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

Mon Sep 16 15:57:34 UTC 2019

On the subject of the Queensbury-Natoli Pl-Lafayette-RRX-Rhode
Island-Maryland Ave intersection... I hate to even bring it up, because the
intersection it reminds me of is one of my least favorite ones in the area.
But it does seem somewhat analogous. And that is the intersection where the
Silver Spring-Takoma Park Co-op sits in Takoma Park. I hate it cuz it's one
of the slowest traffic light cycles that I know of, certainly in relation
to the number of vehicles.  It doesn't carry *that* much traffic, but it's
a complex intersection.  My point is, however, that with a complicated
traffic light scheme, they do manage the traffic there in a way that seems
to promote safety.  And that implementing safer traffic flow at our
intersection is something that is sorely needed, for vehicles and
pedestrian/cyclists alike.

By my count, our intersection has 6 spokes (Queensbury, Lafayette, Rhode
Island, Queensbury, Maryland/parking lot, Lafayette) - and 7 if you count
Natoli Place too.  Plus the railroad crossing.  There are currently 4
pedestrian crossings painted ( 1) crosses Lafayette btw CSX lot & Mabel
Munch Park 2) crosses Lafayette btw Town Center Market and the tracks 3)
crosses Queensbury for pedestrian and cyclists at the Maryland
Avenue/parking lot entrance and 4) crosses Queensbury btw Riviera Tapas and
Banana Blossom).  Notably there are *no* zebra stripes crossing Queensbury
on the east side of the tracks!  which leaves everyone free to dance across
the Queensbury/Lafayette intersection at their peril.

The Takoma Park intersection has 5 spokes (Ethan Allan (410), Carroll Ave,
Grant Ave, Carroll Ave (410), and Sycamore Ave), and no railroad tracks.
It has 5 painted zebra stripe crossings, enabling all pedestrians to get
where they're going without venturing into no-man's land.

A traffic light scheme would, hopefully, give the cars headed north on
Lafayette by Town Center Market who are trying to turn west on Queensbury,
and cars exiting Maryland Ave/Town Center parking lot and trying to turn
east on Queensbury a fair chance, which they currently do not get,
especially when the intersection is clearing after a train has passed thru
and the gates go up.  It amazes me there aren't frequent accidents there.

On Mon, Sep 16, 2019 at 11:25 AM Heather Cronk <heather.cronk at gmail.com>
wrote:

> 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
> >
> > Raising a child with behaviors of concern? Join other parents like you
> for my class starting Wed September 18th in Riverdale Park:
> https://www.guidingexceptionalparents.com/event/fall-2019-parent-child-journey-raising-your-challenging-child/
> >
> >
> >
> > 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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