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swichowski
Average Member
68 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Mar 2004 : 07:34:18
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| Why did the Prince William police decide to tell cars not to stop at Horner Road and would not let them pick up slugs. Cars were driving all over the lot looking for people. They want to mess up a system that has been in place for years. We need to act on this! |
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map077
New Member
19 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2004 : 08:43:29
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| I spoke with the officer at Horner Road this morning, Friday, March 12th. He was given an order to come to the commuter lot this morning and redirect the cars because he was told the cars entering to pick up people overflowed onto Telegraph and were causing a dangerous situation. I told him to just look at what was happening at that moment - it was chaos! The cars were still spilling over onto Telegraph plus there was major confusion for everyone with people walking all over the place looking for a car to pick them up. I agree, we need to do something about this and it needs to be done now. The officer said the commuter lot is State property so we need to contact our state officials for our area. Bottom line - the bus service in Pr Wm County CANNOT accommodate the number of commuters in our area even if we all wanted to ride! Slugging is the only viable solution and it needs to be kept in place without interference! |
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glacier
Senior Member Member
195 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2004 : 09:19:23
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What time did this happen? I was at the lot around 7:15am and no problems.
Cheers,
Glacier |
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swichowski
Average Member
68 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2004 : 09:57:05
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| This was at the DC lines at 6:50 |
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Mrs.KLB
Average Member
51 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2004 : 13:21:51
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Yes I was there this morning that was crazy, I ended up going around the parking lot and U-turning and went to Potomac to pickup,It look like another line of cars had formed and there was no end that was in itself a very dangerous situation,there were a few cars that almost had a fender bender. The problem for the last week with traffic over flow onto Telegraph was the line being turned around, the person's that think turning the line around does not think about the fact that when you turn the line around that causes a back up of cars waiting to pick up, only one car at a time can pull up to pickup, with the line in the regular direction at least 4 cars can pullup,pickup and move out. And with gas prices rising by the second I really do not appreciate sitting there longer then normal burning gas like it's FREE!
Mrs. B |
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ronsray
Junior Member
25 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2004 : 16:24:06
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Please look at the topic  Fix Horner Road Lines This would go a long way towards fixing this.
Ron |
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slugdriver
Starting Member
4 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2004 : 18:19:01
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This morning's crackdown on slugline traffic was non-effective (cars still were queing on Telegraph Rd, the stated reason form police intervention) and as said caused mass confusion! Some one should find out who we should call about this to complain: police, VDOT, our PW delegates or who. Then we can start a phone or e-mail campaign!
The root of the problem is the volume and time it takes to pick up DC destined sluggers...I'm all for splitting 14th and 18th/Navy etc but the suggestion on the forum (4 lanes in from Telegraph in the AM, lines on both sides)...it ain't gonna happen.
Would something else work....what about queing inside the lots (parallel to the street and the "existing" slugline, just on the lot side of the sidewalk), exiting out of the lots to the right, back onto the main road after picking up slugs? Since there are several entrances to lots, maybe the line could be split. Of course, no sluggers could park along the sidewalks and the lots would be more congested until they fill up.
Any other "workable" ideas not requiring official intervention? Who decides anyway?  |
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Bob
Moderator
766 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2004 : 18:41:54
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I am not a Horner slug, but I will add this: You need an adequate amount of room for cars to back up while waiting. The amt of room must be adequate to accommodate the worst situation. Obviously, there is not enough room for cars to line up here without interfering with Telegraph. It appears the location of the line should be moved if this becomes a regular occurrence.
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Admin
Forum Admin
993 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2004 : 07:15:19
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We need to work together on resolving this for the benefit of everybody. A similiar situation happened in Crystal City a few years back, but working with the authorities, we reached a compromise. Prince William police have "allowed" slugging to occur without intervention but when it become a real safety issue they are obligated to step in.
Let's, as slugs, come up with two or three ways to solve this and I'll try to arrange a meeting with PWC police so we can get this fixed! If they come up with solutions for us, we may not be happy. So, let's develop our our suggestions to propose to them. |
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Admin
Forum Admin
993 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2004 : 11:06:47
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I just finished speaking with the PWC police department regarding the Horner Road issue. Since the Traffic Management offices are closed on weekends I could not speak to representative. Traffic Management is the office to help resolve this issue.
I did discuss the problem with the office on charge today. Since there is a shift change early Monday morning, and he does not know who will be working that area, his recommendation was to speak to the officers on duty Monday. I will try to coordinate some relief or assistance from the department (as opposed to issuing citation).
IF YOU HAVE IDEAS OR RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW YOU WOULD WANT TO SOLVE THE TRAFFICE PROBLEMS, I NEED YOUR IDEAS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
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map077
New Member
19 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2004 : 21:51:24
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I am encouraged that we are getting responses and attention to the now critical situation at Horner Road. I appreciate the fact that PW County Police have "allowed" slugging but I think the police, the officials, VDOT and whomever else must recognize that if we don't have slugging it will cripple our (those of us who work in DC) ability to get to work! Everyday I look over at the regular lanes and thank God I don't have to be there. In addition, my agency has NO parking and I am a single female on a very limited budget who frankly, can't afford to drive even if it was an option. If I am suddenly forced to either drive and pay for parking or take the bus everyday I'd never make it financially. In addition, the number of buses currently available would NEVER accommodate the number of people who would need to use the system if there was no slugging.
