What to do about cut-thru, speeding traffic?
Following the Thursday, Aug. 8, hit-and-run accident seriously injuring a 16-year old youth at the corner of Thornton and Hughlan drives in Farragut, parents and officials are studying solutions to minimize accidents in that community.
“Alderman Drew Burnette has been talking with two different parents out there,” Farragut Mayor Ron Williams said. “You hear all these rumors (about the hit-and-run). I don’t know anybody who can tell me what really happened.”
“I’ve talked to a few families out there that are very concerned about the speed (of motorists) and the cut-through traffic,” said Burnette, who represents the South Ward. “So, I’ve already put in a traffic application for one of the residents for that, really, looking at comprehensively the whole neighborhood.
“We’re looking at all the roads,” he added. “The resident did a really good job of putting a map out of the high-concern roads, medium-concern roads.”
Overall, “they are all a concern because they’re in the path of potentially a cross-through over to Kingston Pike,” Burnette said. “I’ve also spoken with another resident about having a community meeting for the entire homeowners association.
“They’ve reached out to the church, who said, ‘Hey, we’ll give you space to come and meet,’” he added. “So, we’re just waiting to have that fully coordinated … they’re excited to come, have a listening session, be heard, give good ideas and see what all the options are on the table to slow traffic (and) to reduce traffic going through that neighborhood and ultimately keeping those kids safe.”
“I’m curious about why (the teen) was sitting where she was sitting,” the mayor added.
One factor that may be at play is the school bus stops themselves.
“People don’t know where the stops are at,” Williams said, noting bus students usually sit or stand in their driveways.
However, some students are observed at the end of a road, such as Grigsby Chapel, or at a subdivision entrance.
“I’m curious as to where are all the bus stops?” the mayor asked.
“Angela Russell came up and talked to me … she started talking about putting benches out there (at the bus stops),” Williams added.
However, “there’s no way the Town of Farragut can afford to put benches.”
He suggested parents should make that suggestion to Knox County School Board superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk or Ryan Dillingham, Knox County Schools director of transportation.
Williams also noted at some bus stops, there are sidewalks where the students sit and wait.
“I know they change from time to time based on the volumes of kids,” Burnette said about their bus stops. “We’re definitely looking at that, along with the speeds on the roads that are by those bus stops.”
Regarding speeding in that area, Williams said the Town could put in more speed bumps, but “we can’t block off a street to prevent people driving on it.”
About motorists cutting through the neighborhood to get to Kingston Pike, Burnette said, “I’ve talked to Darryl (Smith, Town engineer) about it, and said, ‘Hey can we put No Cut-Through signs here?’ I think all those options are on the table, especially as we come and hear their HOA and the community talk about what they would like to see.
“I imagine those ideas will come up,” he added. “I’ve already talked to Darryl about them, and I think they’re possibilities. We just need to hear from Darryl and the team on what they used in the past and how they worked.
However, “I don’t want to make somebody feel better just by doing something out there that our professionals don’t see working,” Burnette said. “I want to make sure what we do, whether it’s speed limit signs that show your actual speed or more speed humps through the neighborhood or no cut-through signs — I just want to hear from them on how effective they see those short and long term.”
Having more Knox County Sheriff’s Office units patrolling more often in the mornings and afternoons also would help, Williams observed.
“We have tried and asked many, many times for a bigger police presence for our community,” Burnett said. “So far, we have not been able to get any more expanded police control.
“I would love to have police out there, monitoring speed, watching the cut-throughs, handing out traffic tickets for those who are speeding and out of control through the neighborhood,” he added.
“Unfortunately, we just don’t control” such patrols.
