From: K Harding [gnidrahmk@yahoo - Waco, Texas · 2013. 10. 7. · From: K Harding [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, September 16, 2013 10:39 AM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Public

From: K Harding [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, September 16, 2013 10:39 AM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Public comment sought on Waco-area traffic proposals There are two points of public traffic in Waco that require drastic attention, actually more. 1. The flashing yellow turn signals: I have seen several wrecks due to these signals. Drivers think these are permission to ignore oncoming traffic that has the green light. These signals are a death trap and quite possibly a lawsuit waiting to happen for Waco. 2. Drivers ignoring turn signals at, Lake Air & Waco Drive, New Road & Waco Drive, Valley Mills & Waco Drive and New Road & Franklin. I would like to see a study conducted on these intersections to see just how many violations are committed every day. I have been told Waco does not have the police force to enforce traffic violations... but something needs to be done. These intersections were cited in Waco Trib article as being in the top ten most dangerous intersections, but it continues to be ignored. Please, please find a viable solution. Thank you, Kenn Harding Seeing what is important is not always the result of good eyesight.

From: Jim & Jodi Heston [[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2013 7:59 AM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Traffic proposals To whom it may concern, I am delighted to hear that you all are considering putting in medians on Valley Mills and Hewitt Drives. I grew up in Dallas, where center medians are standard for roadways. When I moved to Waco in 1990 as a Baylor student, I found the center turn lanes dangerous and confusing. Having lived here for the past 23 years, I have learned to navigate them, cautiously anticipating that other drivers will make poor decisions about using them nearby me. I work in the Hewitt area and find that I fear for my safety frequently when I am in the center turn lane on Hewitt between Panther Way and Industrial/Chapel. I would strongly support any traffic pattern changes that would make me feel more safe, even if it creates an inconvenience. An example of a place this has been done well is at Cobbs and Bosque, where left turns have been blocked to that residential neighborhood. I travel that route often to my child's school. And I applaud you for choosing safety over convenience at that traffic flow spot. Please consider safety over convenience on Hewitt and Valley Mills Drives as well. Sincerely, Jo Ann Heston 724 Fieldstone Dr Hewitt 76643 Sent from my iPhone

From: fred schaedig [[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2013 12:44 PM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Traffic/Hewitt Dr. I want to advocate for the raised median plan for Hewitt Dr. The small inconvenience of going to the next "turn around" seems a small price to pay for safety to be gained. I also wonder if better traffic flow could be achieved by having traffic into Midway school entering/exiting off of Mars Dr. Or, how feasible for a walk way above street level at Royal Dr.? My usage of Hewitt Dr. averages once a day at various times during the day so my observation is based on real time experience. Fred Schaedig 445 Sagewood Dr. Hewitt, TX

From: donna zemanek [[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2013 12:34 PM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Hewitt traffic Good afternoon, Twelve years ago when we moved to Hewitt from Houston, one of the first things we noticed was people driving on the shoulders of Hewitt Dr to make turns onto streets and into parking lots the entire expanse of the road. They still do that today, effectively trying to create turn lanes where there are none. Besides being against the law- and a move that will get you a quick ticket in Houston, and should in Hewitt- it is very dangerous for those of us (few though we may be) who do not join in breaking the law. One of the most notable areas is driving on Estates across 84 to Hewitt Dr and trying to turn onto the street just between HEB and Jack In The Box. The people behind you will try to cut you off, as you legally turn right from street to street, as they drive down the shoulder to turn right onto that street. Next is the Bush's Chicken shopping center and all of the fast food restaurants intermingled, and on down the street as the occasion arises. Not quite as prevalent by IGA because the shoulder is so narrow, but doesn't stop some of them from trying. Stopping this would be a great improvement in the safety of driving on this road. Thanks for asking, James and Donna Zemanek

From: Edward Kultgen [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 10:59 AM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Valley Mills Drive and Hewitt Drive Attachments: Edward Kultgen.vcf Regarding traffic problems on Valley Mills, I would urge three steps. First, lower the speed limit to 30mph from Bosque Blvd. to at least Waco Drive if not all the way to I-35. Second, look at adjustments to traffic signal timing, particularly the length of time left turn signals are on. I have noticed over the years that the perception that the left turn signals are too brief leads to people trying to beat oncoming traffic, and perhaps changing the timing and possibly increasing the yellow caution period might help this. Finally, of course, raised medians would eliminate a huge problem with too many people trying to turn left in mid-block against traffic. This one step, while expensive, would probably eliminate half of the accidents along this corridor. There would be some inconvenience for those of us who are used to the current configuration, but a lot of us “old Waco” folks will avoid trying to turn left across Valley Mills if at all possible anyway, at least during high traffic hours. The same three steps would help Hewitt Drive. Perhaps signal timing is less of an issue there, except where school traffic is heaviest. The speed limit is a greater problem, since the rapid development of retail and residential use along Hewitt Drive makes the 45-mph limit far more dangerous. Raised medians along the entire length may be a bit of overkill, but in high volume retail areas (e.g., WalMart and WestRock Center) would probably make a lot of sense.

