Attack on Schrader Was LudicrousI read with amazement Mike...

My concern pertains to Trotter Road . . . Thinking back to the probable development of Trotter Road, its winding way suggests that it started as a "cow path" across some farm land. In later years, this "cow path" was used for access to other farms that were carved out of the territory. As years passed and automobiles became the method of transportation, the ruts were leveled and blacktop with stone was applied. The road still follows what must have been the path of least resistance; the path followed by the cows as they searched for food. In recent years, the road served as the only access to about 75 homes. It served adequately until recent years.

With the installation of three traffic lights on Route 108 in Clarksville, traffic flow through that area has been very poor. Travelers hate to wait and many have chosen to use Trotter Road as a through-road from Route 108 to Route 32 to avoid the stop-and-go movement through Clarksville.

Now Columbia has grown to the extent that it further threatens the Trotter Road residents. This started with 158 new homes in Pheasant Ridge, followed by 49 new homes in Pheasant Ridge Section Two. Now they are starting Pointers Run with development of 222 future homes and potential for several hundred more. In short, Trotter Road is expected to serve more than 400 more homes, an increase of more than 500 percent and VTC it's still the blacktopped cow-path.

Many of the original homes are served with only pipe-stems onto the road and because of the curves, hills and wooded land, many of these have "limited sight distance" access to the road. At the posted speed (30 mph), a car travels 44 feet per second. This means that some of the original residents are allowed very few seconds to enter the road and pick up speed. Several of the residents have trailers that they must pull out or in occasionally. This is one way to grow old fast. . . .

With the high volume of traffic, there is constant pressure for increased speed. Many times we realize that a car has caught up and is crowding our back bumper as we travel at the speed limit.

We need more than a few concerned residents to keep the speed under control. We need something to make the road unattractive for through traffic. We have asked for a rearrangement of the road at the entrance to Pheasant Ridge with a three-way stop and speed bumps prior to the stop signs on all approaching roads. Maybe we need several speed bumps at selected spots along the road. We would all prefer to see some mechanical method to make speeding unattractive. . . .

Norman E. Tyson

Clarksville