TAC shifts traffic-calming focus toward enforcement, agrees to temporary Countess Lane measures and a one-month study

The Transportation Advisory Committee on May 19 debated whether to continue investing in physical traffic-calming devices or to reallocate those funds to targeted police enforcement, and directed staff to install two temporary traffic-calming ramps on Countess Lane while collecting traffic and speed data.

The discussion centered on Countess Lane, where Public Works Director Tyler Scroggins outlined an existing temporary redesign of Commonwealth Drive that ties into Countess and noted a planning condition for Alaina/Atlanta Park that calls for traffic calming. Scroggins said staff had a plan that originally showed seven or eight speed humps but proposed installing two temporary ramps now, weather permitting, then collecting data before returning to the TAC.

The debate highlighted competing priorities. Vice Mayor Trent Linville, who said he lives on Countess Lane, told the panel he favors some physical calming but left exact placement to engineering professionals. Resident Brian Bass, who identified himself as an HOA board member, recommended up to four devices near the pool and at the subdivision entrances to protect pedestrians and children. TAC member Greg Groninger and others cautioned that too many speed humps can hinder emergency vehicle access and urged careful siting.

Tac member Heather Waller, newly elected committee secretary, emphasized balancing citizen advocacy with transparency about what the city can legally and practically do. Scroggins agreed to work with the HOA and city staff to install two temporary ramps, coordinate with school-bus pickup locations, and gather traffic counts and driver-behavior data for presentation at the next TAC meeting.

The committee also discussed a proposed program-level change: dissolving or substantially restructuring the city's traffic-calming program and redirecting those dollars to create dedicated police traffic-enforcement staffing for neighborhoods. The idea, advanced by the chair and several TAC members, would have the police department field enforcement officers who could be allocated to high-need subdivisions; proponents said enforcement can change driver behavior more effectively than some hump designs.

Opponents and cautioners noted practical limits. Several TAC members, including Jacob Chally and Christie Smith, warned a small set of enforcement officers would be quickly assigned to the neighborhoods with the loudest complaints or strongest HOAs, leaving others without service. Members also discussed legal limits on municipal fines and stressed the need for measurable accountability if resources are reallocated to police.

Because of those concerns, the TAC did not take a final formal vote to dissolve the traffic-calming program. Instead, members asked staff to produce a draft enforcement-redirect plan for review at the following meeting, and authorized the temporary Countess installations and a one-month counting study in the interim.

The panel recorded safety worries raised in public comment: Tim Gilley, a long-time resident, described repeated crashes and property damage in the S-curve area of Wilkes Lane and requested speed reductions, stop signs, and officer presence. Staff said Wilkes is classified as a collector street (which limits some traffic-calming options) and recommended police speed trailers and focused enforcement as a first step.

Next steps: Public Works will install two temporary ramps on Countess Lane, run traffic counts and speed observations, and return findings and a recommended policy draft on redirecting traffic-calming funds toward enforcement at the next TAC meeting.