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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I'm confused. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>If, as Rob says "<FONT face=Arial size=3>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:</FONT> <A
href="http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/Content/803"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/Content/803</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=3>
). We have been pretty lucky so far," why are the town, county, and state
governments considering authorizing variances to build high density residences
next to such a crossing? Am I mistaken that this rail line has been and is
a major East Coast freight carrier and is vary busy? The wonderful Mark
train station is a true convenience to town residents and would no
doubt be attractive to buyers or renters of new condominiums on the
tracks. But what if our "luck" runs out? What if some of the increased
number of children or elderly folks living in the new condo's get hurt when two
trains are passing or stalled on the intersection? How long do you think we
will have the wonderful Mark train stop? Will the town have to foot the
bill for building a wall along the tracks (both sides) to protect our
citizens? </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I agree something has to be done to improve the traffic
problems at this crossing, but high density housing, does not seem like a good
solution. But I'm sure the brilliant minds in UP and Annapolis will figure
out how to justify some variances. First they will do a study or two, and then
choose whatever is profitable. Perhaps Jamal can buy the useless train station
and use it for the attendant to the toll gate at the crossing. Think of the
profits of charging condo residents for getting to their cars in the Town Center
Parking lot. And the town can put in parking meters to skim a few bucks from the
train watchers who frequent the area. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Just a little rant. No solutions until the Town Center is
occupied.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Gerald King</DIV></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=rob.oppenheim@comcast.net href="mailto:rob.oppenheim@comcast.net">Rob
Oppenheim</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=towntalk@riverdale-park.org
href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org">TownTalk</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, February 01, 2007 12:46
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [RP TownTalk] Traffic
Concerns</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>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).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>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:</FONT> <A
href="http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/Content/803"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/Content/803</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=3> ). We have been pretty lucky so far. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>We are working to improve the safety of this
intersection. With improved gates, lighting and possibly curbs. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>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. </FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=rob.oppenheim@comcast.net href="mailto:rob.oppenheim@comcast.net">Rob
Oppenheim</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=towntalk@riverdale-park.org
href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org">TownTalk</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, February 01, 2007 12:46
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [RP TownTalk] Traffic
Concerns</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>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).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>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:</FONT> <A
href="http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/Content/803"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/Content/803</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=3> ). We have been pretty lucky so far. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>We are working to improve the safety of this
intersection. With improved gates, lighting and possibly curbs. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3><IMG height=295
src="cid:002801c74627$689eb990$6401a8c0@user" width=353></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>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). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>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).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>In any case, all these ideas need more flushing
out.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>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). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3> </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=3> <IMG
height=312 src="cid:002901c74627$689eb990$6401a8c0@user"
width=370></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Rob Oppenheim</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Ward One Councilman, Riverdale Park</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>5902 Cleveland Ave</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Riverdale Park, Md 20737-1930</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Home Office: 301 779 1745</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
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