<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type">
<title></title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
I understand your point, Andrew, but wouldn't the "hassle factor" be a
lot greater if nothing is done at all, factoring in hundreds more
people driving from condos in and around town center and M Square? <br>
<br>
Rob, it does seem to me that it would be more dangerous to turn right
onto 410 from West Beale Circle than from E BC -- from East BC you are
just merging, from West BC you'd be making a very sharp turn.<br>
<br>
If we want pedestrian-friendly -- and I do -- some traffic diversion
seems inevitable. If I understand the Natoli-Queensbury proposal
correctly, it would just force us to jog over a block, we could still
turn right on Queensbury to cross the tracks. No? If Queensbury were
to be one-way eastbound all the way to the train tracks, how would we
cross the tracks westbound? Have to go over them on 410?<br>
<br>
Andrew Farrington wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid20070201083819.Y76597@svcs.dvnt.com" type="cite">Dead-ending
Lafayette and closing East Beale Circle, while they might help with our
'cut through' traffic issues, would also make getting around much
harder for us townies.
<br>
<br>
I take East Beale Circle to get onto 410 east every morning and in fact
90% of the time I leave my house in a car. I turn right from Lafayette
onto Queensbury across the tracks a little less often now -- only on
the afternoons that I do not pick up my daughter from school -- but it
used to be every afternoon.
<br>
<br>
The "hassle factor" in my own life, for one, would be significantly
greater if these particular ideas were enacted, than it would be if
nothing were done at all.
<br>
<br>
-Andrew Farrington
<br>
4605 Queensbury Road
<br>
<br>
<br>
On Thu, 1 Feb 2007, Rob Oppenheim wrote:
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">I appreciated hearing your thoughts about
traffic/pedestrian concerns at the Railroad
crossing/Queensbury/Lafayette intersection, and I look forward to
hearing more. If we are to connect our town center commercial areas we
need this to be very pedestrian friendly - and currently, it is not (at
least not when crossing Lafayette or Queensbury). � This rail road
crossing is identified as one of the 10 most dangerous crossings in the
state of Maryland (It has a high fatal accident prediction factor, ref:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/Content/803">http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/Content/803</a> ). We have been pretty lucky so
far. � We are working to improve the safety of this intersection. With
improved gates, lighting and possibly curbs.
<br>
<br>
One fairly common accident there is a car will get stuck on the tracks
because they turn onto the tracks thinking they are turning onto
Lafayette Street.�
<br>
<br>
Here is a wild idea, that is not thought thru, but still might work. If
we make Lafayette one-way north from Riverdale Rd to Queensbury, then
we could simplify the intersection and break people of the habit of
turning south (and thus reduce the incidence of turning onto the
tracks).
<br>
<br>
As Sarah suggested we dead-end the north side of Lafayette at
Queensbury and route that traffic onto Natoli. This might dramatically
improve the safety of the RR crossing and make it easier to install
nice pedestrian crossing lanes. Perhaps that would allow us to add some
on-street parking to Lafayette too. Ideally we would dead-end Lafayette
on both sides of Queensbury, but then we would have a problem with the
Fire Station's "Do No Enter" at Queensbury and 48th Ave (this traffic
currently must go down Riverdale Rd and up Lafayette to get across the
tracks). � The fire station has a serious problem with traffic backing
up and blocking their trucks. That is why the "Do Not Enter" sign is at
Queensbury and 48th Ave during morning rush hours. This needs to be
extended to weekends, and I am beginning to think it maybe should be
24x7. That is, make Queensbury from Natoli Pl to 48th Ave one-way
(except for emergency vehicles). This would really take our streets
back from a lot of the cut-through traffic and make the area more
pedestrian friendly. � In any case, all these ideas need more flushing
out. � Unfortunately I will miss the Feb 15th safety meeting as I will
be out of town. Sounds like it could be a good meeting with lots of
ideas.
<br>
<br>
As many of you know, I have been urging that we open West Beale circle
(to encourage cut thru traffic to run by shops) and to consider closing
East Beale circle (to make it safer for pedestrians and residents).
<br>
<br>
There are safety concerns for cars turning onto E-W highway from West
Beale circle, but that should not be any more dangerous then what they
do now - turn onto E-W highway from East Beale circle. �
<br>
<br>
Rob Oppenheim
<br>
�
<br>
Ward One Councilman, Riverdale Park
<br>
5902 Cleveland Ave
<br>
Riverdale Park, Md 20737-1930
<br>
�
<br>
Home Office: 301 779 1745
<br>
�
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">
<hr size="4" width="90%">
_______________________________________________
TownTalk mailing list
To post to the list, send mail to <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org">TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</a> is for automated subscription processing only
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk">http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk</a>
For more information about Riverdale Park, visit <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us">http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us</a></pre>
</blockquote>
</body>
</html>