Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
The lack of enforcement is just mind-boggling. No one has to obey parking or traffic regulations in the city evidently.?
I think two way traffic suggestion for Laurel needs to be seriously looked at. We’re all just speculating, with the exception of a couple people who actually have some experience, and it would be good to know what the actual options are.
I’m sure that current “standard “regulations call for very wide streets as mentioned. Because all the current regulations are designed for suburbia. Very little in Takoma Park conforms to those standards. So I tend to think there may be a way around this. ?, our existing streets in this spot or quite narrow, so it may be possible to get an exemption. ?
But it’s hard to make a decision based on pure speculation, we need the city to seriously explore this. And as far as I know, all they want to do is close the street. It’s the easy option, and the only thing they seem to have seriously considered, and now that fire department has opposed it hopefully that option is dead.?
Steve
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On Apr 22, 2025, at 12:42?AM, Alison Snyder via groups.io <amarie003@...> wrote:
? I'd like to add few general observations/suggestions/questions about traffic.
?George, I'm so sorry to hear about so much damage. I think most folks, but clearly not all, have a driveway on that part of Westmoreland. My suggestion will be unpopular, but it seems that part of the answer of crowded streets should be incentivizing those with driveways on busy streets to fully use them. For example, the city could charge residents with driveways a heftier fee for their zoned parking sticker. The fee should be set at a level that makes tandem parking worth the hassle. While I often see one car in a driveway, I rarely see anyone tandem parked. This tells me that the fee isn't set at a level that incentivizes them to park their second car in their driveway.?
Roger, maybe I missed something, but if folks are looking for parking on Westmoreland before patronizing the downtown businesses, that seems odd. There is a gigantic public parking lot right there in the middle of downtown, free for the first hour. Maybe there need to be more signs telling visitors it exists? If circling is a problem, perhaps improving signage is a low-cost way to start.
Regarding rolling stops and the intersection of Elm and Pine, there is a parking/visibility issue at that corner and also at the corner of Elm and Allegheny. Folks park so close to the intersections that turning cars must turn into the oncoming traffic lane. While there are some parking prohibitions to prevent this on Elm, they are regularly disregarded. There aren't prohibitions on Allegheny, but there really should be. I think the first 50 feet need to be no parking zones so a turning car has the ability to turn into its own lane, with space to slow down so it doesn't run into a parked car.?
Lastly, for the 2 way traffic question on the north side of Laurel, can someone please clarify how much of the median folks expect to be removed under this proposal? For the record, I don't support this design idea, but my objection stems from what I am about to share below. I probably missed a detailed discussion on this, so please hear me out. A quick search of County street design regs seems to indicate that each travel lane would need to be 13 feet wide if there is no adjacent parking lane. Assuming the current layout conforms to the existing regs for such streets, we have an 11 foot wide travel lane and 8 foot parking lane at present. Is that accurate? If so, we are short 7 feet! Taking 7 feet out of the median pretty much destroys the median, including going into our clock tower. If someone has specific regulations to cite that explain why the regs I found aren't the right ones, I am certainly open to changing my mind! But if this is indeed the right math, bulldozing the majority of the median seems like an extreme option to me. Is that really what folks are suggesting we investigate?
As my neighbor Randy would say, thanks for listening.
Alison On Allegheny
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message -------- From: "Roger Schlegel, Ward 3 Council Member via groups.io" <RogerS@...> Date: 4/21/25 4:17 PM (GMT-04:00) To: rickweiss99@... Subject: Re: [wacorganization] Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
Thanks, George et al, for these informative reports and observations. George, I'm really sorry about all the?damage you're getting.?
I agree with the seriousness of these issues. I would like to see investigation of opening Laurel Avenue to two-way traffic on the north side. What you're reporting also bolsters my strong opposition to allowing commercial patrons to look for parking along Westmoreland. More circling traffic would be generated with more hazards, volume, and chaos.?
City staff have said that requests to restrict access to streets (e.g. making them one-way, or prohibiting entry during certain times) would require a traffic study. If WACO-area residents would like consideration of a traffic study, that would be (to my understanding) something that would be a request brought forward anytime before mid-fall of this year, for consideration?in the next year's budget.?