From: chris franks [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 12:00 PM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Traffic traffic I understand this is a small area and may not effect as many people. In the morning just before school 7:30-8:00 Mars drive is a mess. At the old Hewitt intersection people take the traffic control into their own hands! Drivers will stop, when they have the right of way, and wave on the drivers at the stop sign. This causes all kinds of problems. This intersection is very wide so people may be passing on the right of those who are turning and with the morning glare it is hard to tell what someones intent is. ":Are they waiting to go or are they allowing me to go?" With student drivers and parents rushing off in the morning something should be done before there is an accident or someone gets shot! Drivers should stick to the LAWS or a traffic cop should be there.

From: Alcala, Ashley [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 2:34 PM To: Chris Evilia Cc: '[email protected]'; '[email protected]' Subject: MPO- Hewitt Drive Concern Attachments: Shop.PDF; Helen's car.PDF Mr. Evilia, Here are the petitions from Cuttin’ Up Hair Salon and also the pictures of our 82 year old customer’s car that was hit while trying cross over from La Village to Van American. If you have any questions please feel free to contact myself or Chris Holze the owner of the shop 666-3334. Thank you for your time. Ashley Alcala Office Support Manager Career and Professional Development Paul L. Foster Success Center 254.710.8434

From: Campbell, Chris [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 10:04 AM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Comments on the Valley Mills and Hewitt Drive Now the reason Hewitt Drive is so busy are the schools, but gratefully Hewitt drive is most of the time heavily Enforced. However, Valley Mills is extremely dangerous, You have people jumping lanes people shooting over 6 lanes of road. I’ve been in 3 wrecks in my life all of which happened on Valley Mills because of very poor drivers making very poor decisions. My suggestion is to leave Hewitt drive alone but defiantly SOMETHING has to be done to Valley Mills. If anything just adding cameras will be better than nothing. WWW.TXFB-INS.COM CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: The foregoing message (including attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communication Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. sections 2510-2521, and is CONFIDENTIAL. If you believe that it has been sent to you in error, do not read it. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any retention, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Please reply to the sender that you have received the message in error, then delete it. Thank you. Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies received the highest numerical score among auto insurance providers in Texas in the proprietary J.D. Power 2013 U.S. Auto Insurance Study(SM). Study based on 45,521 total responses measuring 8 providers in Texas and measures opinions of consumers with their auto insurance provider. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed March –April 2013. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

From: Charlie Dodd [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 6:17 AM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Valley Mills Drive I want to go on record to say that I think the medians will be a great safety advantage! It is my experience in cities like Dallas, medians also help to navigate traffic and reach destinations with allot less traffic stress . . . Charlie Dodd Assoc. Pastor Woodway First Baptist Church Single Adults/The MAC 101 Ritchie Rd. Waco, TX. 76712 www.fbcwoodway.org [email protected]

From: Deborah Hensley [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 7:40 AM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Medians Issues To whom this may concern; I am strongly in favor of installing medians on Hewitt Drive and Valley Mills Drive. As a resident of Waco for 19 years and an employee of Time Manufacturing Company for 18 years, I have come across multiple accidents than I care to see or read about. I have a 15 years old daughter that holds a permit license....naturally as any other parent, I am very anxious when she gets her driver's license in few months. I have constantly reminded her to take precautions at all times and go extra distance to make her turns where it's much safer. Better safe than sorry. I understand the business owners' complaints of losing customers, but look at this way, they may lose them anyway if they were in accidents due to no medians...I for one, without medians will still go extra distance to make a safe turn to business. If people really wants to go to particular business, they will find a way. In conclusion, I say, go for it! Install the medians for everyone's safety. --Deborah Hensley

From: Wayne Leggott [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 7:30 PM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Medians Having grown up in Waco in the 50's, I have seen many changes to Valley Mills Drive, or Highway 6 as it was called when we lived 2 blocks south of it. Today, it is a drivers nightmare at any time of day or night. Cross traffic, illegal turns, driving in the center turn lane, passing in the center turn lane are just a few things that can be seen. You did not mention pedestrians. Another issue that will accelerate with the medians, providing pedestrians with a false safety barrier; however, it is better for their safety than no medians at all. To get to the point.....YES, along Valley Mills Drive, install medians from IH 35 to the lake. Left turn lanes and crossovers provided at major streets, not necessarily only at signalized intersections. Drivers can learn to make U-turns and depart a few minutes earlier for a safer "inconvenience". Wayne Leggott [email protected] Sent from my iPhone

From: moose [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 8:40 PM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Valleymills and Hewitt Dr You do this on hewitt dr you will cause alot of problems for businesses and drivers and for the amount of people that drive Hewitt Dr the people that want this would primarily be elderly leave Hewitt Dr alone it has done fine for the nearly 20 years I have lived here.

