GAS IS MORE expensive, but are we driving less?
I am not, unfortunately. But a surprising number of people in the Washington area say they have scaled back on getting behind the wheel.
Roughly half of Maryland motorists surveyed by AAA Mid-Atlantic--54 percent--say they are driving less because of higher fuel costs. And 35 percent of Washington metro-area motorists are driving less.
AAA calls the recent gas prices a "tipping point" for drivers.
Also, 12 percent of Washington metro residents say they are using transit more. And 7 percent have switched to a more fuel-efficient car.
Dear Kelly: At the north end of West Cambridge Street in Stafford, where it intersects with U.S. 1 just before the Falmouth Bridge, there is a small divider in the middle of the road with a stop sign on it. To go north on U.S. 1, drivers must wait for a break in northbound and southbound traffic in order to make a left turn. The required break in traffic occurs at 3 a.m. most days.
While the majority of local drivers know not to try to get onto U.S. 1 northbound from this point, there is the inevitable car with Maryland license plates that makes its way to the top of the hill and then, unable to get across, just sits at this point interminably, forcing drivers behind him to try to pass on the right to go south across the Falmouth Bridge. The most serious aspect of this situation is that vehicles turning right now cannot see the oncoming traffic headed south, creating extremely thrilling and dangerous situations.
It has been recommended to VDOT for decades that this intersection be conspicuously marked with NO LEFT TURN signage starting at the bottom of the hill to keep that traffic off the hill in the firm belief that the right-turn option is sufficiently dangerous even when those drivers' views are not impeded. VDOT has thus far studiously ignored the problem. Would you please see if you can explain the problem to VDOT?
--Fred Howe, Stafford
I think you explained the problem quite well! The Virginia Department of Transportation is going to conduct a traffic study of this intersection, said Tina Bundy, VDOT spokeswoman for the Fredericksburg District. A study is a required before VDOT can ban left turns. The agency said it will publicize the results of the study. Check back here for details.
Dear Kelly: Several traffic signals on State Route 3 in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania do not stay green long enough to allow vehicles on the side streets to enter Route 3. Two examples: The signals at the intersection of Route 3 and the Ukrop's entrance, and at Gateway Boulevard and Route 3 in Fredericksburg. Cars exiting these side streets frequently run red lights to turn onto Route 3, since the wait time for the next green signal is so long. The excuse that Route 3 is the main road does not hold water. The majority of the time, it would only be a matter of lengthening the green signal to allow two or three additional vehicle to exit side streets.
--Joseph Sucha, Spotsylvania
VDOT will research the signal timing, but it needs some additional information: The day of the week and time of day are very important, especially on corridors like Route 3, wrote Shawn Beavon, a VDOT traffic signal technician, in an e-mail response.
For instance, the approach at the Ukrop's entrance may get as little as seven seconds of green signal and as much as 28 seconds of green signal, depending on the time of day and the day of the week, Beavon wrote.
Send an e-mail with the time of day this occurs, and the day of the week, to tina .
Email: bundy@vdot.virginia.gov.
Dear Kelly: When is VDOT going to properly fix the drainage problem at the corner of Andora Drive and State Route 3? Instead of maintaining the ditch that used to be there, a curb was installed with openings for the water to run out onto the road. Now we have a swimming pool or an ice-skating rink. Do we need to wait for someone to slide out into oncoming traffic?
--Rita Varney, Spotsylvania
VDOT's Chancellor Area Headquarters has been in contact with the bank and fire department at this location regarding the drainage and water problems you describe. Some corrective steps have already been taken, and more work will be done soon, as the weather improves, said VDOT spokeswoman Bundy.
Kelly Hannon is The Free Lance-Star's transportation reporter. If you have questions, send them to Getting There, c/o The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401; or fill out the Getting There form on fredericksburg.com.