Is this a sign of the times with the conversion of 2-way traffic on Braddock and Cameron?

Are these pictures attached a view of what the citizenry should expect with the Delivery drivers with the conversion of 2-way traffic on Braddock and Cameron?  I personally do have any issue with the 2-way but someone (a Civil Traffic Engineer) was quick to point out, you forget about the truck traffic, well I witnessed that 1st hand today.

The Civil Traffic Engineer response to these pictures:

 "Someone did not do turning radius minimums before they line painted."


 My only question about the 2-way conversion was ... "If it's not broke, why fix it?"

Thought for the day! Maybe the quote of the year on Healthcare Reform Bill?

Wise man told me just yesterday ...

"Milburn, paper lay still, they can write anything on it"


For the record, the successful farmer said I could share it BUT I could not share his name.  Quote was made locally in 22601 and when it was "googled", it was nowhere to be found on the net.

How 'bout that! :)

Right on, Rev. Luttrell / Where is common sense? (TheWinchesterStar)

Right on, Rev. Luttrell

I thoroughly agree with the Rev. Isaac Luttrell in his letter “Where is common sense?” (Your Views, Nov. 11), but I would like to go one step further and state that it is no longer safe to walk or ride a bicycle either.

The removal of the traffic lights at the intersections of Amherst and Washington streets and Amherst and Braddock streets was definitely a step backwards. A pedestrian has to take his life in his hands every time he crosses the street, especially at Amherst and Braddock streets which is not even a four-way stop now.

There are no stop signs for drivers on Braddock Street, and they just sail through with no regard for those trying to cross. And now with it being two-way, you not only have to be concerned with the traffic from the left, but also the right, not to mention those coming out of the parking garage!

I would say you could put this in the category of “What were they thinking?” But that would be incorrect. It's more like they weren’t thinking, at least not about the safety of pedestrians.

I propose they reinstall the traffic lights with a pedestrian crosswalk like they have at the intersection of Loudoun and Piccadilly streets.

Kathleen Wilson
Mountain Falls
November 17, 2009

Where is common sense?

Well, folks, it was bound to happen. I could see the handwriting on the wall. It is one thing to set the clock back in fall, but something else when you turn the calendar back more than 50 years.

Back when Larry Omps was mayor of Winchester, I mentioned to him about the street situation in Winchester. There were times that out-of-town people would ask for directions how to get through Winchester. Some would even call it a “hick town”.

That bothered me at first, but now when I see what the boys have done to Winchester, it makes me sick. So I have to agree with them.

They need to change the signs from historic district to prehistoric district.

I remember the days when people came to town on horseback and in buggies. In 1951, Braddock and Cameron streets were made one-way to move traffic more efficiently. Every time they have done something with the streets over the last 12 to 18 years it has only decreased the flow of traffic.

The boys moved the sidewalks out into the street so those making a right-hand turn either run over the sidewalk or out into oncoming traffic. Now they have changed Cameron and Braddock streets back to two-way traffic. Putting up four-way stop signs at intersections is only for unlearned drivers and will just slow down traffic that much more.

If the boys keep it up, the only way to get in and out of Winchester in the near future will be walking or riding a bicycle.

Rev. Isaac Luttrell
Frederick County
November 11, 2009

JMU's new Baseball/Softball complex

JMU's new Baseball/Softball complex  Updated slideshow as of November 14, 2009

Construction progress pics of JMU's new baseball/softball complex

http://www.nielsen-inc.com/images/JMU_Baseball_Softball_Complex.pdf

A ‘simple fix’ and A much-welcome ‘Welcome’ (Letters to Editor)

A ‘simple fix’

This is an open letter to Winch­ester Public Services Director Per­ry Eisenach.

I read with great interest your comments in Friday’s Star about traffic flow in Winchester.

I agree with you, the timing of the lights on Pleasant Valley Road and Valley Avenue does help traffic flow. But there is something else your department could do that would help traffic flow around this city as much as timing the traffic lights and would not cost $200,000 per intersection.

It really is a simple fix. Desig­nate the right-most lane at all the three-lane intersections right turn only.

I sit at various intersections around town, mostly northbound on Pleasant Valley at East Cork Street and wait forever in a line of traffic that at certain times of the day is several hundred yards long. The reason we are all sitting there wasting time and gas is most of us want to turn right onto Cork Street, but one driver up front wants to go straight through the intersection but didn’t want to get out of the right lane into the center lane.

An example of how the intersec­tions should be laid out is at the in­tersection of Apple Blossom Drive and Jubal Early Drive, traveling north on Apple Blossom Drive ex­iting the mall and crossing Jubal Early. There is a straight through lane, a left-turn lane and a right­tur n-only lane.

Another example is heading north on Pleasant Valley at Berryville Avenue. The lanes at these intersections are correct and allow for a good flow of traffic and no long lines of right- turn traffic waiting because someone up front in the line doesn’t need to turn right.

There is more and more talk these days about being “geen” and conserving energy and such. Perhaps now is the time to change these intersections to improve traf­fic flow even more and, in the end, save gas and energy. It’s just a good idea for the times.

DONNIE ELSEA Berryville
November 16, 2009
The Winchester Star

A much-welcome ‘Welcome’


Kudos to City Councilors, past and present, who made the decision to convert Braddock and Cameron streets to two-way traffic!

I travel Valley Avenue (U.S. 11) every day, and it is wonderful being able to go north on Braddock from Handley Boulevard. It is as if our city now says “Welcome” instead of “Do not enter.”

Fast-moving traffic belongs on Va. 37 and not in the “Heart of Winchester,” for there is much to see, do, and experience in Old Town.

To Perry Eisenach and his staff, I commend you for all of your hard work and a smooth transition.

Thanks to all for a job well done!

Kimberly P. Burke
Winchester
November 13, 2009