~.\TERMONT

State of Vermont AOT - Traffic Operations 1 National Life Drive Montpelier VT 05633-5001 WWW..aot.state.vt.us

Mr. Roland Simmons, Chair Orwell Select Board P.O. Box 32 Orwell, VT 05760

[phone1 Ifax] [ttd]

RE: Speed Limit Request, VT 22A, Orwell

Dear Mr. Simmons:

802-828-1055 802-828-2437 800-253-0191

Agency ojTransportation

July 19, 2012

This letter is in response to your April 9, 2012 letter requesting a speed reduction to 40 mph from the Cook Rd/Mutton Square Rd intersection (mp 2.65) northerly to the ball field (mp 3.6) with a further reduction to 35 mph within the immediate vicinity of the VT-73/SNR 73 intersection. Your letter also requests parking restrictions related to the gas station at the northwest comer of the intersection.

At its July 16,2012 meeting, the Vermont Traffic Committee voted to establish a 40 mph speed limit beginningO.25 miles south of the VT 22AICook RoadlMutton Square intersection and extending nOltherly to a point 0.37 miles north of the intersection ofVT 22A1VT 73, near the recreation fields.

Because AOT is working on access management for the gas station, the Vermont Traffic Committee voted not to establish a no parking zone at this time. The town's request for delineators along the shoulder opposite the gas station to discourage truck parking on that side of the road will be considered as well .

A copy of the official Certificate will be sent separately. Work orders will be issued in the near future and VTrans will then install the required signs. The speed limit will take effect upon completion ofthe work order.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at (802) 828-1055 if you have any questions or require additional information.

Sincerely,

{fj{'~ Traffic Operations Engineer

cc AOT District 3, DTA N. Blanchard Daryl Benoit, Addison County Transportation Planner, 14 Seminary Street, Middlebury, VT 05753

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~:vERMONT

State of Vermont AOT - Traffic Operations 1 National Life Drive Montpelier VT 05633-5001 www.aot.state.vt.us

Mr. Roland Simmons, Chair Orwell Select Board P.O. Box 32 Orwell, VT 05760

[phone] [fax]

[ttd]

RE: Speed Limit Request, VT 22A, Orwell

Dear Mr. Simmons:

802-828-1055 802-828-2437 800-253-0191

Agency ojTransportation

June 21,2012

This letter is in response to your April 9, 2012 letter requesting a speed reduction to 40 mph from the Cook RdlMutton Square Rd intersection (mp 2.65) northerly to the ball field (mp 3.6) with a further reduction to 35 mph within the immediate vicinity of the VT-73/SNR 73 intersection. Your letter also requests parking restrictions related to the gas station at the northwest corner of the intersection.

The Traffic Operations Unit has conducted an engineering study and found that the 85 th

percentile speed is 53 - 55 mph throughout the study area, which is posted at 50 mph. There were 15 reported crashes in the 5 years between 2007-2011,5 of which were at the VT 22A1VT 73 intersection. Five of the other crashes were late night single vehicle crashes. Three of the remaining crashes were rear end crashes at locations south of the VT 22A1VT 73 intersection. Previous mitigation strategies incorporating enhanced warning signage in this corridor have not been as effective as desired at the VT 22A1VT 73 intersection, although there has only been one reported crash in the segment south ofVT 22ANT 73 in the past three years (2009-2011). We recommend that a 45 mph speed limit be established from milepoint 2.40 +/- Gust south ofthe most southerly driveway in the built-up area near Cook Road/Mutton Square) and extending northerly to milepoint 3.45 +/- (near the southerly access to the ball fields).

District Transportation Administrator Nelson Blanchard is developing plans for access control at the gas station on the northwest corner of the VT 22A1VT 73 intersection. The trial phase of this mitigation will most likely consist of a painted island enhanced by upright flexible delineator posts, to create specific driveways into the gas station rather than the open frontage free-for-all that currently exists. This temporary solution will allow us to assess the design prior to installing a more permanent curbed island. A similar treatment has been installed in Addison at the intersection ofVT 22A1VT 17, for similar reasons. (See photo below) It is our opinion that creating a physical barrier will be more effective in reducing parking along this frontage than establishing a signed No Parking Zone. This may also help to mitigate conflicts between V,T 73 westbound traffic to the gas station and VT 22A southbound traffic by channeling the crossing traffic toward the town highway entrance to the gas station instead of crossing diagonally and slowing in the southbound lane to enter the gas station frontage.