Perhaps it is possible, however, to explore whether any turn restriction signs could be helpful, since it's my understanding that these signs don't require traffic studies. Regarding that Walnut-Westmoreland intersection, I would?like to see whether it's possible to move the stop line forward to improve visibility and discourage the "stops" that turn over time into "stop-and-creeps," then "drifts-without-stops," and then even "blow-throughs."
Roger On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 2:24?PM Rick Weiss via <rickweiss99= [email protected]> wrote: Carol’s mention of the stop sign at Elm and Pine (which, yes — people routinely roll through, barely slowing down) reminds me to ask: is that proposed TPPD electric motorcycle still on the budget? Because that seemed awfully unnecessary for our already over-sized and over-funded PD and sounded to me a lot more like a “fun to have” than a “must have”.? I’m of the belief that if we are going to have such a big force for our medium-small community then I want to SEE them, sitting in their cars in places like Elm and Pine and handing out hundreds of warnings and then tickets for all the cars (and food delivery motorcycles) that are blowing through our streets knowing they’ll never have to worry about enforcement of stop signs, parking restrictions, obnoxiously modified exhaust systems, and other “minor” violations (like any lingering use of gas leaf blowers once the summer ban kicks in). Small things like this that make a real difference in quality of life (and that remind people in this trump era that there is such a thing as “rule of law” in our town) are the everyday ways to gain community support for a police dept. that wants more resources.? On Apr 20, 2025, at 11:56?AM, CAROL CLAYTON via <carolclayton=[email protected]> wrote:
? I fully agree there is a terrible traffic problem in our neighborhood, however, making Walnut and Westmoreland one way will throw even more traffic onto Elm/Pine.? I see people blow through that stop sign at Elm and Pine all the time, and then speed up Pine.? I understand that "it's been good for business" to make an outdoor dining spot.? It's been horrible for residential areas however.? If they want to keep the outdoor area, why not adopt Byrne's idea of making another lane by removing part of the median?? It would take away 5 parking spots, but it would keep the traffic where it belongs-on the main road through town.?? On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:44?AM Marlana Valdez via <valdez53= [email protected]> wrote: I have my grandkids over here on Walnut and try to keep them out of the front yard because of the non stop traffic.?
I would be in favor of making walnut and westmoreland one way streets running in the opposite directions.?
The overwhelming amount of traffic dying rush hour in the evening terrifies me. Marlana on walnut I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going. In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate by ?a car coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps, our Public Works Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for which we don't have an?adequate plan.. -- George Kohl Mobile: 301-318-0258
-- Roger Schlegel City?Council Member,?Ward Three?7500 Maple Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 Email:?RogerS@... Phone:?240-997-3041 Please note that all City emails can potentially be public.
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Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
A concern to add to the median removal is that it has some amazing swamp white oaks growing in it, too. I'd rather keep those.
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Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
My personal theory on the rolling stop issue is that the TP Police are hesitant to give out tickets to their own residents, especially their own home-owning residents, because home-owning residents can be
loud complainers.
?
So, if we ever get them to come and ticket people who roll through our stop signs on Elm and Pine, or Westmoreland and Walnut/Elm, nobody on this listserve is allowed to complain if they get one.? Take it
as your duty to society.
?
?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of Alison Snyder via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 12:43 AM
To: Roger Schlegel, Ward 3 Council Member via groups.io <RogerS@...>; rickweiss99@...
Cc: WACO List <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [wacorganization] Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
?
[EXTERNAL EMAIL]
I'd like to add few general observations/suggestions/questions about traffic.
?George, I'm so sorry to hear about so much damage. I think most folks, but clearly not all, have a driveway on that part of Westmoreland. My suggestion will be unpopular, but it seems that part of the answer of crowded streets should be
incentivizing those with driveways on busy streets to fully use them. For example, the city could charge residents with driveways a heftier fee for their zoned parking sticker. The fee should be set at a level that makes tandem parking worth the hassle. While
I often see one car in a driveway, I rarely see anyone tandem parked. This tells me that the fee isn't set at a level that incentivizes them to park their second car in their driveway.?
Roger, maybe I missed something, but if folks are looking for parking on Westmoreland before patronizing the downtown businesses, that seems odd. There is a gigantic public parking lot right there in the middle of downtown, free for the
first hour. Maybe there need to be more signs telling visitors it exists? If circling is a problem, perhaps improving signage is a low-cost way to start.
