THE PROBLEM: Jim Boydston and his neighbors are tired of cars and buses speeding along Cowley Way in San Diego's Bay Park.
Boydston has a file documenting his neighbors' efforts dating back 14 years to slow down traffic on the 25-mph-speed-limit street south of Field Street. His latest push started early this year with e-mails to Councilwoman Donna Frye's office.
He's particularly concerned about traffic going to and from a magnet school a few blocks from his home. Boydston said he's seen cars speeding up to 65 mph and empty buses leaving the school at up to 45 mph.
Frye's office indicated to Boydston that city engineers would see what measures, if any, were necessary. But Boydston said he got no help.
“I felt like I got the brush off,” he said.
STATUS: Deborah Van Wanseele, San Diego's deputy director for transportation engineering operations, said a speed study is being conducted on Cowley Way between Field and July streets.
We were told this section of Cowley would not be a candidate for speed humps, because it borders on Tecolote Canyon, so the Fire Department would rule it out. Humps would likely divert traffic onto a parallel street, which would also work against it, we were told.
Several blocks down on Cowley, closer to Ute Drive, there are two speed humps, even though it also borders the canyon and runs parallel to another residential street. They were installed prior to 1996, when the city tightened its criteria for approving speed humps. The city receives about 100 requests for speed humps every year and approves between 10 and 15, Van Wanseele said.
For information on the city's criteria for installing stop signs and speed humps, go to justfixit.uniontrib.com and look for a section labeled “Please Slow Down.”
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE: Deborah Van Wanseele, who can be reached at (619) 533-3126 ordvanwanseele@sandiego.gov. Requests for help should go to (619) 533-3126 or sandiego.gov/engineering-cip/services/public/request.shtml.
NEED A PROBLEM SOLVED: Is there a problem government hasn't taken care of despite your complaints? Whether it's a missing bus bench or an unkempt park anywhere in San Diego County, Just Fix It might be able to help.
Complaint forms are at justfixit.uniontrib.com, or call (800) 820-8714 to describe your problem.