T~

Addison VT 22AJVT 17

We will forward this recommendation to the Vermont Traffic Committee, who makes the final decision. This topic will be on the agenda of the next Traffic Committee meeting on Monday July 16, 2012 at 1:00 pm in the 5th Floor Transportation Board Room at the National Life Building in Montpelier. Please attend if you wish to present testimony on behalf of the town. If you or members of the public are unable to attend but would still like to participate, please let me know and we can arrange a telephone connection.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at (802) 828-1055 if you have any questions or require additional info rmation.

Sincerely,

t2;4/J< Amy L. Gamble, PE Traffic Operations Engineer

cc AOT District 3, DTA N. Blanchard Daryl Benoit. Addison County Transportation Planner, 14 Seminary Street, Middlebury, VT 05753

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~.vERMONT

State of Vermont AOT - Traffic Operations 1 National Life Drive Montpelier vr 05633-5001 www.aot.state.vt.us

Mr. Roland Simmons, Chair Orwell Select Board P.O. Box 32 Orwell, VT 05760

[phone] [fax) [ttd)

RE: Speed Limit Request, VT 22A, Orwell

Dear Mr. Simmons:

802-828-1055 802-828-2437 800-253-0191

Agency oj Transportation

May'J.,2J, 2012

This letter is in response to your April 9, 2012 letter requesting a speed reduction to 40 mph from the Cook RdiMutton Square Rd intersection northerly to the ball field with a further reduction to 35 mph within the immediate vicinity of the VT-73/SNR 73 intersection. Your letter also requests parking restrictions related to the gas station at the northwest comer of the intersection.

Since speed limits and No Parking zones are regulatory issues, the Traffic Operations Section will conduct a traffic engineering study as required by State law for the requested actions and will forward recommendations to the Vermont Traffic Committee, who makes the final decision. You will be notified of our recommendation 2-3 weeks prior to the Traffic Committee meeting where this issue will be discussed, in the event that you wish to attend and provide testimony.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at (802) 828-1055 if you have any questions or require additional information.

Sincerely,

t:?~fo Amy L. Gamble, PE Traffic Operations Engineer

cc AOT District 3, DTA N. Blanchard Daryl Benoit, Addison County Transportation Planner, 14 Seminary Street, Middlebury, VT 05753

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Office of the Select Board Paula J. Barnes Ron Huntley

Walker E. James Carla A. Ochs

Roland Simmons, Chair

Nelson Blanchard AOT District #3 122 State Place Rutland, Vermont 05701

Dear Nelson Blanchard:

TOWN OF ORWELL VERMONT

April 9, 2012

P.O. Box 32

Orwell, Vermont 05760

802-948-2221

As a follow-up to the Friday, March30, 2012, meeting at the 22A-73 intersection, the Town of Orwell would like to clearly put in writing requests for changes at this intersection and nearby areas.

There is a major safety issue with the speed of traffic north and south on this major truck route - Route 22A. The town would like to see an enforceable 40 mph speed limit, from the ball field north of the 73 intersection to past the Cook Road- Mutton Square intersection to the south. A saner 35 mph in the immediate 73-22A intersection area would enable more productive law enforcement control of this dangerous area.

Another safety issue is the haphazard parking and access around the gas station! convenience store-Orwell Gas-N-Go located at the north west comer of this intersection. A system to limit parking in areas that interfere with line-of-sight for traffic entering the 22A-73 intersection is very necessary.

Any assistance you can give to address these safety issues would be very much appreciated by the people that use this intersection regularly. I can be reached at 802-948-2274.