Regarding rolling stops and the intersection of Elm and Pine, there is a parking/visibility issue at that corner and also at the corner of Elm and Allegheny. Folks park so close to the intersections that turning cars must turn into the
oncoming traffic lane. While there are some parking prohibitions to prevent this on Elm, they are regularly disregarded. There aren't prohibitions on Allegheny, but there really should be. I think the first 50 feet need to be no parking zones so a turning
car has the ability to turn into its own lane, with space to slow down so it doesn't run into a parked car.?
Lastly, for the 2 way traffic question on the north side of Laurel, can someone please clarify how much of the median folks expect to be removed under this proposal? For the record, I don't support this design idea, but my objection stems
from what I am about to share below. I probably missed a detailed discussion on this, so please hear me out. A quick search of County street design regs seems to indicate that each travel lane would need to be 13 feet wide if there is no adjacent parking lane.
Assuming the current layout conforms to the existing regs for such streets, we have an 11 foot wide travel lane and 8 foot parking lane at present. Is that accurate? If so, we are short 7 feet! Taking 7 feet out of the median pretty much destroys the median,
including going into our clock tower. If someone has specific regulations to cite that explain why the regs I found aren't the right ones, I am certainly open to changing my mind! But if this is indeed the right math, bulldozing the majority of the median
seems like an extreme option to me. Is that really what folks are suggesting we investigate?
As my neighbor Randy would say, thanks for listening.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: "Roger Schlegel, Ward 3 Council Member via groups.io" <RogerS@...>
Date: 4/21/25 4:17 PM (GMT-04:00)
Subject: Re: [wacorganization] Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
Thanks, George et al, for these informative reports and observations. George, I'm really sorry about all the?damage you're getting.?
I agree with the seriousness of these issues. I would like to see investigation of opening Laurel Avenue to two-way traffic on the north side. What you're reporting also bolsters my strong opposition
to allowing commercial patrons to look for parking along Westmoreland. More circling traffic would be generated with more hazards, volume, and chaos.?
City staff have said that requests to restrict access to streets (e.g. making them one-way, or prohibiting entry during certain times) would require a traffic study. If WACO-area residents would
like consideration of a traffic study, that would be (to my understanding) something that would be a request brought forward anytime before mid-fall of this year, for consideration?in the next year's budget.?
Perhaps it is possible, however, to explore whether any turn restriction signs could be helpful, since it's my understanding that these signs don't require traffic studies. Regarding that Walnut-Westmoreland
intersection, I would?like to see whether it's possible to move the stop line forward to improve visibility and discourage the "stops" that turn over time into "stop-and-creeps," then "drifts-without-stops," and then even "blow-throughs."
?
On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 2:24?PM Rick Weiss via
<rickweiss99=[email protected]> wrote:
Carol’s mention of the stop sign at Elm and Pine (which, yes — people routinely roll through, barely slowing down) reminds me to ask: is that proposed TPPD electric motorcycle still on the budget? Because that seemed awfully unnecessary
for our already over-sized and over-funded PD and sounded to me a lot more like a “fun to have” than a “must have”.?
I’m of the belief that if we are going to have such a big force for our medium-small community then I want to SEE them, sitting in their cars in places like Elm and Pine and handing out hundreds of warnings and then tickets for all the
cars (and food delivery motorcycles) that are blowing through our streets knowing they’ll never have to worry about enforcement of stop signs, parking restrictions, obnoxiously modified exhaust systems, and other “minor” violations (like any lingering use
of gas leaf blowers once the summer ban kicks in). Small things like this that make a real difference in quality of life (and that remind people in this trump era that there is such a thing as “rule of law” in our town) are the everyday ways to gain community
support for a police dept. that wants more resources.?
On Apr 20, 2025, at 11:56?AM, CAROL CLAYTON via
<carolclayton=[email protected]> wrote:
?
I fully agree there is a terrible traffic problem in our neighborhood, however, making Walnut and Westmoreland one way will throw even more traffic onto Elm/Pine.? I see people blow through that stop sign at Elm and Pine all the time, and
then speed up Pine.? I understand that "it's been good for business" to make an outdoor dining spot.? It's been horrible for residential areas however.? If they want to keep the outdoor area, why not adopt Byrne's idea of making another lane by removing part
of the median?? It would take away 5 parking spots, but it would keep the traffic where it belongs-on the main road through town.??
