From Mr. Williams:

Committee members and guests,
    The Shore Drive Safety Initiative (SDSI) 2010 subcommittee will meet at the First Landing State Park, 2500 Shore Drive, VB (Chesa.Bay side, enter at park entrance, turn left) on Tuesday 11 May at 1 PM.  This initial committee meeting for 2010 will discuss ongoing safety concerns along Shore Drive and develop a plan of action and milestones (POA&M) to identify and correct vehicle, pedestrian, and cyclists safety issues along this major route. Please mark your calender and come to contribute your ideas, expertise, and efforts. I have attached a link for the Shore Drive Advisory Committee 2006 Safety Task Force Recommendations to provide background information and basis for future SDSI initiatives.

Click to access shore_drive_safety_task_force_report_to_SDAC.pdf

David Williams
Shore Drive Safety Initiative 2010 Chairman
Vice President Shore Drive Community

From this page at VBGov.com:

SELECT Redesign VBgov.com: Active through 5/16/2010 The City of Virginia Beach is redesigning its official Web site, VBgov.com, in order to utilize new technologies and meet the ever-changing needs of our online customers. Gathering user input is an important part of the redesign process. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey and help us Redesign VBgov….

When you take the survey – please request RSS Feeds for the Bayfront Advisory Committee and/or “Shore Drive”.

Info about the group:

Name:
  Increase Pedestrian Safety on Shore Drive
Category:
  Common Interest – Politics
Description:
  To many lives, young and old are lost on Shore Drive from pedestrian-vehicular accidents. A few months ago the city installed signs with flashing lights to warn drivers of pedestrian traffic, but they are not enough! Cross walks, and Traffic control devices MUST be installed ASAP! Please join this group before another innocent life is lost!
Privacy Type:
  Open: All content is public.

About Facebook.
You can find the group at “Increase Pedestrian Safety on Shore Drive”.

SDCC General Meeting – Monday, April 26, from 7:30pm to 9:00pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and E. Stratford Rd.)

Call to Order

Present and adopt agenda

Request to waive Officer’s Reports

Program:  Vice Mayor Louis Jones and Councilman Jim Wood make opening remarks regarding the

      City Budget as it relates to Shore Drive Projects.

Question and Answer

Upcoming Meeting Dates

    May 12:  Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations, 7 p.m. M.E.O. Central Library

    May 15:  SDCC Membership Party, 4 – 6 p.m., Mariner’s Mark

    May 20:  Bayfront Advisory Committee, 3:30 p.m., location TBA (Lesner Bridge Update)

    May 24:  Shore Drive Community Coalition, 7:30 p.m., Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Station

Update on issues: (Any or All)

        Shore Drive Safety Initiatives

        Neighborhood Signs

        Stormwater Management

        Party Planning  

Old Business

New Business: 

Adjourn

Next Meeting:  7:30 p.m. May 24, 2010.

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Station

Please check http://www.sdcc.info for details as they become available.

From an email exchange:

The state code regarding pedestrians is a bit of quagmire. Sen. Barker from N. Virginia and Fairfax County have been trying to improve the pedestrian related laws for several years to no avail (latest bill was SB228). Even the police say the laws are too confusing and difficult to enforce. Unfortunately Sen. Barker keeps running into stiff opposition from legislators who don’t see this as a problem, much less a priority.

Here is the code on where you can cross:
http://law.justia.com/virginia/codes/toc4602000/46.2-923.html

Where drivers have to stop:
http://law.justia.com/virginia/codes/toc4602000/46.2-924.html

Pedestrian signals:
http://law.justia.com/virginia/codes/toc4602000/46.2-925.html

Law prohibiting entering the road from where you can’t be seen:
http://law.justia.com/virginia/codes/toc4602000/46.2-926.html

When boarding buses:
http://law.justia.com/virginia/codes/toc4602000/46.2-927.html

Walking on the road:
http://law.justia.com/virginia/codes/toc4602000/46.2-928.html

Redux of some previous safety campaigns:

From 2005:
This Holiday, Choose to Drive 35.
[Note: Not all links on above page work.]
Shore Drive Safety Task Force approved

At VBGov.com:
Shore Drive Safety Task Force
In December, 2005 the City Council appointed the Shore Drive Safety Task Force and directed them to report back to City Council on short, mid and long term recommendations for improving safety along Shore Drive.  A number of interim improvement projects have been completed and more are planned.

From 2009:
Beginning of the Shore Drive Safety Initiative
SDSI helped achieve 35 at Cape Story by the Sea, Cape Henry Shores stretch of Shore Drive.