Sincerely,.t "

~~~ Roland "Ted" Simmons, Chair Orwell Select Baord

~YERMONT

State ofVennont Operations - District #1 359 Bowen Road Bennington, vr 05201 nelson.blanchard@state.vt.us

April 4, 2012

Gerry 1. Audet Theodore C. Michel Orwell, VT 05760

Dear Mr. Audet and Mr. Michel,

[phone] [fax]

[ttd]

802-447-2790 802-447-2793 800-253-019 1

Agency oJTransportation

RECEIVED FOR RECORD

APR 06 2012

OHVVELL TOWN CLERK

I am in receipt of a copy of the letter that you "'Tote to Deputy Secretary Sue :Minter dated March 19, 2012 in regard to the VT22ANT73 intersection, and will respond on her behalf

I will begin by saying that I had responded on August 19,2011 to a letter that Mr. Michel had written and explained that we were going to work with the Traffic and Safety section to explore alternatives to make this intersection safer. Unfortunately, on August 28, 2011, Tropical Stonn Irene hit us before we were able to do any preliminary work on the intersection.

On Friday, March 30,2012, my Project Manager Tom:Roberts and I ·metwlth members of the .0rwell .SelectBoard to look at. the intersection: We· discuSsed installing delineator posts on the northeast and southwest comers of the intersection to stop vehicles from parking in those locations.: We.also :discussed :painting an island between the gas pumps and VT22A with "No Parking" stenciled.in the middle and placing yellow flexible delineator posts around the perimeter of the island. These flexible delineators are actually lag bolted into the pavement, unlike the orange cones that the gas station had used in the past. Ted Simmons said the Select Board is going to send me another letter requesting a speed reduction and a legal "No Parking" zone on both sides of VT22A. Once I receive this request, I will forward it to the Traffic & Safety section for review.

My technical staff should be working on a survey of the area within the next few days so we can move forward with the installation of the painted island.

If you have any question, please do not hesitate to call me at (802)786-5826.

Sincerely,

N~e.~· .. ' , . '; "' , .. .. ,:" . '."'

Nels.oo'E .. Blanchard '. : . ,) ". . ! .,. ' ...

Distl'ict .TransportationAdmirtistratot

Cc: Richard Tetreault, BE;! Directot'ofProgram De·velbpnieiIt .. , .. , _ _ '-"-' ___ _ . Kevin Marshia, PE; Highway Safety and Design Program Manager ' ~

YTrans~~~~~T!!re

Office of the Select Board Paula J. Barnes Ron Huntley

Walker E. James Carla A. Dehs

Roland Simmons, Chair

Nelson Blanchard AOT District #3 122 State Place Rutland, Vermont 05701

TOWN OF ORWELL VERMONT

March 26, 2012

P .O . Box 32

Orwell, Vermont 05760

802-948-2221

Dear District Transportation Administrator:

Enclosed please find a copy of a letter to Sue Minter, formerly Deputy Secretary, AOT, and with copies sent to other local and regional officials.

At the 2012 Town Meeting in Orwell, a public discussion on safety issues at the Route 22A-73 intersection occurred. Some feelings were expressed that the Town of Orwell should take particular actions, even if we didn't have the expressed authority to do so.

The Orwell Select Board or a representative would first like to visit with your or your representative at the intersection to discuss issues and possible solutions.

If you would like to meet or set up a time for an appointment you can call me at 802-948-2274.

Enclosure - 1

CJmydocs/word/Jetterslnelsonblanchard20 12

Sincerely,

'"/"..uP . .!;.,~

Roland "Ted" Simmons Chair Orwell Select Board

Gerry J. Audet Theodore C. Michel Orwell, VT 05760 March 19, 2012

Sue Minter Deputy Secretary, AOT One National Life Drive Montpelier, VT 05633-5001

Dear Deputy Secretary Minter:

The Route 22A / Route 73 intersection in Orwell came up as a topic of extended discussion at the 2012 Orwell Town Meeting and, in review of the various comments, consensus was overwhelming. This intersection is a clear danger to motorists going in any direction. Some of us can personally attest to

the history of collisions as well. And some of us as residents have written previously to our Select Board, our legislative representatives, and various state transportation department offices. Furthermore, our Select Board has likewise brought this issue to State attention, but to no avail. In a remarkable show of

solidarity, we and our Select Board are in agreement but, it is your (state) road, all four corners and directions so absent of abrogation on your part, there is no

authoritative position for us as citizens or the legal entity of the Township to take enforceable action.