?
On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:44?AM Marlana Valdez via
<valdez53=[email protected]> wrote:
I have my grandkids over here on Walnut and try to keep them out of the front yard because of the non stop traffic.?
I would be in favor of making walnut and westmoreland one way streets running in the opposite directions.?
The overwhelming amount of traffic dying rush hour in the evening terrifies me. Marlana on walnut
I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going.
In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate
by ?a car coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps,
our Public Works Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for
which we don't have an?adequate plan..
--
City?Council Member,?Ward Three?
7500 Maple Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912
Email:?RogerS@...
Phone:?240-997-3041
Please note that all City emails can potentially be public.
For more helpful Cybersecurity Resources, visit:
|
Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
Excellent comments, thank you, let’s definitely broaden the discussion and consideration of solutions that prioritize the people and the setting and not the cars. Over here on walnut ave 13 of 15 houses have driveways and we have very few street spots. Notably, many of the street parking spots are unoccupied, perhaps due to experience with getting hit? Jeff on 51 walnut. ?
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On Tue, Apr 22, 2025 at 12:42?AM Alison Snyder via <amarie003= [email protected]> wrote: I'd like to add few general observations/suggestions/questions about traffic.
?George, I'm so sorry to hear about so much damage. I think most folks, but clearly not all, have a driveway on that part of Westmoreland. My suggestion will be unpopular, but it seems that part of the answer of crowded streets should be incentivizing those with driveways on busy streets to fully use them. For example, the city could charge residents with driveways a heftier fee for their zoned parking sticker. The fee should be set at a level that makes tandem parking worth the hassle. While I often see one car in a driveway, I rarely see anyone tandem parked. This tells me that the fee isn't set at a level that incentivizes them to park their second car in their driveway.?
Roger, maybe I missed something, but if folks are looking for parking on Westmoreland before patronizing the downtown businesses, that seems odd. There is a gigantic public parking lot right there in the middle of downtown, free for the first hour. Maybe there need to be more signs telling visitors it exists? If circling is a problem, perhaps improving signage is a low-cost way to start.
Regarding rolling stops and the intersection of Elm and Pine, there is a parking/visibility issue at that corner and also at the corner of Elm and Allegheny. Folks park so close to the intersections that turning cars must turn into the oncoming traffic lane. While there are some parking prohibitions to prevent this on Elm, they are regularly disregarded. There aren't prohibitions on Allegheny, but there really should be. I think the first 50 feet need to be no parking zones so a turning car has the ability to turn into its own lane, with space to slow down so it doesn't run into a parked car.?
Lastly, for the 2 way traffic question on the north side of Laurel, can someone please clarify how much of the median folks expect to be removed under this proposal? For the record, I don't support this design idea, but my objection stems from what I am about to share below. I probably missed a detailed discussion on this, so please hear me out. A quick search of County street design regs seems to indicate that each travel lane would need to be 13 feet wide if there is no adjacent parking lane. Assuming the current layout conforms to the existing regs for such streets, we have an 11 foot wide travel lane and 8 foot parking lane at present. Is that accurate? If so, we are short 7 feet! Taking 7 feet out of the median pretty much destroys the median, including going into our clock tower. If someone has specific regulations to cite that explain why the regs I found aren't the right ones, I am certainly open to changing my mind! But if this is indeed the right math, bulldozing the majority of the median seems like an extreme option to me. Is that really what folks are suggesting we investigate?
As my neighbor Randy would say, thanks for listening.
Alison On Allegheny
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message -------- Date: 4/21/25 4:17 PM (GMT-04:00) Subject: Re: [wacorganization] Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
Thanks, George et al, for these informative reports and observations. George, I'm really sorry about all the?damage you're getting.?
I agree with the seriousness of these issues. I would like to see investigation of opening Laurel Avenue to two-way traffic on the north side. What you're reporting also bolsters my strong opposition to allowing commercial patrons to look for parking along Westmoreland. More circling traffic would be generated with more hazards, volume, and chaos.?
City staff have said that requests to restrict access to streets (e.g. making them one-way, or prohibiting entry during certain times) would require a traffic study. If WACO-area residents would like consideration of a traffic study, that would be (to my understanding) something that would be a request brought forward anytime before mid-fall of this year, for consideration?in the next year's budget.?
