COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Cobb County is reexamining pleas to slow traffic through neighborhoods as a new policy lowers the threshold for qualifying.
The county's “traffic calming” policy also adds weapons to combat fast-moving drivers.
Bishop Lake Road in Marietta is one of the spots getting another look. Resident Brett Weatherston said it’s common to find drivers exceeding the posted 25-mile-an-hour speed limit.
“People have the feeling the road is wide open at night and they can step on the ‘go fast’ pedal and do whatever they want,” said Weatherston. “It poses a risk to the people who live here.”
The county’s old policy relied on speed humps and signs flashing a driver’s speed. Other options include adding curbs to narrow a roadway or creating lane shifts and center islands to create mini-roundabouts.
“In creating this new policy, what we wanted to do is create that additional flexibility and open up a full tool kit that gives us multiple options,” said Cobb DOT Commissioner Drew Raessler.
Lowering the threshold could help more neighborhoods qualify for help.
“More roads have become eligible, so we’re also looking through our backlog to determine which of those can qualify under this new policy,” said Raessler.
Brett Weatherston is glad his street is getting a second look.
“I do worry about my children,” said Weatherston.
Engineers will examine each area that qualifies and use the appropriate method they feel will address the problem. To see how to apply for traffic calming in Cobb County, click here.