Consultant Greenman-Pederson, Inc. (GPI) presented the Greenbelt City Council with the current draft of a traffic calming study of Greenbelt Center at the worksession on November 20. Two of GPI’s representatives, Angie Strevig and Alan Wang, shared the draft. Also present were Terri Hruby and Jaime Fearer, director and assistant director of Planning and Community Development, respectively. As stated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), traffic calming concerns the “livability and vitality of residential areas and commercial areas through improvements in non-motorist safety, mobility and comfort.” American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for pedestrian and bike improvements were used to pay for the study, and staff and the Advisory Planning Board (APB) worked closely with GPI on the study.
Specifically, the study focuses on the following roadways: Ridge Road from Lastner Lane to Westway, Lakeside Drive from Lakecrest Drive to Crescent Road, Lastner Lane from Ridge Road to Crescent Road, Greenhill Road from Crescent Road to Research Road and Hillside Road from Crescent Road to Research Road. The draft assesses 22 individual locations within these focus areas.
The metrics used in the study were: vehicle volume, vehicle speed and collision data. Using a point system for the range of data, an assignment of low, medium and high priority was assigned to each of the locations.
According to APB chair Ben Friedman, the impetus of the study began two years ago with an APB discussion concerning some serious accidents on both Lakeside Drive and Ridge Road, among other neighboring areas. Preceding this worksession, there had been an APB meeting and a community/public meeting in October (see the November 7 issue), where input was gathered for further iterations of the draft.
Council, staff and GPI all stressed that the study is still at the conceptual stage, with no firm details laid out as yet on actual construction or work schedule. The study outlines both short- term and long-term improvements with estimated costs. Hruby and Fearer pointed out that pilot projects will be the first steps, the effectiveness of which can be applied to other areas. Hruby stated that each improvement will engender its own engineering study.
The recommendations of the study include the following measures, in various configurations: removal of parking, additional sidewalks, curb bump-outs, raised and perpendicular crosswalks, new striping, speed bumps and rectangular rapid flashing beacons instead of traffic signals. Strevig pointed out that the lowering of speed limits is less effective for traffic calming than reorientation of the roads themselves and that road narrowing causes a more significant decrease in vehicle speeds. Strevig also said that public comment revealed a concern for areas of frequent road crossing without any traffic infrastructure. Measures like perpendicular crosswalks and bump-outs decrease the amount of time that pedestrians spend in the road crossing.
Hruby said that this is the first traffic calming study done for Greenbelt Center in 30 years. Other areas, such as Hanover Parkway, are still to be assessed, just not in this specific study, and staff continues to address traffic concerns as they arise.
Mayor Emmett Jordan stated that each location will need to be prioritized, based on factors like accident occurrence. Hruby said that much of the work will be done in tandem with other asphalt and concrete projects by the Public Works Department.
APB member Isabelle Gournay hoped for more connectivity within the city’s internal pedestrian network, providing more pedestrian safety.
Jordan and Councilmember Jenni Pompi expressed a need to factor in topography such as steep inclines and landscaping, as they affect line of sight and safety.
Jordan thanked GPI for its rigorous efforts. Using input from council, staff, APB and the community, GPI will prepare a final draft that can be presented to council for adoption. Jordan said that much is still “up in the air,” but that the draft was an “excellent overview” and that these improvements “could save people’s lives.”
Consultant Presents Draft Traffic Calming Study to City Council
A redesigned intersection of Southway and Ridge. Green indicates the previous area and red indicates sidewalks and ramps. Photo courtesy of City of Greenbelt.