Therefore, we the undersigned, residents of Orwell, as citizens of the State of Vermont, implore you to address the unsafe conditions at this location, to wit:

speed of travel, road side parking, obstruction of travel lane observation by

double-parked vehicles in front of the gas pumps (at Orwell Gas and Go), passing through this intersection both on and off the thoroughfare by motorists and large trucks to avoid slowing for vehicles making legitimate tums ( from

Route 22A).

We are aware that this intersection has been recognized by the State as a

dangerous location. All too frequently our fire and rescue departments are called to respond to multiple vehicle collisions. It continues to be a ticking til11,e bomb for this community. Please contact our Select Board and let us all work together to find a resolution to this dangerous situation.

Gerry J. Audet 399 MT Independence Rd. (8020-948-2888

CC:

Theodore C. Michel 34 Church st. (802)-948-2117

Mr. Norman Blanchard, AOT Manager IV, District 3

Will Stevens, Representative Addison County Claire Ayer, Senator, Addison County Harold Giard, Senator, Addison County Roland T. "Ted" Simmons, Chair Orwell Select Board Walker James, Orwell Select Board Carla Ochs, Orwell Select Board

Paula J. Barnes, Orwell Select Board Ronald L. Huntley, Orwell Select Board

To: "'Claire'" <senatorayer@gmavt.net> CC: "'Will Stevens'" <wstevens@shorehame.net>,

"'Susan Ann'" <tckorwel@sover.net>, "'Harold Giard'" <hgiard@leg.state.vt.us>, "Tetreault, Richard"

Subject: RE: orwell intersection of 22A and 73

xmlns:nsO=''http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/ommI"> Hi Claire:

Page 1 of 1

I am currently serving as the state Irene Recovery Officer, which takes me pretty far away from my responsibilities with Vtrans. However, I am copying Kevin Marshia and Rich Tetreault of Vtrans, who should be able to respond to your inquiry. I regret that I have not seen the letter to which you refer, but suspect one of them has.

Thanks & be well! Sue

From: Claire [mailto:senatorayer@gmavt.net] Sent: Sunday, March 2S, 2012 4:39 PM To: Minter, Sue Cc: 'Will Stevens'; 'Susan Ann'; 'Harold Giard' Subject: orwell intersection of 22A and 73

Hi Sue-You've received a letter from the Selectboard of the Town of Orwell concerning the above. I understand from past interaction with AOT, that lights and signage are often added when there is an unusual number of accidents on a state road. The Selectboard has written that this is the case with the intersection.

Will you please tell me how the State will go about considering the issue in this case? Thanks

Claire

Senator Claire Ayer Chair, Senate Health and Welfare Committee Addison County and Brandon 1020 Tritown Road Add ison, VT 05491

cayer@leg.state.vt.us 800-322-5616 (Montpelier) 802-759-2748 (home)

file://C:\DOCUME-I \SUSANA- I \LOCALS- I \Temp\eud22.htm 3/26/2012

:aWELL * FIRST RESPONSE SQUAD PO Box 124, Orwell Vermont 05760

August 16, 2011

Orwell First Response Rescue Squad PO Box 124 Orwell, VT 05760

To Whom It May Concern:

In looking into the safety of the Route 22A corridor, especially as it proceeds through the Town of Orwell, I feel that focus should be placed on two areas that are particularly hazardous. These areas share certain characteristics that cannot be readily addressed on the local level - limited sight distances and excessive speed.

The first of these areas is at the southernmost end of Orwell, known locally as Lilly's Corner. The road in this section has a curve at the top of a rise, with the ground rising to the inside of the curve. This has the effect of limiting sight distance considerably. The inside of the curve (the east side) has a stone wall only a short distance from the travelled portion of the roadway, so vehicles that find themselves with another vehicle in their lane (if for example, a southbound vehicle crosses the median in an effort to make the curve) have no escape in that direction . To the west, the ground slopes off quickly so that vehicles leaving the road in that direction run the risk of rolling over.

The second area, however, sees the majority of our responses along route 22A. This section of Route 22A extends from approximately a quarter mile south of the intersections of Cook Road and Mutton Square Road with Route 22A, to approximately the same distance north of the intersection of Route 73 with Route 22A in the vicinity of Dundon's Plumbing and the town ball field. These two intersections are separated by approximately half a mile, for a total length of hazardous roadway of about one mile.