Perhaps it is possible, however, to explore whether any turn restriction signs could be helpful, since it's my understanding that these signs don't require traffic studies. Regarding that Walnut-Westmoreland intersection, I would?like to see whether it's possible to move the stop line forward to improve visibility and discourage the "stops" that turn over time into "stop-and-creeps," then "drifts-without-stops," and then even "blow-throughs."
Roger On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 2:24?PM Rick Weiss via <rickweiss99= [email protected]> wrote: Carol’s mention of the stop sign at Elm and Pine (which, yes — people routinely roll through, barely slowing down) reminds me to ask: is that proposed TPPD electric motorcycle still on the budget? Because that seemed awfully unnecessary for our already over-sized and over-funded PD and sounded to me a lot more like a “fun to have” than a “must have”.? I’m of the belief that if we are going to have such a big force for our medium-small community then I want to SEE them, sitting in their cars in places like Elm and Pine and handing out hundreds of warnings and then tickets for all the cars (and food delivery motorcycles) that are blowing through our streets knowing they’ll never have to worry about enforcement of stop signs, parking restrictions, obnoxiously modified exhaust systems, and other “minor” violations (like any lingering use of gas leaf blowers once the summer ban kicks in). Small things like this that make a real difference in quality of life (and that remind people in this trump era that there is such a thing as “rule of law” in our town) are the everyday ways to gain community support for a police dept. that wants more resources.? On Apr 20, 2025, at 11:56?AM, CAROL CLAYTON via <carolclayton=[email protected]> wrote:
? I fully agree there is a terrible traffic problem in our neighborhood, however, making Walnut and Westmoreland one way will throw even more traffic onto Elm/Pine.? I see people blow through that stop sign at Elm and Pine all the time, and then speed up Pine.? I understand that "it's been good for business" to make an outdoor dining spot.? It's been horrible for residential areas however.? If they want to keep the outdoor area, why not adopt Byrne's idea of making another lane by removing part of the median?? It would take away 5 parking spots, but it would keep the traffic where it belongs-on the main road through town.?? On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:44?AM Marlana Valdez via <valdez53= [email protected]> wrote: I have my grandkids over here on Walnut and try to keep them out of the front yard because of the non stop traffic.?
I would be in favor of making walnut and westmoreland one way streets running in the opposite directions.?
The overwhelming amount of traffic dying rush hour in the evening terrifies me. Marlana on walnut I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going. In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate by ?a car coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps, our Public Works Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for which we don't have an?adequate plan.. -- George Kohl Mobile: 301-318-0258
-- Roger Schlegel City?Council Member,?Ward Three?
Email:?RogerS@... Phone:?240-997-3041
Please note that all City emails can potentially be public.
|
Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
I'd like to add few general observations/suggestions/questions about traffic.
?George, I'm so sorry to hear about so much damage. I think most folks, but clearly not all, have a driveway on that part of Westmoreland. My suggestion will be unpopular, but it seems that part of the answer of crowded streets should be incentivizing those with driveways on busy streets to fully use them. For example, the city could charge residents with driveways a heftier fee for their zoned parking sticker. The fee should be set at a level that makes tandem parking worth the hassle. While I often see one car in a driveway, I rarely see anyone tandem parked. This tells me that the fee isn't set at a level that incentivizes them to park their second car in their driveway.?
Roger, maybe I missed something, but if folks are looking for parking on Westmoreland before patronizing the downtown businesses, that seems odd. There is a gigantic public parking lot right there in the middle of downtown, free for the first hour. Maybe there need to be more signs telling visitors it exists? If circling is a problem, perhaps improving signage is a low-cost way to start.
Regarding rolling stops and the intersection of Elm and Pine, there is a parking/visibility issue at that corner and also at the corner of Elm and Allegheny. Folks park so close to the intersections that turning cars must turn into the oncoming traffic lane. While there are some parking prohibitions to prevent this on Elm, they are regularly disregarded. There aren't prohibitions on Allegheny, but there really should be. I think the first 50 feet need to be no parking zones so a turning car has the ability to turn into its own lane, with space to slow down so it doesn't run into a parked car.?