From an email:

Todd,

A review of the crash data reveals an average of 50 crashes per year with a total of 200 crashes in 4 years (2006-09) along Shore Drive between N. Great Neck Road and Lesner Bridge.  This includes one pedestrian fatality accident (2009- alcohol related) and one bicycle fatality accident.  The recent fatal pedestrian accident is similar to the one occurred in 2009 that the pedestrian was drinking and coming out of a bar & try to cross Shore Drive around 1:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Mike      

From Pilotonline.com:

There’s one problem: They’re on both sides of the road. With the nearest crosswalks a half-mile apart, bar hoppers often choose to dash back and forth across Shore Drive instead.

96 comments at the time of this post.

Poll at Pilotonline.com: Should the Speed Limit be Lowered.
Facebook: Memorial page for Whitney Lynne Hulce.

From WTKR.com:

From Pilotonline.com:

Grief counselors will be available for staff and students today, a Norfolk schools spokeswoman said.

Shore Drive has become known as a dangerous stretch of road for bicyclists and pedestrians.

From WVEC.com:

From WTKR.com:

From WAVY.com:

In that one and half mile section of Shore Drive, officials say there have been more than one hundred crashes in the past two years.

Pilotonline.com update at 3:25pm:

A second-grade teacher at a Norfolk elementary school was struck and killed by a car on Shore Drive early this morning, Virginia Beach police said.

Whitney Lynne Hulce, 25, of Chesapeake, was crossing Shore Drive near Red Tide Road at about 1:30 a.m.

From Pilotline.com:

The victim, whose name is not being released at this time, was crossing in the 2900 Block of Shore Drive near Red Tide Road at about 1:30 a.m. when she was stuck by a Chrysler 300M, said Officer Adam Bernstein, Virginia Beach Police Department spokesman.

From WAVY.com:

Update: Dad and yellow lab were reunited.

From an email:

Dave Metzger has lost his beloved yellow lab. If found, please contact:

DAVE METZGER – 757-287-1144

PLEASE click here now to start survey. Thanks to all who took the poll.

The Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations, VBCCO, is hosting City Manager Jim Spore at their meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14 at the Meyera Oberndorf Central Library.  Prior to that, they are seeking your opinion on five questions about the 2010 budget.

Would you please take a moment to click to this survey and register your answers?  It should not take more than 60 seconds.  (Thirty seconds for speed readers.)  We need this input before 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 14.

PLEASE click here now to start survey. Thanks to all who took the poll.

Thanks very much.
Grace Moran
President, Shore Drive Community Coalition

Enjoy a spring sunset at Chick’s Oyster Bar buffet and help fight Multiple Sclerosis.  The event is sponsored by the Cycling Legs Against Multiple Sclerosis (CLAMS) team and Chick’s.  Bring your family, friends, and neighbors on April 22, 6-9 pm.  Proceeds from the $15 per person buffet will be donated to fund cutting edge research, programs, and services to help people with MS and their families.  The CLAMS cycling team will participate in the 150 mile weekend MS charity ride on the Eastern Shore, June 5-6, 2010. Please note that for this particular fundraiser, Chick’s has requested that the cost of the buffet be paid in cash or by check (made payable to National MS Society).  Beverages are not included.  Chick’s is located at 2143 Vista Circle, Virginia Beach, VA.

http://www.cycling-legs-against-ms.org
We ride so that others may walk.

From an Email:

NEW DATE for the 2215 OAK STREET
CAPE STORY by the SEA YARD SALE

FRIDAY 10A TO 4 P APRIL 9TH AND
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY APRIL 10-11 9AM TO 3PM

2215 OAK STREET

I will continue to except donations through this date. The response so far has been amazing.
Janet Hollingsworth

As mentioned at the civic association meeting, we have a couple on Oak Street who are going through a very difficult time and could use our help. Jorge and Stephanie moved into our neighborhood about a year ago. Shortly after their arrival, Stephanie was diagnosed with cancer. Their health insurance from her job had lapsed during the move, and treatment was delayed. She is currently down to 75 lbs, and has a broken hip. She has to deal with a trachea tube and feeding tube, but is still fighting.

Jorge is a master tiling contractor, but has had little opportunity to work because he is Stephanie’s primary care giver.

Our neighbor Janet Hollingsworth at 2215 Oak Street is holding a yard sale fund raiser for them the last weekend in March (Saturday is the 27th)  DATE CHANGED DUE TO WEATHER We would like to spread the word, and ask for any items that might be donated to help these neighbors.

Janet’s contact information is:
Janethollingsworth11@yahoo.com
321-0921

Sounds like fun, if I ran.

Check it out at ShareShoreDriveDay.net

Some of you might not have received our eNewsletter that was just sent. My internet connection blinked and some of our beloved Subscribers did not receive it as my connection was reset and it dropped the eNewsletter to a couple hundred subscribers.

Please visit this link to view it.

