I much appreciate the Timberjay’s August 21 in-depth article and accompanying editorial regarding the recently installed rumble stripes on 80-plus miles of roads in northern St. Louis County.
The county’s acting traffic engineer Mr. Vic Lund quoted throughout the article exhibited a breathtaking arrogance and complete lack of concern for the residents’ very real concerns arising from the county’s actions. To patronizingly tell the people (i.e. voters and taxpayers) what they hear is not really offensive but only their perception...WOW! He goes on to further say, “But the claim that this noise is worse then other traffic sounds is proven false. I’ve got the data to prove it.” So says the omnipotent Mr. Lund...WOW again. However, I believe if Mr. Lund spent a day with the Skogmans at their home along County Rd. 77 he just might deign to change this position, his treasured data not withstanding.
Lund talks about the safety factor of the rumble stripe program and evidently draws his defense of the program from statistics compiled from rumble stripe studies done on urban roads and freeways as opposed to the less traveled roads where the stripes have been carved in our neighborhoods. Needless to say, not an “apple to apple” comparison. One gets the feeling Mr. Lund, from his lofty position, is preoccupied with protecting us from ourselves regardless of our very real concerns.
A final observation on the visibility enhancement of the fog lines, Mr. Lund should get out from behind his desk and travel some of the county’s other highways and he will find in many instances the hallowed fog line is all but obliterated from years of deferred maintenance. Perhaps if he carried a paint brush with him he could start really making a difference in safety by putting a down a new coat of paint.
If Mr. Lund was acting on direct orders from the county commissioners, perhaps the commissioners could take note of what their counterparts in Itasca County did when the citizenry in the Grand Rapids area were equally outraged with a rumble stripe program. They had the courage to admit it was a mistake and filled-in the stripes where they were most offensive. I hope our elected officials will listen to the people’s concerns and do the right thing by restoring the quiet enjoyment of our homes, neighborhoods and the intrinsic value of our real estate investments.
Tom Aro
Lake Vermilion, Minn.
Bravo Mr. Aro! I spoke to the Itasca County engineer about their hwy 63 that was paved over because of complaints. He said that numerous complaints and a petition with 50 signatures were presented to the County Board and the decision was then made to re-pave the gouges. I also hope we can get St. Louis County to do the same. Conversations with Victor Lund are like talking to a broken record. There is no common sense to be found. The proposal they presented to obtain the Fed Gov grant said they would use the money to do the stripEs (rumble strip under fog line), and therefore, that is what they had to do. They could have proposed a rumble strip OFF the fog line, and I would imagine the Fed Gov would have said OK. These stripEs are here because of the ignorance of the writer of the proposal. Had he/she shared any info with other counties in the state, he/she would have found out that not only Itasca County, but other counties in the state have had to spend additional tax-payers' funds to re-pave the gouges. Mr. Lund may be book-smart, but common sense he has little to none. Let us commence with a petition! One was already started in Embarrass. Lets see how many we can get and then present it at a County Board meeting. The next meeting in Virginia is on October 26th at the Virginia City Council Chambers. I only hope they have enough room for all of us!
Great post Tom! Mr. Lund is arrogant and simply wrong regarding what we perceive! I live 1 1/2 miles off of 77 and can hear the obnoxious stripEs across the lake!