All this being said, my point is, PW County has NO CHOICE but to "ALLOW" slugging! Don't get me wrong, I understand the need for safety and for protecting everyone using Horner Road. But Friday morning is a blatant example of how good intentions can turn a bad situation into something much, much worse! I think what we need is someone in the Traffic Control area to take a REALISTIC and SYMPATHETIC look at what is happening with slugging and quickly come to some conclusion. I am all for discussing as well as trying different ways until we find a viable solution. I don't think we should be forced to accept just any solution. We should be open-minded and willing to cooperate with the powers that be as long as they support our situation. However, if we get resistance to slugging I truly feel we need to band together and make as much "noise" by bringing the media and whomever else in to make a case for continuing slugging. |
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ronsray
Junior Member
25 Posts |
Posted - 15 Mar 2004 : 14:34:12
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 This was posted under another topic, but it works here too--- I'm sure you all have noticed that the AM lines at Horner Road have become a mess. There a a few reasons for this. 1. The line of cars is trying to pick up riders for 14th & 18th Sts at the same location. 2. They cannot match driver with rider fast enough. 3. The line backs up onto telegraph road, causing a dangerous mess. I wrote a letter to VDOT about this, suggesting that they post signs to split the lines so there are separate lines for 14th & 18 sts. The 18th st line could also accomodate L'Enfast & Navy Yard, since most riders go to 14th. They responded that there is not much support for that concept from the rest of the slugging community, as they monitor this web site & have not seen it mentioned here. Well, here it is-------- Make all 4 lanes 1 direction inbound from telegraph rd in the morning. Then we can split the lines with 14th on 1 side & 18th on the other. There would be 2 lanes on both sides so the traffic could still get by. Cars exiting the lot would still be able to exit from the older exit onto Pr. Wm. Pkwy. Any other suggestions? Please post a reply if you think this is a good idea! I think it could make our wait much shorter & eliminate the backup onto telegraph rd. Come on VDOT !!
Ron
Ron |
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rupshur
New Member
6 Posts |
Posted - 15 Mar 2004 : 17:00:13
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Morning slug line vehicle traffic flow through Horner Road Commuter lot (West End for DC commuters) needs to be modified to provide for:
1) A more efficient pick-up process.
2) Safer conditions for pedestrians as well and drivers.
3) Stop the practice of vehicular traffic being parked in active lanes of traffic for the parking lot roadway as well as Telegraph Road.
4) Stop slug line interference with the buses and their bus stop.
To accomplish the above, the current AM slug line (West End for DC commuters) needs to be moved and divided into two separate lines.
1) 18th Street and State Dept bound slug line needs to start at the east entrance of the north parking lot.
#61623; The vehicles waiting line is to extend from this entrance around to the outer parking lot lane in the north-westward direction.
#61623; This puts all commuters headed to DC via the Memorial Bridge in the same line.
2) 14th Street, L’Enfant Plaza, and Navy Yard bound slug line needs to start at the east entrance of the south parking lot.
#61623; The vehicles waiting line is to extend from this entrance around to the outer parking lot lane in the south-westward direction.
#61623; This puts all commuters headed to DC via the 14th Street Bridge in the same line.
Other advantages of this arrangement are:
#61623; The vehicle waiting lines will not interfere with those wishing to park in the outer rows because these parking slots will be the first to be filled each morning because they will be near the beginning of the slug lines.
#61623; With the vehicle waiting lines off the street, this should end the practice of vehicular traffic parked in active lanes of traffic for the parking lot roadway as well as Telegraph Road.
#61623; Additionally, there should be no more interference with the buses and their bus lanes.
#61623; Drivers wishing to get in these vehicles lines would enter the respective parking lots at the entrances just to the west of the bus stops and follow the outer parking lot lane until they get in the appropriate waiting line.
ALTERNATIVE: Same as above, however switch the starting points of vehicle waiting lines to the parking lot entrances just to the west of the bus stops.
#61623; Drivers wishing to get in these vehicles lines would enter the respective parking lots at the east entrances and follow the outer parking lot lane until they get in the appropriate waiting line.
#61623; This alternative would put the slug pickup point at more centralized locations.
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18thstreetcommuter
New Member
8 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2004 : 12:58:47
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Excellent suggestion RUPSHUR ! I second your suggestion! Let's give it a try and see how it works.
I'm a visual learner and not clear on where the lines would then be formed.
So, if I'm turning right into the parking lot from Telegraph, does the 18th Street line form in the parking area at the first immediate right? And do the cars picking up people line up perpendicular to the parked cars in that parking lot (similar to how it is for the Pen/Ross/CC lines)?
And then does the 14th Street line form at the second right (very close to where the entire line is now)? |
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Admin
Forum Admin
993 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2004 : 06:14:56
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Rupshur,
If I understand correctly, your suggestions sound like a great solution. I am suppose to speak with the Eastern District PWC Police Commander today and I will present the split to him.
My intent in meeting with the Police Department is to gain their support and assistance in whatever the slugs come up with. They're reasonable - they want to make this easier/better too. |
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ronsray
Junior Member
25 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2004 : 08:11:33
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Admin, Please also discuss the possibility of making all 4 lanes from Telegraph Rd. inbound to the lot in the morning. That would allow us to have 2 separate lines in the morning, both along the main roads, not in the parking areas, and with 2 lanes on each side there would be plently of room for cars/buses to get by.
Ron |
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Topic |
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Prince William police breaking up Slugline