There are several factors that contribute to the danger of this section of roadway. Any of them might require attention but it's the combination of these hazards that should bring this to the fore of any investigation of this section of road.

•

•

•

There are several residences with driveways onto Route 22A as well as Cook Road and Mutton Square Road, which feed additional traffic onto Route 22A. These roads serve a significant population without easy alternate routes onto the highway so there are often vehicles entering Route 22A in this corridor. A curve in the roadway to the south greatly limits sight distance, both for vehicles entering Route 22A from the east and for vehicles traveling north on 22A. Between the two intersections mentioned above, the grade of Route 22A includes two significant dips in the road. In one of these dips it is possible to lose

•

•

•

sight of three tractor-trailer trucks. This has been verified during traffic control operations where a responder (myself) was stationed at the intersection of Routes 22A and 73. The roadway appeared completely clear, while the first of the tractor-trailers was in fact only a short distance away. Several of the driveways mentioned above enter onto Route 22A near the base of these dips. For traffic entering Route 22A from Cook Road, sight distances are further limited to the north by ledge on the west side of the road, making it difficult to see if vehicles are either in or entering the above dips; sight lines are not much more than 100' to the north. One of our most serious incidents involved a tractor-trailer leaving Cook Road and a vehicle traveling south on Route 22A. Neither vehicle could see the other until it was too late and life-threatening injuries resulted. For vehicles entering Route 22A from the west on Route 73, the dips limit sight distance to the south and vehicles parked at the gas station on the northwest corner can limit sight distance to the north. This results in vehicles extending out into Route 22A in an effort to get a clear sight picture. Finally, the speed limit on this section of roadway is SOmph, and not all vehicles obey that limit. The high speed and limited sight distances result in portions of the road where reaction times are exceptionally short, with no warning of the potential hazard for drivers unfamiliar with the route.

The easiest action to reduce these hazards would be to reduce the speed limit along Route 22A through this area. This approach has been used north of Orwell in the towns of Shoreham, Bridport, Addison, Panton and Vergennes. It's beyond my expertise to propose a solution to the grading and sightline issues in this area, but hopefully that hazard will also be addressed as a part of any investigation into the safety of Route 22A.

Sincerely, __ _

~~h'rt~y~~~~~~-President, Orwell First e Rescue Squad

~VERMONT State of Vermont Operations - District ·#3 122 State Place Rutland, VI' 05701 nelson.blanchard@_te.vt.us

August 19,2011

Theodore C. Michel 34 Church Street Orwell, VT 07560

Dear Mr. Michel:

[phone] 802-786-5826 [f>x] 802-78f>-5894 [ttd] 800-253-0191

Agency a/Transportation

RECEIVED FOR RECORD

AUG 22 2011

ORWELL TOWN CLERK

I received your letter dated August 11, 2011 with an attached copy of the letter to Select Board Chair Roland Simmons. Thank you for expressing you concerns pertaining to this intersection.

I have been in communication with our Traffic & Safety section in Montpelier in regard to this intersection and had forwarded them a letter from the town last February expressing their concerns. My engineering staff is currently working with Traffic & Safety in an attempt to come up with a solution that will help the situation. I have asked them to look not only at the area directly in front of Orwell Gas and Go, but also at the area on the opposite side ofVT22A across from the gas station.

Again, I want to thank you for passing you concerns on to both the Town and me. If you have more questions, please do not .hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Nelson E. Blanchard District Transportation Administrator

cc: Sue Minter, Deputy Secretary of Transportation Will Stevens, Vermont House of Representatives Roland T. Simmons, Chairman, Orwell Select Board

rans

Theodore C. Michel 34 Church St Orwell, VT 07560 August 11, 2011

Mr. Nelson Blanchard AOT Manager IV District Transportation Administrator 122 State Place Rutland, Vermont 05701

Dear Mr. Blanchard:

RECEIVED FOR RECORD

AUG 16 2011

ORWELL TOWN CLERK

