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ervisors/Forms/Agenda/2004Files/20040512/Morgantownexecsummary.htm#summary

AGENDA TITLE: 
Enhanced Speeding Fines on Morgantown Road

SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST:
Approval of resolution requesting special speeding violation designation for
Morgantown Road

AGENDA DATE:                       
May 12, 2004

CONSENT AGENDA:          
     ACTION:      X 

BACKGROUND: 

The residents of Morgantown Road have expressed concerns about speeding on
Morgantown Road. The Virginia Code provides that VDOT may establish a
special speeding violation designation that makes it a traffic infraction
for speeding punishable by an enhanced fine of not more than $200 when the
maximum speed limit is indicated by appropriately placed signs displaying
both the maximum speed limit and the penalty for violations.     

STRATEGIC PLAN:

3.1 Make the County a Safe and Healthy Community in which citizens feel
secure to live, work and play.

DISCUSSION: 

The Community Development Department staff, VDOT and County Police have been
working with the residents over the past several years to address the volume
and speed of traffic on Morgantown Road. Many steps have been taken,
including periodic selective speed enforcement, notices sent home with
students from Virginia E. Murray Elementary School, reconfiguration of the
western most intersection with Rt. 250, and attendance at neighborhood
meetings to listen to concerns. Another step the County would like to
undertake to help alleviate the speeding problem is to request that VDOT
designate this roadway for enhanced speeding violation fines and to install
signage alerting motorists there will be a fine of up to $200 for exceeding
the established speed limit.  The Ivy Community Association supports this
effort.

A location must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for the
enhanced maximum fine for speeding.

1. Identification of the neighborhood and specific location where signs will
be installed.

2. Confirmation that the highway meets the definitions of local residential
and collector streets as defined by VDOT. 

3. Verification that a speeding problem exists. 

Staff believes Morgantown Road meets all of the above criteria. To initiate
this procedure, the County must request VDOT, by resolution, to designate
the roadway for enhanced speeding violation fines and to install the
appropriate signage required by Section 46.2-878.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Staff will forward the resolution, if adopted, to the Resident Engineer with
the supporting data.  


RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends the Board of Supervisors adopt the attached resolution.  

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors finds that a speeding
problem exists on Morgantown Road (SR 738) and that it creates a potential
hazard for the motorists and residents that live and work along that
roadway; and

WHEREAS, the residents of Morgantown Road, the County, and the Virginia
Department of Transportation have taken many steps to reduce the speeding
problem but find that the speeding problem persists; and

WHEREAS, the residents of Morgantown Road have petitioned the County to
request VDOT to designate Morgantown Road as a special speeding zone so that
speeding violations are a traffic infraction punishable by an enhanced
maximum fine of not more than $200.00;

NOW, THERE FORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Albemarle County Board of
Supervisors hereby requests that VDOT designate Morgantown Road to be a road
subject to enhanced speeding violation fines pursuant to Virginia Code
Section 46.2-878.2 and that it install appropriate signage on Morgantown
Road designating the maximum speed limit and the enhanced penalty for
exceeding the posted maximum speed on Morgantown Road.