State begins safety and resurfacing project on Georgia Avenue/MD97

The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has begun a $4.6 million safety and resurfacing project along nearly two miles of MD97 (Georgia Avenue) from the Washington, D.C. line to MD390 (16th Street) in Silver Spring. Weather Permitting, the work will be completed by late fall. Motorists and pedestrians traveling in this area should plan ahead, add extra commute time and be aware of shifting traffic and walking patterns.

The work will:

• Reconstruct existing sidewalks to ensure they meet ADA standards and are at least five feet wide;
• Repair and replace existing inlets and pipes;
• Patch damaged sections of pavement prior to resurfacing;
• Install new curb and gutter;
• Resurfacing Georgia Avenue;
• Replace traffic signal pavement detectors at the intersection of MD 97 and MD 390; and
• Install new line striping and pavement markings.

SHA's contractor is permitted to close one lane of Georgia Avenue in both directions weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and up to two lanes overnight Sunday through Thursday, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Drivers are urged to stay alert and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. For more information, see SHA's press release.

More Engineering-Based Pedestrian Safety Improvements

MCDOT continues to invest in engineering improvements to enhance pedestrian safety – particularly in high crash areas where collision data shows more pedestrians are being struck.

* In Takoma Park, on Piney Branch Road between Flower Avenue and the County line, pedestrians are safer because of new street lights, wider sidewalks, new pedestrian signals, and soon a new crosswalk with pedestrian-activated warning lights.
* In Wheaton, at Reedie Drive between Veirs Mill Road and Georgia Avenue, a major safety project included refurbished crosswalks, new pedestrian refuge islands, and clearer lane markings.
* On Randolph Road at Veirs Mill, new sidewalks and streetscaping have been installed.
* On Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, Community Affairs is installing streetscape improvements in Fenton Village.
* And in Rockville and Bethesda, segments of MD355 have received new pedestrian signals.

These investments are part of County Executive Leggett’s Pedestrian Safety Initiative. For more information, go to MCDOT's revamped pedestrian safety website.

Leggett Celebrates Five-Year Anniversary of His Pedestrian Safety Initiative; Efforts are Reducing Collisions and Saving Lives

On December 17, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett celebrated the five-year anniversary of his December 2007 Pedestrian Safety Initiative, which for the first time provided a blueprint for action to improve pedestrian safety based on measurable strategies. Since 2009, pedestrian collisions have decreased 12 percent and the most severe collisions, those where pedestrians are incapacitated or killed, has declined 21 percent.

“In 2007, we charted a course to dramatically improve pedestrian safety and accessibility in Montgomery County – a course that is proving to be successful,” said Leggett. “We are seeing significant reductions in pedestrian collisions in areas where we have taken a comprehensive and targeted approach. Every resident deserves a truly walkable community where pedestrians can safely cross the street. Our challenge in the future is to continually reassess what we are doing, keep what’s working well and find new and creative ways to significantly expand our pedestrian safety efforts.”

The Initiative outlined an approach to pedestrian and traffic safety that focused on three essential components: education, engineering and enforcement. The Initiative significantly enhanced the County’s investment in educating motorists and pedestrians, keeping enforcement efforts visible and intensive and aggressively applying the most innovative and pedestrian-friendly road engineering designs.

To fulfill Leggett’s vision for increased pedestrian mobility and safety, the Initiative established goals to:
• Reduce pedestrian-related crashes, injuries, fatalities, and their associated social and economic costs; and
• Ensure that all areas of the County provide safe and convenient travel options for pedestrians.

Some of the achievements of the Initiative include:
• Reducing pedestrian fatalities from a high of 19 fatalities in 2008 to 11 last year and six so far this year.
• Reducing pedestrian collisions 12 percent since 2009.
• Reducing the most severe collisions that incapacitate or kill pedestrians 21 percent since 2009.
• Reducing collisions 35 percent in areas where traffic calming measures have been installed.
• Reducing collisions by 45 percent In High Incidence Areas (HIAs), locations with the highest concentrations of collisions.
• Reducing collisions by 72 percent within a quarter mile of schools targeted for engineering, education and enforcement activities under the Safe Routes to Schools program.
 
Mr. Leggett was joined at the event by County Councilmember Valerie Ervin, County Councilmember Hans Riemer, Department of Transportation Director Arthur Holmes, Police Chief Thomas Manger, Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief Scott Graham, and PBTSAC Chair Erwin Mack. 
Click here for the press release, including additional statistics on the results of the initiative.  Click here to view the Transportation Update on the event. 
For articles about the event, please click below:
WJLA
The Gazette
WTOP
Bethesda Now

Department of Transportation Testing New Pedestrian-Oriented Traffic Signal on Gude Drive in Rockville

Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Traffic Engineering Division is testing a new type of pedestrian-oriented traffic signal on Gude Drive in Rockville in an area that has had eight pedestrian collisions in the past two years.

HAWK stands for High-intensity Activated crossWalK signal.
This new signal uses traditional traffic and pedestrian signal heads but in a different configuration



How it works: When not activated, the signal is dark, allowing drivers to freely pass through. It is activated when a pedestrian pushes the walk button. The HAWK signal begins flashing yellow to indicate to drivers someone will be using the crosswalk. It then goes to solid yellow like a typical traffic signal, advising drivers to prepare to stop. The signal then turns solid red, requiring drivers to stop at the crosswalk. Finally, the signal goes to flashing red, letting drivers know that after coming to a complete stop, they can proceed once the pedestrian has crossed safely. The signal then returns to the dark condition.