Bob's Closed

We have just received word that the Circuit City slug site will be reopened either tomorrow morning or Friday morning.

Apparently, the site was closed for routine maintenance—resurfacing—and the contractor was not aware of the slug use. The high heat has slowed the asphalt cure time.

If I had to guess, I’d say that with today’s heat and humidity, Friday seems more likely.

Sludge the problem was drivers sure, trying to figure out what to do. With a big line of slugs standing on the side of Old Keene Mill, drivers were slowing (some were stopping) to pick up slugs. But instead of helping with the situation right at the point the cops were sitting 100 yards down the road ticketing drivers.

My point is the cops could have helped direct traffic, and manage the situation, instead they stood by as bystanders and tickted. Seems like a failure of operation to me.

This message about the Circuit City slug line is from Supervisor Dana Kauffman.

Folks,

I’ve heard you and here’s what we’re doing to help:

Short term, we are trying to get the lot re-opened to sluggers. The Circuit City site is private property and not subject to our direct control.

Long term, I have secured Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ approval to have our staff begin discussions with the owners for possible purchase of the lots to preserve them for use by sluggers and other commuters.

Also, late this year, construction will begin on another park and ride lot on Backlick (at its intersection with the Fairfax County Parkway.) This lot will also offer immediate access for the hot lanes and will provide additional opportunities for sluggers.

The slugging system works and I will do everything I can to keep your private initiative alive and well.

Dana Kauffman
Lee District Supervisor

It's not the drivers who were causing traffic this am at 7:55 am, it was the cops! I didn't stop, I slowed to make a right turn, saw the tape and then got flagged into the fish house lot to be screamed at very rudely by a policeman. There was not that much traffic on OKM this am.

They could have more effectively done their job by flagging people on at the Circuit City lot before anyone could "stop" instead of pulling them over after the "jammed" area and yelling rudely at them. I didn't need to know about the accidents I was(n't) causing and about jaywalkers. At that point, once I saw the tape and the sign (thank you to whoever wrote that sign) I had no desire to hang out in the right-hand lane of OKM and would have been very happy to move on without a lecture and having to show my license and registration. The police obviously knew by that time what was transpiring and could have more properly redirected drivers away from the Circuit City entrance.

It's not the cops' job to establish slug lines. It is their job to enforce the laws and help traffic flow smoothly.

Drivers stopping in the right hand lane of a major thoroughfare impeding traffic flow deserve "attention and help" from the cops because those drivers are violating a law and creating an adverse public safety situation.

Don't complain about the cops -- complain about the drivers who create the dangerous situation.

Now, just move the "Bob's" morning line across OKM to the Wachovia.