the miracle of timed lights...
-----Original Message-----
From: Jseelke <jseelke@xxxxxxxxx>
To: north-takoma@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thu, Oct 28, 2021 11:28 am
Subject: [north-takoma] Re: Fwd: Stop sign on Ritchie and Piney Branch
This point out that you have two lights that are literally maybe 500 feet from
one another. Can you imagine the congestion that could happen there. I
understand that Fenton has a lot of businesses but the cost of having to
traffic lights in such a small space does not make any sense to me
Sent from my iPhone
On Oct 28, 2021, at 11:13 AM, lrsapin <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
But an error could be fatal on this higher speed roadway. I saw two
frightening near misses.
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On Thursday, October 28, 2021, 10:22 AM, Ben Rempell <benrempell@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
i think it's also worth noting that Fenton is a heavy pedestrian area with a
high volume of businesses as well as increasing residential. That stretch of
Piney Branch is far enough from the small amount of retail further north (where
there are stop lights and crosswalks) as well as far enough from the middle
school (where there is also already a stop light and crosswalk) to make it not
a comparable situation, and a hard case to make when looking at limited budget
allocation. Not an expert, just an observation.
Ben on Cleveland
On Thu, Oct 28, 2021 at 9:22 AM Remington Stone <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
https://www.sourceofthespring.com/silver-spring-news/second-hawk-beacon-installed-on-fenton/
Yes, county program and funding. It's worth looking at the HAWK graphic to see
if this is what everyone would prefer at that location.
On Thursday, October 28, 2021, 08:48:31 AM EDT, Milford Sprecher
<milford.sprecher@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I suspect the reason for the difference in the different approaches is that
Fenton’s a county road and OB is a state highway. Different jurisdiction and
funding sources
On Thu, Oct 28, 2021 at 8:40 AM Michael Sitar <michaelasitar@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Good idea.
On Thu, Oct 21, 2021, 12:05 PM Dvidutis <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
An overhead flashing red light would be the inly way to assure people are fully
aware of this new stop.
Having lived on PBR (albeit between Philadelphia and Eastern) for 35 years, I
welcome any traffic calming device.
Side streets may get a little additional traffic, but they’ll never get the
tractor trailers, buses, and 60 mph roaring speeders that we do.
Diana Vidutis
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On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, 9:03 PM, Michael Sitar
<michaelasitar@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Am wondering if the speed camera that is still nearby, could be calibrated to
photograph non-stoppers...
On Wed, Oct 20, 2021, 12:12 PM Kimberly Morgan <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I was just almost hit by a car whose driver decided to accelerate through the
intersection even though I was halfway across Piney Branch and in the
crosswalk. I have just written to SHA to urge them to find the money to put a
traffic light before someone gets splattered across the road. I hope others
will consider sending them the same message.
Thanks, Ben, for sharing the email address of the person to contact:
SHAD3TrafficTeam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Tue, Oct 19, 2021 at 9:37 AM Marissa Haynie <marissa.haynie@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
There are solar-powered flashing stop signs at Erskine and 13th street (just
off of New Hampshire); they seem to be more attention-grabbing than the regular
ones. Maybe the SHA would consider that as an intermediate solution before
graduating to a regular light.
The email for SHA is mailto:SHAD3TrafficTeam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
—Marissa on Piney Branch
On Tue, Oct 19, 2021 at 9:25 AM Paul Chrostowski <paul.chrostowski@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Happens right here at Takoma and New York and Fenton and New York on a very
regular basis. Doesn’t need to be a state highway
Paul C
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On Oct 19, 2021, at 9:06 AM, edwin stromberg <edstromberg@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have seen cars drive thru the stop-signs--in both directions--so this is
harddly a rare experience, however you define "rare'. and it only takes one...
Ed S Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 8:24 AM
From: "lrsapin" <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: north-takoma@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [north-takoma] Re: Fwd: Stop sign on Ritchie and Piney BranchAnother
near miss yesterday at this intersection. While at the stop sign heading S on
PB and waiting for a car to cross the intersection, I saw a car speeding up PB
barely miss this car as he apparently didn’t notice the stop sign despite sight
lines/signage, etc. - this is the third near miss I’ve seen - each one from
cars moving north at high speed on PB, blazing right through intersection. Some
drivers may not expect a stop sign on this busy state highway. Worrisome. Be
careful out there…
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On Monday, October 18, 2021, 11:39 AM, Ben Rempell <benrempell@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
The response I got back from SHA on the stop sign at Ritchie.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: SHA D3TrafficTeam <SHAD3TrafficTeam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, Oct 18, 2021 at 11:33 AM
Subject: RE: Stop sign on Ritchie and Piney Branch
To: Ben Rempell <benrempell@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: SHA D3TrafficTeam <SHAD3TrafficTeam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Dear Ben Rempell:
This is in response to your traffic and safety concerns at the above subject
location in Montgomery County. The Maryland Department of Transportation State
Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) District Three traffic engineering staff
appreciates the opportunity to be of assistance. The MDOT SHA follows the
nationally accepted Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) as a
guideline to determine when and where traffic control devices should be
installed. These guidelines are nationwide in scope and are promulgated by the
Federal Highway Administration. As a highway operation agency, MDOT SHA assumes
an obligation to follow the guidelines defined by the MUTCD. While MDOT SHA
previously reviewed MD 320 (Piney Branch Road) and Ritchie Avenue for
pedestrian and vehicular safety improvements, it was recommended and approved
to install a traffic signal. Under current conditions with our statewide
traffic signal construction program schedule for this improvement is currently
unavailable. Our MDOT SHA District Three Traffic engineering staff re-evaluated
the location for other near-term traffic safety measures and found that the
location met conditions for a multi-way stop as an interim measure to control
traffic. A project to implement an all-way stop control regulatory condition
was recently approved by our MDOT SHA Office of Traffic and Safety (OOTS). In
response to stop sign concerns at MD 320 (Piney Branch Road) and Ritchie Road.
Our office recently analyzed sight lines, analyzed intersection geometry,
analyzed existing signage, analyzed existing pavement markings, analyzed
existing pedestrian treatments, analyzed corridor geometry, analyzed crash
history, analyzed vehicular and pedestrian turning movements, and conducted
onsite field observations. In addition, the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Official’s (AASHTO) A Policy on Geometric Design of
Highways and Streets was used to review the roadway geometrics, including
evaluating sight distance. Motorists have to obey the traffic control device in
place which is “STOP” coming to a complete stop. Upon completion of our review
on two separate days (AM peak) and (PM peak) at the intersection of MD 320 at
Ritchie Avenue we noticed an “All Way Stop Control” was that recently
implemented and installed correctly with stop signs and lines, advance warning
signs, and portable variable message signs. Pedestrians and bicyclists
acknowledged during our field review their appreciation for the new “All Way
Stop Control” which enabled them to cross. Thank you again for sharing your
concerns. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to
contact us at 1-800-749-0737 or 301-513-7300. We will be happy to assist.
Sincerely, SHA D3 Traffic TeamTraffic Engineering SectionMDOT SHA- Montgomery
County Fairland Area
--
Kimberly Morgan
Professor of Political Science and International AffairsDirector, European and
Eurasian Studies program
George Washington University
2115 G Street NW, Fourth Floor
Washington DC 20052
https://politicalscience.columbian.gwu.edu/kimberly-j-morgan
--
Milford H. Sprecher
525 Albany Ave.
Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-830-2198
