Daily Astorian 3/18/08

Letter To Editor: Not a Dragstrip

Astoria's beautiful hills and neighborhoods were not meant to be used as drag strips, racetracks, hill climbs, vehicle playgrounds or vehicle launching sites.

Noise, caused by modified or defective mufflers and excessively loud vehicle sound systems (boom cars) is a big and growing problem. Besides being annoying and disruptive, such vehicles cause direct and cumulative adverse health effects.

Speeding vehicles are no less a problem. In Astoria's 25 mph residential zones, drivers are free to drive at speeds up the 35 mph or more without fear of receiving speeding citations. This lax policy on speed limit enforcement is disturbing, particularly considering vehicle and pedestrian safety issues caused by limited visibility on Astoria's hilly streets.

Astorians For Livable Neighborhoods performed a review of speeding and noise citations issued by the Astoria Police Department. During a 14 month period, no citations were issued for excessive vehicle noise caused by exhaust or audio systems.

Only 11 citations were issued in residential areas, other than along Seventh Street, representing less than one speeding citation per month being issued in most of residential Astoria. In residential areas, no speeding citations were issued for speeds of less than 35 mph, and the average vehicle speed recorded on speeding citations was more than 40 mph.

The city of Astoria does not take these problems seriously, and has taken no effective action in keeping Astoria and its neighborhood streets safe, livable and quiet. Vehicles continue to roar and speed through our neighborhoods.

Six months have passed since The Daily Astorian reported that an APD officer was assigned to deal with traffic issues, and would work with the city engineer, other city staff and Astoria's traffic safety committee to identify problems and come up with strategies. No actions or ideas have resulted.

More than a month has passed since the ALN presented a petition to Mayor Willis Van Dusen and the city council asking the council to acknowledge and work toward solving the issue of noisy and speeding vehicles in our neighborhoods. The mayor and council had no reaction or comment at the meeting, other than the obligatory "thank you." Their silence continues.

More than 500 individuals have signed the petition. ALN will continue to raise the issue with the Astoria City Council, but we need your help. If you, or friends, are concerned about these issues, please sign the petition online at http://home.earthlink.net/~aln-info/ or call (503) 298-3369.

Linda Oldenkamp
Astoria