According to City Traffic Engineer, Mike Shahsiah, the shoulder paving project commencing today, Monday July 19th, should take 1 to 2 weeks to complete (Closer to 1 week without weather delays).

The project will add a 5-6 foot section of shoulder paving along the south side of Shore Drive from the sidewalk at Bloom & Beech St. to Kendall St.  The existing pavement from Beech to Wake Forest (and a few other small sections) will be milled and paved.  Areas without existing paving will have new pavement added.  These areas are mostly between Wake Forest and Kendall.  After paving is complete, both shoulders (north and south) along Shore Drive will be striped to show a 3-4 foot bike area.

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 once signed in by searching for “Increase Pedestrian Safety on Shore Drive”.

Thank you to the 700 residents who took the time to answer the survey questions.  The results are being compiled and will be posted soon.

Your input is desperately needed.

The following survey is being sponsored by the Cape Story by the Sea Civic Association (CSBTS), Cape Henry Shores Civic Association (CHSCA)and Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC). The survey will be used to help determine the effectiveness of the temporary speed limit reduction from 45 mph to 35 mph along Shore Drive between Great Neck Road and First Landing State Park.

Local residents and civic leagues have repeatedly requested the City over the past 5 years to reduce the speed on this stretch of road. The reduced speed will help improve safety for the 800 residents of Cape Story by the Sea and Cape Henry Shores that cross Shore Drive on foot and by vehicle without the aid of signalized intersections or marked crosswalks. A reduced speed limit will also make the road safer for Type-A bicyclists that voted this roadway as their number one most traveled route in Virginia Beach (Virginia Beach Bikes and Trails Plan 2004) by a 2 to 1 margin over the second most popular route in the City.

Click here to fill out the survey.  It only takes a minute or two to fill out.

The speed limit between N. Great Neck Rd and First Landing State Park will be lowered from 45 mph to 35 mph starting Monday August 3^rd on a trial basis.  Local residents and civic leagues have repeatedly requested the City over the past 5 years to reduce the speed on this stretch of road.  The reduced speed will help improve safety for the 800 residents of Cape Story by the Sea and Cape Henry Shores that cross Shore Drive on foot and by vehicle without the aid of signalized intersections or marked crosswalks.  A reduced speed limit will also make the road safer for Type-A bicyclists that voted this roadway as their number one most traveled route in Virginia Beach (Virginia Beach Bikes and Trails Plan).

Check out the following links to learn more about this initiative and to post comments.

WVEC Article and Video

http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_072109_shore_dr_speed.63b882df.html

WAVY Article and Video

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/local_wavy_virginia_beach_speed_limit_changes_on_shore_drive_20090721

Virginian-Pilot Online Article

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/07/speed-limit-be-lowered-part-shore-drive-august

Cape Story by the Sea-  Letter to City Officials

April 16, 2009

Dear Robert Gey and Michael Shahsiah,

        The Cape Story by the Sea Civic Association at the April 13, 2009 monthly meeting came to a unanimous agreement on the issue of Bike/Multiuse Path safety.    After a few months of discussion, site evaluation and research of similar calming circles in the ocean front neighborhoods, Cape Story residents determined that the recommended calming circles are not the best solution.  The calming circles appear to be too costly to implement and could have adverse impact on visibility, trees and storm water drainage. 
          The following is the recommendation of Cape Story by the Sea (CSBTS) for the six cross streets: Beech, Oak, Maple, Sandalwood, Bayberry, and Wake Forest

            1.  Install a flexible warning sign centered in the middle of the cross walk and through street.  The sign would need to be fixed in place using concrete and/or lag bolts.  The sign needs to have a spring that allows it to be run over.  The sign facing the cars should be the neon yellow/green with the pedestrian and bicycle symbols.  The sign facing the bike path should be red with a stop or automobile symbol.  Similar to sign in the middle of the picture attached, but should be 4-sided and secured into the road instead of a weighted base.  

2.  Repaint the white border of the cross walk with reflective white paint.  Add the standard cross walk stripes using the same reflective white paint.

3.  All Six streets are requested to be completed.  Beginning with Bayberry and Sandalwood

           CSBTS believes this is the most cost effective, least restrictive and most timely plan to keep bicyclists, pedestrians and motor vehicles safe and allow all to enjoy the bike/multiuse path.
                                              
Sincerely,

Empsy Munden, Pres.

Cape Story by the Sea Civic Association

The following is a letter sent by Cape Henry Shores resident, David Williams, to City Councilman Harry Diezel asking for his help in reducing the speed limit on Shore Drive between Great Neck Rd and First Landing State Park from 45 MPH ot 35 MPH.

Click on this link to download the letter.  chs-ltr-to-councilman-diezel0409