No Thru Traffic?
If you're going to drive like an idiot, then stay out of my neighborhood
As a resident of the Hollywood neighborhood, I have mixed feelings about the new light that's been installed (but not yet activated) at the intersection of Hollywood Road and Route 1. Although I’m looking forward to making easier left turns from Hollywood on to Route 1, I’m not excited about what will surely be an unintended consequence of the light: increased “thru traffic.”
See, when that light starts to go red, traffic is going to back up in the northbound lanes of Route 1. When that happens, impatient drivers hoping to avoid the traffic insanity at the intersection of Route 1 and Cherry Hill Road will cut through the neighborhood via Fox, Cherokee, Delaware, etc., en route to the intersection of Route 1 and Edgewood Road. (This is why citizens concerned about the impact of new development on traffic are rarely appeased by the installation of so-called “traffic calming” measures.)
Now, I don’t like sitting in traffic either, so I can’t really blame drivers for wanting to take the road less traveled through the neighborhood.
However, I can and will blame them for speeding through the neighborhood with little disregard for residents, including the kids riding their bikes in the street. We’ve only just begun to have nice weather and I’ve already seen kids narrowly escape getting hit by careless drivers on two separate occasions.
So what can be done about this? How about some “No Thru Traffic from 3:00–7:00 pm, Monday through Friday” signs on the streets like Fox that run perpendicular from Route 1, into the neighborhood? I confess that I have no idea how these things are enforced—or if they’re enforced at all—but I’ve seen them on the edge of other residential neighborhoods, and if they keep some cars on the main roads then they just might be worth it.
The other option, of course, is to have police hang out in the neighborhood with their eyes peeled for those flaunting the 25-mile-per-hour speed limit (I’m not sure this is enforced, either). After all, weren’t the city’s speed cameras supposed to free the officers up so they could focus on other things?
And speaking of Fox Street, have you noticed the giant pothole near the intersection with 48th Avenue (or maybe it’s 48th Place…). Given its width, “pothole” really isn’t the word—I’m going with “depression”—but no matter what you call it, it was born of WSSC’s previous work on the neighborhood’s sewer lines.
Word on the street (no pun intended) is that WSSC’s contractor will begin repairing the depressions in mid-May. However, the specific dates for those on streets west of Rhode Island Avenue have not been released because the contractor is reportedly behind schedule.
Smith is a resident of north College Park. He blogs (occasionally) at www.ncpinformant.com.
Pamela Torro
11:07 am on Tuesday, April 19, 2011
On the contrary, I wonder if a light at the Four Corners would cut down on through traffic on my street. Our street gets the overflow of cars that do not wish to sit at the often frustrating four-way stop. We do have speed bumps but they seem to do little to deter through traffic.
Rich Abdill
8:28 am on Sunday, April 24, 2011
It's a bummer the speed bumps aren't helping — if the through traffic is still coming, it seems like they'd just be annoying for the residents.
Also, it turns out lots of people are against speed bumps altogether: Though I can't find it at the moment, a study in Boulder, Colo. apparently found that speed bumps actually hurt many more people than they help by slowing down ambulances, something I hadn't even thought of. Here's a letter from the London Ambulance Service asking the city NOT to put them in:
http://www.bromleytransport.org.uk/LAS_Report.pdf
Maybe we could just lay down some of those spike strips they use in action movie car chases.
Rick Hudson
1:44 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011
If tere were no speed bumps on our steet the "drink everytime a car bottoms out or goes airborn on the speed bump" - drinking game would be kinda dull!!! LOL
I am with Pam on the traffic light at Edgewood and Rhode island, perhaps it would make the traffic move more efficiently there and the back ups would not extend well past REI.
There is a sign that says Local traffic only near our neighborhood, but it does not prevent hardly anyone from passing through. 6 PM Monday through Friday Muskogee Street has a steady flow of cars. The Police do ienforcement on it, very occaisionally, but not enough to actually make it a deterrent.
Maybe we can take the savings from not buying #1 Liquors and make that section of Hollywood a gated community!!! LOL
Patrick Wojahn
11:59 am on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Joe - the police do regular speed enforcement around the neighborhood. If there's a specific intersection you'd like them to give some attention to, just let me know. As far as the signs, I have to ask staff if that would be possible.
Joe Smith
4:13 pm on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
I have never seen a police car parked in the neighborhood monitoring speed -- and I mean not once in 12 years. I have seen them parked near corners with stop signs (such as at the corner of Hollywood and 47th), but I'm sure they're ticketing those who fail to stop.
Patrick Wojahn
4:30 pm on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
You're correct that most of the enforcement on the side streets is stop sign enforcement, while most of the speed enforcement that they do is on US 1. With the speed cameras in place, I can ask the contract police to do more actual enforcement in the neighborhoods.
Bob Seward
12:17 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011
I live on 47th Place and I already cut through on Hollywood Road. I had thought about a no thru traffic sign as well if things get worse. I think there is a sign like that down on Route One in University Park near the church across from the National Guard Armory.
Jon Gulbuny
10:27 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011
Pat - are you allowed to use your power to tell the police where to ticket people? Maybe if you dont like the citizens of north cp cause they voted against something you could just stick all of the police over there to harrass them?
Or maybe you should just put up speed cameras in every single street in college park to catch the speeders and make the city a safer place. Do you agree with that or is that extreme?
Rick Hudson
10:49 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011
Jon, Patrick often works on behalf of the people to communicate concerns to the police. This is somethibg he does to help solve problems since he has a relationship with the police command staff. They then choose to do targeted enforcement to solve valid cotizen concerns. In other words, he is trying to help out rather then instigate, cause hard feelings and irritate with hateful tone and angry language like my favorite non-resident landlord
Jon Gulbuny
10:59 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011
Whaaaaaat? Ok I command the police to target Rick based on "what I consider the behalf of the people"
Fair?
Patrick Wojahn
12:06 am on Saturday, May 21, 2011
Wow, Jon. Are you drunk, or is this what you consider intelligent discourse?
Jon Gulbuny
6:52 am on Saturday, May 21, 2011
I see that it is easier for you to make personal attacks then address the issues.
Rick Hudson
11:50 am on Saturday, May 21, 2011
Jon, you are a bitter, angry person. I will continue to pray for you.
Patrick... I have often wondered the same thing. Nice job!
Rick Hudson
11:59 am on Saturday, May 21, 2011
Jon, rather then be venomous and inflamatory on Patch... why don't you voice your opinions at the council meetibg on Tuesday. It is open to the public. You do pay taxes here as a business owner so come and voice you concerns in a civil and intellegent maner, contribute to the system and be geard where ut counts rather then hiding on the web. I will be there. I have already submitted my comments in writing. You up to it are you only brave enough to voice your opinions where you don't hsve to follow any rules
Pamela Torro
12:11 pm on Saturday, May 21, 2011
Rick - that is still up for debate as he never addressed my comment about "jon gulbuny" being an alias or the fact that anyone named as such does not even own property in Maryland.
mj23 - How is that inappropriate? It was just a question and an honest one. JG's comments are out of line, like the one he directed at Mr. Wojahn earlier. He made libelous accusations against him. He is the one who is out of line. He isn't even a citizen in CP and I am doubtful he is even a landlord. I am happy that our council members read and comment on the Patch!