Requiescat in Pace

Heading out of Toledo late yesterday afternoon on a rare trip to Siletz I came upon the horrific scene that was the terrible wreck that took the life of Tamara Wagner.

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Since I moved to Toledo some 15 years of so ago our population has grown by about 800-900 people.

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Recently one of the mayoral candidates said that Toledo needs a plan for growth to sustain a population of around 7000. That to continue to provide the services we have now, we will need that number to have a tax base that will sustain the expenses we have and will have.

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We are just under 4000 population or so now and traffic is terrible and so dangerous. If we add another 3000 people, how will we ever get out onto Hwy 20 heading west to Newport? How will people get across Hwy 20 heading north on Hwy 229?

We need to stop thinking of growth that can only make the Hwy 20/Bus.Hwy 20/Hwy 229 intersections worse until we solve this problem.

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We cannot simply cross ourselves, that is, make the sign of the cross and say, "Requiescat in Pace." and continue as we have been "on a wing and a prayer" for our safety and that of the tourists and visitors unfamiliar perhaps with these dangerous crossings.

We have only three choices as I have seen in my years as a 48 states over the road truck driver all over this country to deal with such a dangerous intersection:

1. Control these intersections by the use of traffic lights.

2. Lower the present 45 mph speed limit to 25-30 mph. Use lots of flashing lights all along the 1/2 mile danger zone from west of the entrance to Dahl Disposal to east some 1/2 mile of the intersection of Hwy 20/Hwy 229. Strictly enforce the lower speed limit.

3. If need be, cut rumble strips across this dangerous section of highway to force vehicles to slow down without having to commit traffic safety officers to constantly being there.

Perhaps ODOT highway engineers know a better way? We can no longer act like or pretend we do not know more tragic deaths will occur sooner or later in this danger zone most of us must use daily.

Isn't it finally time to do something? Can't we try at least to use this horrible accident and the death of a woman in the prime of her life as a catalyst to doing what we have known for a long time would have to be done?

Let's just do something!

Requiscat in Pace, Tamara Wagner.