On Saturday, April 10th, the Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement (HRCCE) will host the 2nd annual civic engagement summit, Searching for Citizenship. Admission is free and open to all, but seating is limited.  Please visit the HRCCE website to register online: http://hrcce.org/site/topics/2010-summit
 
WHRO, the Future of Hampton Roads, the Hampton Roads Partnership, and The Planning Council will once again partner with the HRCCE to engage participants in considering the role of citizens in the hard policy and budget decisions that affect their lives.

Two nationally-known speakers with deep ties to Hampton Roads will set the context for interactive sessions.  Bob O’Neill was widely recognized for his “reinvention” of the government of Hampton as city manager from 1984 to 1997. He is currently executive director of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), a membership organization dedicated to creating excellence in local government through professional management.

Bill Schneider was born in Portsmouth and attended Wilson High School. He is one of the country’s foremost political analysts, having been CNN’s senior political analyst from 1990 to 2009. Bill is Hirst Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University and Distinguished Senior Fellow and Resident Scholar at Third Way, a Washington think tank. He is also a contributing editor to National Journal and The Atlantic Monthly. Bill has been labeled “the Aristotle of American politics” by The Boston Globe.

        The first summit in April 2009 included small-group dialogues which focused on how to improve the way citizens communicate and engage with their elected officials in Hampton Roads.  The HRCCE Information and Communication Team grew out of those discussions and the team has continued to meet over the past year.  On April 10th, team members will present their recommendations for how to improve public-decision-making for all parties.

        In the words of Thomas Jefferson, “The government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part.” Please join us as we bring together citizens serving as elected or appointed officials and other members of the public to build relationships, increase mutual understanding and strengthen public decision making for the future of our democracy.

2nd Annual Civic Engagement Summit
Searching for Citizenship
Saturday, April 10, 2010
9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Hampton Roads Convention Center
1610 Coliseum Drive
Hampton, VA

Did you know?

All you had to do was ask at any of our local eating establishments & the Mayor bought you lunch today only.

Keep up to date with happenings around Shore Drive by subscribing to our eNewsletter. Learn more – it’s never to late to subscribe.

Check out the photos, and feedback from this years event.

From an email to Grace:

From: Bill J. Johnston
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 9:42 AM
To: Dave Hansen
Cc: Phillip J. Roehrs; John E. Fowler; Jason E. Cosby
Subject: RE: Stormwater/ Chesapeake Bay TMDL

Sorry for the response delay but I was actually at a Municipal Stormwater League meeting yesterday discussing this very topic. The effective date of new State Stormwater Regulations (VSMP) has been delayed pending the Development of the performance criteria needed to meet the Chesapeake Bay TMDL. USEPA is leading the Bay TMDL effort and there have been no hard numbers to date. A draft is expected this summer with a final TMDL to be Issued to the Bay states in December of 2010. I have been closely tracking the development of the Bay TMDL and I was also on the Technical Advisory Committee for the VSMP regulation Changes. I would be happy to present the current status of these regulations to the SDCC when you feel it is beneficial.

William J. Johnston, P.E.
V.P.D.E.S. Permit Administrator
Department Of Public Works, Engineering
Building 2, Room 345
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Office 757-385-4519
Mobile 757-352-8373

Update:

From EPA’s Chesapeake Bay’ TMDL Section:

Q. What is a TMDL?
A. TMDL stands for Total Maximum Daily Load. The TMDL represents the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water may receive and still meet its water quality standards, with a margin of safety. Pollutants are anything that prevents a waterbody from attaining the national goal of being “fishable and swimmable.” The “loadings” are allocated to sources contributing to the problem. A TMDL is comprised of wasteload allocations for “point sources” like sewage treatment plants, urban stormwater systems and large animal feeding operations, load allocations for non-point sources such as polluted rainfall runoff from agricultural lands and impervious surfaces, and a margin of safety.

Thanks to Senior Planner Wayne Wilcox for his presentation & feedback.

View 2 page PDF he sent us.

Thank you for allowing me to review and discuss the Bikeways and Trails Plan update with you last night. As a quick summary, here are the main points that I jotted down from our discussion.
Main issues about bikeways and trails
1. Speeding
2. Poor roadway shoulders – both construction and maintenance
3. Drainage (ponding along the roadway)
4. Connectivity
5. Sidewalk gap at Lake Joyce
6. Getting to Lesner Bridge – narrow path between the guardrail and the roadway
7. The hole in front of McDonald’s at W. Great Neck Road
8. Cape Henry Trail ends at Jade Avenue, but kids want to keep going, so they end
up on Shore Drive. Don’t make them cross Shore Drive.
9. Keep the bikeway (shared-use path) on the south side of Shore Drive, where the
Cape Henry Trail is, as well as the trails that are west of Lesner Bridge.
10. Keep bikeways friendly for walkers.