[Vision2020] With gas at $2.50 a gallon it is time to cut Crosswalk numbers

[Darrell Keim]

At 02:50 PM 4/11/2005, you wrote:
>Message: 1
>Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 13:23:57 -0700
>From: "Dick Schmidt" <dickschmidt at moscow.com>
>Subject: [Vision2020] With gas at $2.50 a gallon it is time to cut
>       Crosswalk     numbers
Dick,
         An excellent idea!

         I think we should take it to the next level. People, the time has 
come to do away with all stoplights and stop signs. Think what we could do 
with the gas and time saved.

         In fact, lets make it illegal to stop a car. We'll just have them 
constantly running. This will save us from cold starts-a highly inefficient 
time. We will also save because of the vehicles momentum as it keeps moving.

         How to get in? Easy-run and jump!

         Get out? Jump!

         Much like we did a few years back with the topless car washes, 
Moscow could gain nationwide attention for this insightful and original 
thinking.


>All,
>
>I have noticed the huge amount of pedestrian crosswalks in the city. With 
>gas prices at $2.50 a gallon it is time to cut the number of crosswalks, 
>where traffic must stop solely for a pedestrian, by at least half and you 
>probably could cut 2/3 and still have adequate crosswalks. Every time you 
>cause a 4,000 vehicle to stop it wastes gas and pollutes the air. Think of 
>all the trucks that have to stop at the same crossings.
>
>I particularly noticed on 3rd street between Hayes St. and Line St. there 
>are 15 crosswalks not including the 3 stoplights between them. In the main 
>part of town there are 4 crosswalks on Jackson and 9 on Washington St. in 
>addition to 2 stop lights on both streets.
>
>There will be some who whine that we need to have them for our college 
>students but these college students aren't paying my gas bills. This 
>situation just adds more unnecessary costs to the cost of living in Moscow 
>which is already very high. They can learn to cross where there is a light 
>to get to the downtown area.
>
>I hope you will look into this situation and right after school lets out 
>next month would be an excellent time to implement this.
>
>Dick Schmidt