From: Victoria Pena [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 6:42 PM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Road work There are so many streets in Waco that need resurfacing and they want to put in a median where it is not wanted. Give me a break. Sent from my iPhone

From: Bill Internet America [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 6:35 PM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Medians Adding medians would make it a lot more dangerous.the less obstacles the better. 35 years road experience Sent from my iPhone

From: Mike Sartain [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 8:00 AM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Recommendations for Valley Mills Drive and Hewitt Drive MPO: Please use whatever influence you have to do something about the traffic patterns on both Valley Mills Dr. and Hewitt Drive. Businesses have been allowed to build and rebuild in these areas by the both the City of Waco and of the City of Hewitt without addressing any of the traffic issues. I have been living in this area for 36 years and the traffic has done nothing but get worse. In my opinion the cities share the biggest part of the blame for not having an orderly development plan that would have included doing something about the traffic problems. A lot of these problems could have been handled in the planning stage of permitting. And the idea that you can't do anything about it because the problems are old. So what? They change and pass rules all the time for every other thing in the city. Why not this? Although is a different problem it speaks to the same issue. The problem that exists at Valley Mills and Waco Drive. How long are going to have to wait for an overpass to be built there so the orderly flow of traffic can be taken care of?..How long? Mike Sartain 1229 Meadow Mountain Dr Waco, Texas

From: Elpidio Saucedo [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 1:08 AM To: Chris Evilia Subject: The roads I travel both of those roads every day. I do not think we should mess with the roads there fine. I think we can find some where else to spend the money.

From: Scott [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 9:42 PM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Medians for Hewitt Drive and Valley Mills Drive Having lived in several states as well as other countries I was in shock when I moved to Hewitt, Texas in 2001 and did not see concrete medians blocking cross traffic on Hewitt Drive. In most cities I have lived with busy, fast paced streets and multiple lanes to cross, concrete medians are used to only allow motorist to turn left across traffic at signal light protected intersections. This system promotes driving safety by preventing motorist from "shooting the gap" and attempting to cross five lanes of traffic all at once. This method should be adopted by Hewitt and Valley Mills drives to prevent further accidents and injury. Sent from my iPhone

From: jenn_sue31 [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 8:48 PM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Medians I don't believe medians should be on either of these two roads because it would make it too hard to get to businesses that I frequently visit. Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S™ III, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

From: donna zemanek [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 9:06 AM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Medians We don't need medians on Valley Mills. That is a ridiculous idea which will cause more congestion and traffic problems from people trying/having to circumvent them to get to their destination. Plus burden and penalize those who are not the problem. Waco has enough ridiculous traffic situations imposed by lack of forethought or ??? How about trying to enforce the speed limit, as they did in days of old. That is the problem! People driving too fast and no enforcement! Please don't try to "fix" this problem by ignoring the true issue and obvious solution, as is usually Waco's approach to anything. Take the cancellation of the HOT Fair parade. Instead of just not throwing candy, they discontinue the parade. Really? Where do we get these people? How many people do they really think come to parades solely for the candy? Only those who are the problem possibly? So discontinue the candy, not the parade! Kind of like ants - have the picnic, but remove or secure the items of interest. Thanks for asking!

From: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 10:06 PM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Comments: Valley Mills & Hewitt Drive Hey Chris, Glad to you see you're making an effort to improve the safety of drivers and pedestrians in Waco and Hewitt. Friends, family, and I avoid both streets much of the time because of the high speed chaos they engender. I appreciate your idea of the medians -- they would help folks make turns more safely. Most good drivers and pedestrians would surely welcome them. You can tell concerned business owners that many of us will be more likely to frequent their establishments with medians than without. The other piece I would love to see, of course, is a lowering of the speed limit to 30 MPH. So many drivers take 30 MPH to mean 35-40 MPH, and 40 MPH to mean 45 - 55 MPH. The lower limit would more readily keep traffic speeds at reasonably safe levels. It seems that most Waco area drivers (and our state legislators?) don't realize that in an emergency or when coming to a stoplight that one travels almost twice as far before actually stopping a car at 40 MPH than at 30 MPH. Is there not some kind of exception or waiver process available to municipalities to override absurdly dangerous state laws? Thanks for the good work you do, Chris! Peace and Light, Skip Londos 7033 Edmond Waco, TX

From: Cindy [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 5:40 PM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Medians Please put medians on Valley Mills! Blessings, Cindy Praesel Sent from iPhone

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From: K Harding [gnidrahmk@yahoo - Waco, Texas · 2013. 10. 7. · From: K Harding [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, September 16, 2013 10:39 AM To: Chris Evilia Subject: Public