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

Sat Dec 12 16:10:41 UTC 2015

Alan,
thanks! perfect, I had been looking for this view and missed it if it
was posted before.
thanks!
bob smith

On 12/12/15 10:38 AM, Alan K. Thompson wrote:
> 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
> <mailto: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
>     <mailto: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
>     <mailto:towntalk at riverdale-park.org>, townannounce at riverdale-park.org <mailto: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 <tel:202-669-7157> or email
>     at rlockhart at ccci-dc.com <mailto:rlockhart at ccci-dc.com>.
> 
> 
> 
>     Jessica
> 
>     Jessica E. Barnes
> 
>     Town Clerk
> 
>     Riverdale Park
> 
>     5008 Queensbury Road
> 
>     Riverdale Park, MD 20737
> 
>     www.riverdaleparkmd.info <http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/>
> 
>     301-927-6381 <tel:301-927-6381>
> 
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> 
> 
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