerome many accelerate at full throttle up the hill. Those with defective or improperly installed exhaust systems at times cause our windows to rattle.  Often we have to pause conversation until a vehicle has passed by. Many vehicles with manual transmissions shift up through their gears so many times it would be difficult to believe they are staying within the 25 mph speed limit, or even within the 35 mph "allowed" speed.

-- Jerome Avenue Resident & Neighbor of Councilor Henningsgaard *

Cars and trucks regularly roar up and down this main through street (5^th & Franklin) at speeds of 35-45 miles an hour. There are blind intersections.

-- George McCartin, Astoria

When you (APD) finish assessing the situation (Traffic Analysis) on 15th street please head over to eighth and observe the very same noise and speed.

-- George McCartin, Astoria

Having just attended another Astoria City Council meeting, where the serious issue of traffic safety was blown off once again by those who govern us, it has me wondering. Why, after so many years of voiced citizen concern and countless traffic safety committee recommendations, does the City of Astoria continue to ignore the obvious - that, aside from being common sense and essential to public safety, enforcing existing speed limits is good for business and good for property values? Unlike difficult, complex, pie-in-the-sky visioning goals, creating pedestrian-friendly, child-and-pet friendly neighborhoods where you don't take your life in your hands every time you take a walk is something everyone could agree on, and it is very easy to do. Please, Astoria City Council, do the right thing, and enforce existing speed limits on our streets.

-- Susan Skinner, Astoria

I work at The Clatsop Community College Performing Arts Center as the stage manager. I often record and present concerts at this great venue. I find it annoying and costly to deal with the loud noise from cars and trucks racing up and down the hill at 16th and Franklin ...., as this noise penetrates the concert hall. How about doing something to help this taxpayer and the rest of the community by having the police enforce the speed and noise laws within the city limits of Astoria?

-- Stage Manager, Performing Arts Center

An open letter to the members of the traffic safety committee: I know you are all aware of the concerned citizens group formed regarding speed and noise on our city streets. Now that my office is in the downtown area, these issues are even more apparent to me. While speeding is difficult on both Commercial Street and Marine Drive due to volume and stop lights, this is not the case with Duane and Exchange streets. I believe these streets are generally seen as "bypasses" without the 25 mph speed limit.

-- Marcia Fenske, Astoria

I am very much a supporter of your group (ALN). I am working at the time of the meeting, so unfortunately cannot come. However, I know of a place where I think a lot of people could be roused, but I haven't really got time to do it. I am speaking of the Lincoln Street Speedway that goes up and over the hill (south) at Hume Street and Marine Drive (between the visitor's center and the mini-mart), up to West Grand and on. We endure a lot of noise, speeding and boom box cars and I know people who live around here would be interested in your goals. I have two signatures for your petition in my possession, which I will forward. Some Sunday when people are home, why don't you come over and get your petitions signed and gather some new members?

-- Lincoln Street Resident

[Regarding 16th street traffic & cars without mufflers going up and down 16th at high speed] ... not real often, but often enough to be annoying.

-- Resident who lives at 16th & Grand

Nasty noise and very dangerous speeding going past Gray School. Most always on the weekend usually after 5 PM. Most often on Friday evenings. It looks & sounds like 50+MPH and most are 35+mph accelerating further as they pass in front of the school.

-- Alameda Avenue Resident

People drive (on Lexington) very fast. Sometimes, so fast that the cars bottom out on bumps in the road. We have many children and animals in our neighborhood. More some more speed enforcement would be a benefit to all.

-- Keli Ramrick, Lexington Avenue

I am tired of 16th Street being used as a speedway & a jumping ramp. Safety of pedestrians is a concern.

-- Resident #1, Corner of Irving & 16th Street

16th Street is a big hazard ... speeds are too fast.

-- Resident 2, Corner of Irving & 16th Street

I am concerned with speeds on 16th and jumping the hill.

-- Resident #3, Corner of Irving & 16th Street

Speeds on 16th are way too fast ... Also vehicles are jumping.

-- Resident #4, Corner of Irving & 16th Street

I have reported vehicles flying down the hill.

-- Resident #5, Corner of Irving & 16th Street

Slow speeds down on 16th ... lots of accidents.

-- Resident #6, Corner of Irving & 16th Street

I have nearly been hit nine times at 16th & Irving."

-- Resident #7, Corner of Irving & 16th Street

Please, please help us make this neighborhood safer & quieter.

-- Resident #8, Corner of Irving & 16th Street

All the complaints and concerns (regarding speeding, flying & jumping vehicles on 16^th Street) are valid.  The violations and nuisances are occurring in other areas.  Speeding around the corner at Niagara and 15th St. is common.  In rainy weather the vehicles skid into the oncoming traffic lane. Late at night loud radios systems send vibrations into the house, with the thumping woofers.  Thumping audio systems awaken us a 2 a.m..

Jan Nybakke – 15^th Street

Brief Comments Written By Petition Signers:

High speed is a primary issue.

Traffic speed and noise have increased considerably in the past 10 years.

The noise and speed affects the livability of our neighborhoods.

Loud exhausts (are heard) often - especially motorcycles (Harleys). **

Speed & muffler noise is impossible.

Speed & noise along Irving (is) too excessive.

CUT THE SPEED DOWN!

Enforce the speed limit on Irving. Too many cars (travelling) in excess of 35+ (on) Irving.

People speed constantly on Irving & disregard the dangerous intersection sign.

Cars without mufflers.

How about mufflers on cars!

25 MPH in residential areas seems to be appropriate  … keep our kids safe.

A few days of police presence would work wonderfully!

Irving should not be a race track.

Loud vehicles disturbing family. Speeding is a large concern for children .. playing.

Bond has excessive speeds. It is still a residential neighborhood.

Slow them down.

Excessive speed on 15th/Grand within school proximity.

Quiet please.

Pets, children are in danger.

Many children play on our street; speeding cars are a real hazard!

Awful noise levels all the time.

Loud mufflers can be heard all the way up 8th Street. It's awful.

Serious issue of racing down Niagara (Friday and Saturday nights).

Slow down in residential AND downtown!

Please address these problems.

Would you please do something?

Noise is terrible at night.

Excessive Noise !!

 Footnotes:

*  Astoria City Councilor Blair Henningsgaard has stated he is not bothered by such noise [Daily Astorian 8/24/07].

** Astoria Mayor Willis Van Dusen rides a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

***  City Manger Benoit lives in the Alderbrook area. Considering that Benoit denies that Astoria has speeding & noise problems, he probably avoids Cedar Street.