[RP TownTalk] Closing of the UMD parking lot-clarification?

Sat Dec 12 15:38:35 UTC 2015

Chris,

You can see the drawings for the bridge and connection to Rivertech and
Lafayette at:

http://www.thompsonward2.org/105circleinfulllayout.pdf (2.5 megabyte pdf,
think before you click on your mobile device)

There are more recent drawings with landscaping (and minor changes to the
sidewalks, etc.), but the overall structure of the connection has not
changed.  I don't have the more recent drawings in digital form.

After construction of the bridge, all roads shown will belong to the Town
of Riverdale Park (the structural parts of the bridge will be the
responsibility of the County), so future changes will be up to the Town.
If there is a large negative traffic impact on the neighborhood the Town
does have the right (and duty!) to mitigate it.  That being said, when the
bridge is in operation you will be able to go up Maryland Avenue (the
street closest to the tracks to the north of Town Center) and cross the
bridge.

I hope this helps!

Best,

Alan

On Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 8:35 AM, Chris Currie <crcurrie at gmail.com> wrote:

> My family used this cut-through at least 25 times per week for work and
> school commuting.  I've estimated that the closure will cause an additional
> 80 hours of commuting time for our family alone -- the equivalent of two
> full weeks of work.  I can only imagine what the aggregate amount of time
> lost will be for the residents of Riverdale Park and surrounding
> communities.
>
> This is not to kvetch -- I know the closure is necessary for an important
> transportation project -- but simply to note the enormity of the burden it
> puts upon many of us.
>
> In light of this fact, do we have any real assurance that the ERCO parking
> lot cut-through will be reopened after the bridge construction is complete?
>
> Sorry, but I can just imagine some bureaucrat in Annapolis or Upper
> Marlboro or College Park thinking to himself, "This was a great way to shut
> down an irregular and improper mode of vehicular traffic without provoking
> a huge outcry."  Just like Queens Chapel Rd. was shut down through
> University Park for the construction of a public-works project and then
> never reopened, I can easily foresee the same thing happening here.
>
> To be honest, many times I've driven through the Erco lot and wondered how
> long it would be until I arrived one morning to find a couple bollards and
> a chain had been put across the Lafayette St. entrance to the parking lot.
> I'm sure there are insurance implications for the Univ. of Md. to allowing
> all that public through-traffic across their private parking lot.  Or maybe
> a new office building would be built on the Erco site and then there would
> be another reason to restrict entry into the parking lot.
>
> What really should happen is that Riverdale Park and the University of
> Maryland should hammer out an agreement to create a public right-of-way
> through the parking lot, and then build a real street on that section.
> Funding that modest project would have been a nice thing to include in the
> original concordat with the Cafritz family, but that's water under the
> bridge now, so to speak.
>
> Can anyone in the know comment on the ultimate designs on the Erco
> cut-through, if there are any?
>
> Thanks --
>
> Chris
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Jessica Barnes <jbarnes at riverdaleparkmd.gov>
> Date: Wed, Nov 25, 2015 at 2:13 PM
> Subject: [RP Town Announce] Special Announcement Construction Update Notice
> November 25, 2015
> To: towntalk at riverdale-park.org, townannounce at riverdale-park.org
>
>
> *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT*
>
> *CONSTRUCTION UPDATE NOTICE*
>
> *November 25, 2015*
>
>
>
> *Closure of Parking Lot of Former ERCO Plant Between the Rivertech Court
> Cul-de-sac and Lafayette Avenue in Riverdale Park*
>
>
>
> Work will soon begin on the much awaited new CSX crossing at Riverdale Park
> Station. The bridge construction work is significant and requires the
> closing of the former ERCO plant parking lot between the Rivertech Court
> cul-de-sac and Lafayette Avenue. This route has been used for years as a
> ?short cut? from Lafayette Avenue to M-Square. *The closure will begin on
> or about December 14, 2015 and will continue until the new bridge is open
> ?
> estimated to be in April 2017.*
>
>
>
> The initial construction activities include the relocation of existing
> electrical and gas utilities that run parallel to the CSX tracks. Utility
> relocations are necessary for the construction of the new bridge over the
> CSX railroad tracks.
>
>
>
> Temporary detour signage will be installed at the point of the construction
> directing bicyclists to an alternate route around the bridge construction.
> In addition, Gateway Park along the Route 1 frontage of the site will soon
> be open and provide bike/pedestrian access along Route 1.
>
>
>
> While this will create a temporary inconvenience for motorists, when
> completed the new bridge will greatly improve mobility in the area. Below
> is a rendering of the new bridge.
>
>
>
> The closure is scheduled to take effect on or about December 14, 2015 and
> will continue until the new bridge is open ? estimated to be in April 2017.
> For any questions, please contact Robert Lockhart of Capital Construction
> Consultants at 202-669-7157 or email at rlockhart at ccci-dc.com.
>
>
>
> Jessica
>
> Jessica E. Barnes
>
> Town Clerk
>
> Riverdale Park
>
> 5008 Queensbury Road
>
> Riverdale Park, MD 20737
>
> www.riverdaleparkmd.info
>
> 301-927-6381
>
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>
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