Speed bumps pass 5-0
Residents living along Sonja Drive and Admiral Road in Farragut View subdivision can expect to get their long-awaited asphalt speed bumps.
Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously to approve four speed bumps on Sonja Drive and three on Admiral during its meeting Thursday, Oct. 12.
“It’s been a long process,” Vice Mayor Louise Povlin said. “I’m glad it’s finally gotten to the point that everybody supports this. Sonja Drive and Admiral Road really to need relief.”
“I am pleased that we’re moving forward to install these (speed bumps),” said Sonja Drive resident Larry Johnson, who lives in the affected area. “Safety on Sonja Drive has been an issue for many years.
“I appreciate the change in the ordinance so that the people who are most affected get to vote and move forward,” he added. “I’d like to reach out to the people who didn’t want them that they appreciate the emphasis on having a safe street.
“It has been very apparent over the last year, the increase in traffic on the street … on our street, it’s so narrow, (10 miles over) is not a safe speed either.”
Farragut View residents have been pleading for traffic-calming measures since 2021, but neighboring residents who voted against the measures
in the past thwarted their efforts.
Now, residents along St. John’s Court are asking for their turn at traffic-calming measures.
“The speed cushion issue still exists on St. John Court, in front of the (St. John Neumann Catholic) School,” said Kim Frasch, a resident in that neighborhood. “Since the adjoining communities don’t need to vote on this anymore, is our next move to get the Board at Prestwick to simply vote to say yes?
“We do want the speed bumps in, so we can reduce the speeding in front of the school,” he added.
“You’re on the next (Farragut Municipal Planning Commission) agenda,” Povlin said. “The process they went through is on the agenda for Prestwick Place.”
FMPC is expected to address Prestwick Place and St. John’s Court’s issue during the next FMPC meeting, which starts at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 19.
On May 11, the Board updated the traffic calming policy so only residents directly affected by speeds can vote, and then June 12, Sonja Drive residents again petitioned for speed cushions.
“The 2022 speed study results indicated excessive speeding in the locations where traffic speed data was collected,” assistant Town engineer Eric Schindler said. “The speed limit on Sonja Drive is 25 mph.”
He said speeds were registered at 35.3 mph and 38.7 mph in the two locations of the speed studies.
A public meeting took place June 29 to gauge support for traffic-calming measures.
“Support from the residents in attendance was overwhelmingly positive,” Schindler said.
Subsequently, of the 52 ballots mailed, 37 votes were received.
Of those, 81 percent voted in favor of the measures.
Likewise, the Town received a petition for traffic-calming measures on Admiral Road.
“Speed studies were conducted in 2019 and 2022, and the speed study results indicated excessive speeding,” Schindler said.
He indicated the speed limit on Admiral Road is 25 mph while speeds from the studies were between 42.8 and 45.6 mph.
“If you look at the 85th percentile on this road — that’s 45 mph, 43 mph, 44 mph — that’s offensive. This (traffic-calming measure) is very much needed at this location,” Povlin said.
“I agree,” Mayor Ron Williams added.
A public meeting was held June 29, and in subsequent vote by residents, of the 20 ballots sent out, 18 were received with 14 voting in favor of the speed bumps.
Schindler said asphalt speed bumps would be placed at the following locations: 11016 Sonja Drive, 11134 Sonja Drive, 11214 Sonja Drive, 11306 Sonja Drive for a cost of $15,000.
On Admiral Road, speed bumps will be installed at 225 Admiral Road, 205 Admiral Road and 139 Admiral Road for a cost of $12,000.
