[RP TownTalk] Fwd: US 1 (Baltimore Avenue) at MD 410 (East-West Highway)

[Dwight Holmes]

As always, I got a good, detailed response from the State Highway
Administration re my questions about the US1-MD410 intersection. I'm
somewhat persuaded by their answer on making the eastbound right turn lane
on 410 (I'd asked that they make it straight/right rather than right turn
only, allowing traffic to proceed from there and then turn right on Beale
Circle).  But I find the answer re the emergency vehicle cut in the median
on 410 at Beale Circle to be lame and irresponsible.  It's still an
accident waiting to happen - find a solution.  Signs could be put in the
median that are tall and narrow - or that are placed parallel to 410 and
therefore not protruding at all into the right-of-way. At the very least
those signs should say NO LEFT TURN to traffic coming from Beale Circle
onto 410.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: SHA D3TrafficTeam <SHAD3TrafficTeam at sha.state.md.us>
Date: Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Subject: US 1 (Baltimore Avenue) at MD 410 (East-West Highway)
To: "dwightrholmes at gmail.com" <dwightrholmes at gmail.com>


Dear Mr. Holmes:****

** **

This is in further response to your safety concerns at the subject
intersection in Prince George’s County. The State Highway Administration’s
(SHA) District Three traffic office has completed its review, and is
writing to provide you with the results.****

** **

The SHA follows the nationally-accepted *Manual on Uniform Traffic
Devices *(MUTCD)
as a guideline to when and where traffic control devices should be placed.
These guidelines are set by the Federal Highway Administration. As a
highway operations agency, the SHA assumes an obligation to follow these
guidelines. In conformance with these set guidelines, it is required that a
right turning lane be dedicated to accommodate the high volume of right
turning vehicles along eastbound MD 410. Additionally, the third lane along
eastbound MD 410 built by a developer on the east side of the intersection
was intended to provide a separate lane for turning into and out of Wells
Fargo Bank. Also, this lane is not long enough to accommodate the through
traffic and may encourage unsafe maneuvers due to the short merging
distance. As a result, we do not recommend signing and marking a third
through lane on eastbound MD 410 at US 1 at this time.****

** **

In response to your concerns about the depressed median along MD 410 at
East Beale Circle, we have determined that this median depression was put
in place for emergency vehicle access. As a result, we cannot block access
to the opening by installing guardrail. We also looked into signing that
would alert motorists that this opening is for emergency vehicles only.
However, the narrow median doesn’t allow adequate clearance space to
install signs. Signs installed in a narrow median often get hit by passing
vehicles. As a result, we cannot comply with your request at this time. ****

** **

Thank you again for your sharing your concerns. If you have any additional
questions, please feel free to contact my Team Leader, Shaneka Owens, at
301-513-7424 or 1-800-749-0737. Ms. Owens will be pleased to assist you.****

** **

Thanks,****

** **

Venu Nemani****

Assistant District Engineer-Traffic (Prince George’s County) ****

** **

** **



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