On Thursday morning the Transportation, Parking, and Pedestrian Committee (TPPC) of Virginia Beach's Resort Advisory Commission (RAC) met.
The first topic was a look at Ocean City's "Walk Smart" program. While committee members and Staff acknowledge we have a pedestrian safety problem in the Resort Area (worst in the city), questions were raised as to how cost-effective additional measures would be. Still, some further steps may be taken. Fact of the morning: you are 7 times more likely to be a fatality while walking than by any other form of transportation.
Staff from Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) presented some requested information: a 2007 vs. 2009 VBWave ridership comparison, Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) figures for the Resort Area, and written answers to questions the TPPC asked but HRT Staff didn't know the answers to off the top of their heads.
As part of the City's ongoing maintenance of traffic signals, the stoplights at Pacific Avenue's intersections with 21st and 22nd Streets are going to be replaced. Not only are the current lights far short of national standards, but they utilize utility poles of Dominion Virginia Power. The new signals will utilize a single 72 foot mast arm.
A Briefing of City Council on The Hippo, the waterslide that would go on the beach at the 24th Street Park, is slated for next Tuesday, March 2. The Hippo would require Council granting a franchise for it's operation.
Finally, the TPPC approved it's list of Top 5 Priorities for the upcoming March 4 RAC strategic planning meeting:
1. Extension of a mass transit mode (i.e. LRT) to the Oceanfront, including expansion of VB Wave and HRT bus feeder network.
2. Improving/enhancing resort parking (including employee parking).
3. Dome site and 19th Street redevelopment.
4. Development of Laskin Road Gateway.
5. Promoting development of a Resort Area Master Transportation Plan.
No comments:
Post a Comment