As always, I got a good, detailed response from the State Highway Administration re my questions about the US1-MD410 intersection. I'm somewhat persuaded by their answer on making the eastbound right turn lane on 410 (I'd asked that they make it straight/right rather than right turn only, allowing traffic to proceed from there and then turn right on Beale Circle). But I find the answer re the emergency vehicle cut in the median on 410 at Beale Circle to be lame and irresponsible. It's still an accident waiting to happen - find a solution. Signs could be put in the median that are tall and narrow - or that are placed parallel to 410 and therefore not protruding at all into the right-of-way. At the very least those signs should say NO LEFT TURN to traffic coming from Beale Circle onto 410.<br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">SHA D3TrafficTeam</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:SHAD3TrafficTeam@sha.state.md.us">SHAD3TrafficTeam@sha.state.md.us</a>></span><br>
Date: Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 11:51 AM<br>Subject: US 1 (Baltimore Avenue) at MD 410 (East-West Highway)<br>To: "<a href="mailto:dwightrholmes@gmail.com">dwightrholmes@gmail.com</a>" <<a href="mailto:dwightrholmes@gmail.com">dwightrholmes@gmail.com</a>><br>
<br><br><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dear Mr. Holmes:<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This is in further response to your safety concerns at the subject intersection in Prince George’s County. The State Highway Administration’s (SHA) District Three traffic office has completed its review, and is writing to provide you with the results.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The SHA follows the nationally-accepted <i>Manual on Uniform Traffic Devices </i>(MUTCD) as a guideline to when and where traffic control devices should be placed. These guidelines are set by the Federal Highway Administration. As a highway operations agency, the SHA assumes an obligation to follow these guidelines. In conformance with these set guidelines, it is required that a right turning lane be dedicated to accommodate the high volume of right turning vehicles along eastbound MD 410. Additionally, the third lane along eastbound MD 410 built by a developer on the east side of the intersection was intended to provide a separate lane for turning into and out of Wells Fargo Bank. Also, this lane is not long enough to accommodate the through traffic and may encourage unsafe maneuvers due to the short merging distance. As a result, we do not recommend signing and marking a third through lane on eastbound MD 410 at US 1 at this time.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In response to your concerns about the depressed median along MD 410 at East Beale Circle, we have determined that this median depression was put in place for emergency vehicle access. As a result, we cannot block access to the opening by installing guardrail. We also looked into signing that would alert motorists that this opening is for emergency vehicles only. However, the narrow median doesn’t allow adequate clearance space to install signs. Signs installed in a narrow median often get hit by passing vehicles. As a result, we cannot comply with your request at this time. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Thank you again for your sharing your concerns. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact my Team Leader, Shaneka Owens, at <a href="tel:301-513-7424" value="+13015137424" target="_blank">301-513-7424</a> or <a href="tel:1-800-749-0737" value="+18007490737" target="_blank">1-800-749-0737</a>. Ms. Owens will be pleased to assist you.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Thanks,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Venu Nemani<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Assistant District Engineer-Traffic (Prince George’s County) <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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