Attached is a letter which I sent to Mr. Roland T. "Ted" Simmons, Chair of the Orwell Select Board. It details my observations and concerns regarding the traffic flow in and around the intersection of Routes 22A and 73 just west of Orwell Village. As the letter alludes, i attended the previous select board meeting where I addressed these issues and agreed to put them in writing.

I have also contacted Mr. Will Stevens, our local legislative representative. He in turn gave me your name and suggested I send my concerns to you. That is the long and short of how I came to write this letter to you.

As my letter describes, this intersection is a dangerous place to pass through or at which to change directions. lbis comer is busy with through traffic, cross traffic, traffic entering and exiting Orwell Gas and Go (Gas and convenience) from 22A and Rt 73, and traffic changing from 73 or 22A to the other crossing route. Statistically, this intersection may not be highlighted in accident statistics due to the generality of the historical records but, this intersection has claimed a number of lives, vehicles, even school buses.

As an added factor, one that can be applied to probably all significant traffic corridors is driver attitude. Over time, it seems that more people operating vehicles of all sorts, small cars through tractor trailer trucks, are in a vicious hurry, demonstrate a lack common courtesy, and display a blatant disregard for the "rules of the road". What borders on road rage adds another dimension. Route 22A would make a good study on that topic alone.

I understand that current studies have looked at 22A from Fair Haven through Orwell; that it is being looked at is fine. Something needs to be done before we are energized by a catastrophic accident

Sincerely,

Theodore C. Michel

cc: Sue Minter, Deputy Secretary of Transportation Will Stevens, Vermont House of Representatives Roland T. Simmons, Chairman, Orwell Select Board

Office ofthe Select Board Paula J. Barnes Walker E. James Carla A. Ochs

Roland Simmons, Chair Miles Tudhope

TOWN OF ORWELL VERMONT

ME ORAND UM

DATE: February 15, 2011

TO: Nelson Blanchard AOT District #3

P .O. Box 32 Orwell, Vennont 05760

802-948-2221

FROM: Orwell Select Board Jf~ ~ S fl C.,14'i('

SUBJECT: In Orwell, Hazardous Conditions at Route 73IRoute 22A Intersection

The Orwell Select Board, at their regularly scheduled meeting on February 14, 2011, had a discussion with concerned citizens about the Route 22AlRoute 73 intersection.

This past year'an increased number of complaints about traffic flow conditions at this intersection were noted. The line of sight issue for traffic headed east on Route 73, at the intersection, is severely impacted by parking issues along 22A to the north at the gas station located there.

A method of preventing parking in the Route 22A right of way near the Route 73 intersection is needed. The speed oftraffic on Route 22A at this intersection by large trucks mixed with passenger vehicles and a noted lack of State Police presence near this area contribute to the hazards at this intersection.

The traffic increase to and from the Mount Independence State Historic site, over the last several years, has introduced people to the mix who are not familiar with these hazards.

Painting the asphalt along this section to indicate "parking is not allowed" may help but physical structures would probably be more effective.

Office of the Select Board Paula J. Barnes Walker E. James Carla A. Ochs

Roland Simmons, Chair Miles Tudhope

TOWN OF ORWELL VERMONT

MEORANDUM

DATE: August23,2011

TO: Nelson Blanchard AOT District #3

FROM: Orwell Select Board

P.O. Box 32 Orwell, Vennont 05760

802-948-2221

SUBJECT: In Orwell, Hazardous Conditions at Route 73IRoute 22A Intersection

Recent communications from Mr. Theodore Michel of Orwell that the Orwell Select Board

has received and copy of his letter of August 11, 20 11 , that he posted to you, has encouraged

the Board to again ask for information and assistance concerning this dangerous intersection.

Some of our questions would be:

I. What can the local municipality do, in the State of Vermont right of way, to address parking, speed and safety issues?

2. What further documentation would be needed from local government to encourage a productive response?

3. Are there any response, plans or actions in the pipeline for this area of the Route 22A corridor that you are aware of?

Thank you for your patience and consideration.

Roland "Ted" Simmons, Chair Orwell Select Board

to ItJG, ,)'3 ,:JDII ':2 c Ali' f-I cc~ Dffl/-r liT , .5.

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Theodore C. Michel Orwell, Vermont 05760 July 29, 2001

Mr. Roland T. Ted Simmons Chairman, Orwell Select Board Orwell, Vermont 05760