Lastly, for the 2 way traffic question on the north side of Laurel, can someone please clarify how much of the median folks expect to be removed under this proposal? For the record, I don't support this design idea, but my objection stems from what I am about to share below. I probably missed a detailed discussion on this, so please hear me out. A quick search of County street design regs seems to indicate that each travel lane would need to be 13 feet wide if there is no adjacent parking lane. Assuming the current layout conforms to the existing regs for such streets, we have an 11 foot wide travel lane and 8 foot parking lane at present. Is that accurate? If so, we are short 7 feet! Taking 7 feet out of the median pretty much destroys the median, including going into our clock tower. If someone has specific regulations to cite that explain why the regs I found aren't the right ones, I am certainly open to changing my mind! But if this is indeed the right math, bulldozing the majority of the median seems like an extreme option to me. Is that really what folks are suggesting we investigate?
As my neighbor Randy would say, thanks for listening.
Alison On Allegheny
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-------- Original message -------- From: "Roger Schlegel, Ward 3 Council Member via groups.io" <RogerS@...> Date: 4/21/25 4:17 PM (GMT-04:00) To: rickweiss99@... Subject: Re: [wacorganization] Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
Thanks, George et al, for these informative reports and observations. George, I'm really sorry about all the?damage you're getting.?
I agree with the seriousness of these issues. I would like to see investigation of opening Laurel Avenue to two-way traffic on the north side. What you're reporting also bolsters my strong opposition to allowing commercial patrons to look for parking along Westmoreland. More circling traffic would be generated with more hazards, volume, and chaos.?
City staff have said that requests to restrict access to streets (e.g. making them one-way, or prohibiting entry during certain times) would require a traffic study. If WACO-area residents would like consideration of a traffic study, that would be (to my understanding) something that would be a request brought forward anytime before mid-fall of this year, for consideration?in the next year's budget.?
Perhaps it is possible, however, to explore whether any turn restriction signs could be helpful, since it's my understanding that these signs don't require traffic studies. Regarding that Walnut-Westmoreland intersection, I would?like to see whether it's possible to move the stop line forward to improve visibility and discourage the "stops" that turn over time into "stop-and-creeps," then "drifts-without-stops," and then even "blow-throughs."
Roger On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 2:24?PM Rick Weiss via <rickweiss99= [email protected]> wrote: Carol’s mention of the stop sign at Elm and Pine (which, yes — people routinely roll through, barely slowing down) reminds me to ask: is that proposed TPPD electric motorcycle still on the budget? Because that seemed awfully unnecessary for our already over-sized and over-funded PD and sounded to me a lot more like a “fun to have” than a “must have”.? I’m of the belief that if we are going to have such a big force for our medium-small community then I want to SEE them, sitting in their cars in places like Elm and Pine and handing out hundreds of warnings and then tickets for all the cars (and food delivery motorcycles) that are blowing through our streets knowing they’ll never have to worry about enforcement of stop signs, parking restrictions, obnoxiously modified exhaust systems, and other “minor” violations (like any lingering use of gas leaf blowers once the summer ban kicks in). Small things like this that make a real difference in quality of life (and that remind people in this trump era that there is such a thing as “rule of law” in our town) are the everyday ways to gain community support for a police dept. that wants more resources.? On Apr 20, 2025, at 11:56?AM, CAROL CLAYTON via <carolclayton=[email protected]> wrote:
? I fully agree there is a terrible traffic problem in our neighborhood, however, making Walnut and Westmoreland one way will throw even more traffic onto Elm/Pine.? I see people blow through that stop sign at Elm and Pine all the time, and then speed up Pine.? I understand that "it's been good for business" to make an outdoor dining spot.? It's been horrible for residential areas however.? If they want to keep the outdoor area, why not adopt Byrne's idea of making another lane by removing part of the median?? It would take away 5 parking spots, but it would keep the traffic where it belongs-on the main road through town.?? On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:44?AM Marlana Valdez via <valdez53= [email protected]> wrote: I have my grandkids over here on Walnut and try to keep them out of the front yard because of the non stop traffic.?
I would be in favor of making walnut and westmoreland one way streets running in the opposite directions.?
