[RP TownTalk] reducing default speed limit on town streets to 20mph

[Heather Cronk]

I thought that Councilmember Lingua had suggested a traffic study at
some point for the intersection of Queensbury & Lafayette (i.e.
between the train tracks and Town Center Market) because it's so bad
for pedestrians. Since this is an area of town that's developing
quickly and that's intended to create a welcoming atmosphere that
represents the town, I'd far rather have the town explore options to
slow traffic and better serve pedestrians at that intersection than to
have an increased police presence there...

-Heather

On Sun, Sep 15, 2019 at 10:27 AM Sarah Wayland <sarah.wayland at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I've actually been thinking for some time that re-instituting the Traffic Committee would be a good idea.
>
> And Adrian - as I understand it, enforcement is part of the issue. Apparently judges will not uphold a ticket unless the speed is clocked to be at least 10mph over the posted speed limit. So if we want the speed to be 30mph, we have to set the posted speed at 20mph to make the tickets enforceable.
>
> That said, I agree that having a police car monitoring speed on Lafayette during rush hour a couple of times per month would send a message that we are serious about the stop signs and posted speed limit. Even if the officers just wrote warnings...
>
> -Sarah
>
> *
>
> Sarah Wayland, Ph.D. | www.GuidingExceptionalParents.com
> Supporting students with learning differences & their families
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>
> On Sun, Sep 15, 2019 at 10:07 AM adrian limmen <adrianlimmen at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Or maybe some good old traffic enforcement more regularly.
>>
>> On Sun, Sep 15, 2019, 09:59 Charles Schoppet <schoppet at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> On cut-through traffic, the intersection of Lafayette Ave and Queensbury Rd is getting harder to navigate through, since the opening of the Lafayette Ave bridge.
>>>
>>> I am unsure of a solution, since the intersection is so close to a grade level train crossing. ( However, I don't want to see the town divided by the closing of Queensbury at the crossing.)
>>>
>>> P.S. Maybe, it is time to bring back the traffic committee.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Sep 14, 2019 at 9:28 PM Sheri Mattes Wake <smattes3 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi town, I’m not sure there is any posted speed limit sign on E Beale Cir and many people use it as a quick cut-through. Would love some speed-reducing measures. I briefly looked into speed humps but it seemed like a lengthy process. A speed limit sign or other speed-reducing suggestions would be welcome.
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>> On Sep 14, 2019, at 7:08 PM, Sarah Wayland <sarah.wayland at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> In the September Town Crier, Mayor Thompson mentioned in his report that the council  is considering lowering the default speed limit on town streets to 20 mph.
>>>>
>>>> In: http://www.riverdaleparkmd.gov/September%202019%20Crier%20Proof.pdf
>>>>
>>>> He writes:
>>>>
>>>> Traffic Safety
>>>>
>>>> At the July legislative meeting the Town Council decided to defer action on a proposal to lower the default speed limit on town streets from 25 mph to 20 mph. I believe that the major reason this proposal is coming before us is not about what’s going on in town, but in the fact that judges are unwilling to convict on speeding offenses unless the driver was exceeding the speed limit by at least 10 mph – which means that the enforceable speed limit on town streets, right now, is 35 mph. I have been paying attention to my own driving on the residential streets around town (excluding the state and county roads), and I seldom exceed 20 mph, and never exceed 30. I believe the council will take this decision slowly to allow for education and feedback from town residents, so please keep your eyes open for more information.
>>>>
>>>> If you have opinions about this (love it or hate it), or want to know more, you might want to let your councilperson (find contact information here: http://www.riverdaleparkmd.gov/government/mayor_and_council/index.php) to let them know how you feel and why.
>>>>
>>>> -Sarah
>>>>
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