Dear Ted :

As I agreed at the Select Board Meeting ofJuly 25, I am putting my observation and concerns in writing with regard to the traffic in and around the intersection of Routes 73 and 22A in Orwell .

We all know about this intersection. Not many months go by without the Fire Department or the Rescue Squad responding to some accident in the vicinity of this location. That this is a dangerous intersection should not be an issue to quibble over - neither here in Orwell nor at the appropriate offices in Montpelier.

What makes this intersection dangerous? I guess I would have to put speed first. It's no secret, travel speeds on Route 22A far exceed that of the turtle and the gazelle both on the open sections and within the more congested / built-up / intersected areas . As a freight route between everywhere and Burlington, it is known as the trucker' s route of choice between it and Route 7. It seems it has become the fast lane for vacationers heading to the northern parts of the state or home again. Our particular section is hardly blessed with good visibility. The double dip to the south provides two opportunities for northbound motorists to be temporarily lost to those crossing east and west on 73 . The State highway signs and the dip to the north provide somewhat the same potentiaL Add to that, a busy commercial site at Orwell Gas & Go, drawing customers from all four directions of these crossing roads, the potential for collisions dramatically increases. Granted this site has been essentially the same for many years, a gas station at the four comers, but, the traffic today is a far cry from that of even 20 years ago. The last element is driver attitude and aggression: being unwilling to yield the right of way, in a awful hurry, the me-me-me syndrome, and ignorance of or blatant disregard for the rules of the road. Lack of law enforcement does not help.

Enough of that. On the 16th of July, I was returning to Orwell via Route 73 East, and came to this intersection. Cars were at both sides of the gas pumps at Orwell Gas and Go and there were four vehicles lined up on the pavement between the outside pump lane and the travel lane of22A southbound. I had my truck with a canoe on the roof and because of the four aforementioned cars parked between the pump lane and the travel lane, I could not see the southbound traffic on 22A except by pulling out into that lane. After sticking my nose out several times, the opportunity came to cross 22A In visiting Orwell Gas and Go on Monday morning I teamed that the folks in the four vehicles were getting "munchies" for the trip home. The driver in the lead vehicle sat there smoking with a most disinterested expression.

For the inexperienced driver or perhaps the inattentive driver, this situation alone could be fatal but the issue does not end here. I have departed and returned to Orwell many times via this intersection and had some scary moments. I have had tractor trailers (as well as other trucks and passenger cars of all stripes including some with "green plates") pass me (while standing in the southbound lane of22A waiting for northbound traffic to clear in order to enter 73E and Orwell Village) on the right, using the space between the gas pumps and the traveled lanes even with people pumping gas. If you look at the physical layout of the intersection, it is impossible to do this without using the very ends of the 73E travel lanes to the west of 22A

For northbound 22A traffic, it is not unusual for someone not needing gas to stop for "munchies" etc. , and park on the right hand side of22A, just off or partially on the pavement and to the North of73A. This situation again blocks visibility of the southbound traffic to anyone attempting to cross on 73 or tum South onto 22A.

These situations represent a hazard to all travelers at this intersection and to patrons pumping gas (into open tanks) . We all can site serious accidents at this intersection and the potential is significant that sooner or later some inexperienced or inattentive driver or passenger or cyclist will be a victim. It could become a raging inferno. As much as it should not matter whether the victim is local or just passing thm, it might be one of our kids or seniors or their passengers or a young mother with a car full of kids that wakes us up.

I recognize that this is not a town road and the town technically does not have authority, but the town fathers can address this relentlessly to the State until the State addresses the parking issues, the passing issues and the speed at this intersection.

Sincerely,