The overwhelming amount of traffic dying rush hour in the evening terrifies me. Marlana on walnut I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going. In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate by ?a car coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps, our Public Works Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for which we don't have an?adequate plan.. -- George Kohl Mobile: 301-318-0258
-- Roger Schlegel City?Council Member,?Ward Three?7500 Maple Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 Email:?RogerS@... Phone:?240-997-3041 Please note that all City emails can potentially be public.
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Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
I agree with everyone's comments and/or suggestions I have read, so far. Sometimes it takes me 5 or 6 minutes just to get out of my driveway and onto the street, on Walnut, because of the volume of traffic.
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On Apr 20, 2025 09:38, "George Kohl via groups.io" <geokohl12@...> wrote: I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going. In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate by ?a car coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps, our Public Works Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for which we don't have an?adequate plan.. -- George Kohl Mobile: 301-318-0258
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Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
And what about the proposed cross walk painted lines and elevated walkways proposed and approved for a “future” budget.
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On Apr 21, 2025, at 4:17?PM, Roger Schlegel, Ward 3 Council Member via groups.io <RogerS@...> wrote: Thanks, George et al, for these informative reports and observations. George, I'm really sorry about all the?damage you're getting.?
I agree with the seriousness of these issues. I would like to see investigation of opening Laurel Avenue to two-way traffic on the north side. What you're reporting also bolsters my strong opposition to allowing commercial patrons to look for parking along Westmoreland. More circling traffic would be generated with more hazards, volume, and chaos.?
City staff have said that requests to restrict access to streets (e.g. making them one-way, or prohibiting entry during certain times) would require a traffic study. If WACO-area residents would like consideration of a traffic study, that would be (to my understanding) something that would be a request brought forward anytime before mid-fall of this year, for consideration?in the next year's budget.?
Perhaps it is possible, however, to explore whether any turn restriction signs could be helpful, since it's my understanding that these signs don't require traffic studies. Regarding that Walnut-Westmoreland intersection, I would?like to see whether it's possible to move the stop line forward to improve visibility and discourage the "stops" that turn over time into "stop-and-creeps," then "drifts-without-stops," and then even "blow-throughs."
Roger On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 2:24?PM Rick Weiss via <rickweiss99= [email protected]> wrote: Carol’s mention of the stop sign at Elm and Pine (which, yes — people routinely roll through, barely slowing down) reminds me to ask: is that proposed TPPD electric motorcycle still on the budget? Because that seemed awfully unnecessary for our already over-sized and over-funded PD and sounded to me a lot more like a “fun to have” than a “must have”.? I’m of the belief that if we are going to have such a big force for our medium-small community then I want to SEE them, sitting in their cars in places like Elm and Pine and handing out hundreds of warnings and then tickets for all the cars (and food delivery motorcycles) that are blowing through our streets knowing they’ll never have to worry about enforcement of stop signs, parking restrictions, obnoxiously modified exhaust systems, and other “minor” violations (like any lingering use of gas leaf blowers once the summer ban kicks in). Small things like this that make a real difference in quality of life (and that remind people in this trump era that there is such a thing as “rule of law” in our town) are the everyday ways to gain community support for a police dept. that wants more resources.? On Apr 20, 2025, at 11:56?AM, CAROL CLAYTON via <carolclayton=[email protected]> wrote:
? I fully agree there is a terrible traffic problem in our neighborhood, however, making Walnut and Westmoreland one way will throw even more traffic onto Elm/Pine.? I see people blow through that stop sign at Elm and Pine all the time, and then speed up Pine.? I understand that "it's been good for business" to make an outdoor dining spot.? It's been horrible for residential areas however.? If they want to keep the outdoor area, why not adopt Byrne's idea of making another lane by removing part of the median?? It would take away 5 parking spots, but it would keep the traffic where it belongs-on the main road through town.?? On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:44?AM Marlana Valdez via <valdez53= [email protected]> wrote: I have my grandkids over here on Walnut and try to keep them out of the front yard because of the non stop traffic.?
I would be in favor of making walnut and westmoreland one way streets running in the opposite directions.?
The overwhelming amount of traffic dying rush hour in the evening terrifies me. Marlana on walnut I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going. In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate by ?a car coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps, our Public Works Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for which we don't have an?adequate plan.. -- George Kohl Mobile: 301-318-0258
-- Roger Schlegel City?Council Member,?Ward Three?7500 Maple Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 Email:?RogerS@... Phone:?240-997-3041 Please note that all City emails can potentially be public.
