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

Sun Dec 13 14:53:30 UTC 2015

Thanks for providing that helpful -- and reassuring -- information, Alan.
The bridge project seems a good step toward putting the pieces of Riverdale
Park together. -- Chris

On Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 10:38 AM, Alan K. Thompson <
akthompson at riverdaleparkmd.gov> 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> 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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>> http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info
>>
>>
>
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