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Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
And police enforcement ?could be useful to keep the “Box” clear in front of the fire house.
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On Apr 21, 2025, at 2:24?PM, Rick Weiss via groups.io <rickweiss99@...> wrote: Carol’s mention of the stop sign at Elm and Pine (which, yes — people routinely roll through, barely slowing down) reminds me to ask: is that proposed TPPD electric motorcycle still on the budget? Because that seemed awfully unnecessary for our already over-sized and over-funded PD and sounded to me a lot more like a “fun to have” than a “must have”.? I’m of the belief that if we are going to have such a big force for our medium-small community then I want to SEE them, sitting in their cars in places like Elm and Pine and handing out hundreds of warnings and then tickets for all the cars (and food delivery motorcycles) that are blowing through our streets knowing they’ll never have to worry about enforcement of stop signs, parking restrictions, obnoxiously modified exhaust systems, and other “minor” violations (like any lingering use of gas leaf blowers once the summer ban kicks in). Small things like this that make a real difference in quality of life (and that remind people in this trump era that there is such a thing as “rule of law” in our town) are the everyday ways to gain community support for a police dept. that wants more resources.? On Apr 20, 2025, at 11:56?AM, CAROL CLAYTON via groups.io <carolclayton@...> wrote:
? I fully agree there is a terrible traffic problem in our neighborhood, however, making Walnut and Westmoreland one way will throw even more traffic onto Elm/Pine.? I see people blow through that stop sign at Elm and Pine all the time, and then speed up Pine.? I understand that "it's been good for business" to make an outdoor dining spot.? It's been horrible for residential areas however.? If they want to keep the outdoor area, why not adopt Byrne's idea of making another lane by removing part of the median?? It would take away 5 parking spots, but it would keep the traffic where it belongs-on the main road through town.?? On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:44?AM Marlana Valdez via <valdez53= [email protected]> wrote: I have my grandkids over here on Walnut and try to keep them out of the front yard because of the non stop traffic.?
I would be in favor of making walnut and westmoreland one way streets running in the opposite directions.?
The overwhelming amount of traffic dying rush hour in the evening terrifies me. Marlana on walnut I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going. In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate by ?a car coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps, our Public Works Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for which we don't have an?adequate plan.. -- George Kohl Mobile: 301-318-0258
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Re: Stuffed horse toy on Westmoreland between Walnut and Carrol
Yes, it’s been there (on our wall) for at least a week. Very cute, somebody must be missing it. Enrica
6909 Westmoreland
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On Apr 21, 2025, at 6:20?PM, Sasha Johnson via groups.io <johnson.sasha@...> wrote:
?If you are missing this furry friend it’s on Westmoreland! Hoping to reconnect it with its owner!
Sasha Elm Ave
<IMG_0873.jpg>
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Stormwater Webinar for Takoma Park, this Thursday 7 pm
TAKOMA STORMWATER SOLUTIONS INVITES YOU TO ATTEND OUR UPCOMING WEBINAR?THIS THURSDAY
DETAILS?BELOW
Byrne H. Kelly, ASLA, MD:QEP/LLA # 200019
President, The GREENFIELDS Company, Inc. Green Infrastructure Certified, Design-Consult Stormwater
and Flood Risks in Takoma Park – What To Do?
A Takoma?Stormwater?Solutions
Webinar
Thursday, April 24TH?at
7 PM on ZOOM
Meeting ID: 831 4264 2730
Passcode: 917440
Researchers from the School of Landscape Architecture at
UMD-College Park have integrated Flood Risk Modeling with Virtual Reality
software to improve the understanding of those risks by all stakeholders.
Experts will discuss residential stormwater adaptations that
provide co-benefits for property owners and their neighborhoods that are worthwhile
as investments in themselves. Funding sources will be discussed.
We suggest you join at least 5 minutes before the start
time,?7 pm on April 24.
Presenters:
Christopher Ellis (PhD), Professor, Landscape Architecture,
University of MD, College Park
Dr Ellis is a professor and active researcher at the
University of MD with a distinguished record of contributions in landscape
ecology and environmental perception, stream and wetland restorations, low
impact development/environmental site design, and creative ways to integrate
storm water solutions into school grounds to support environmental education. His
current research on?Visualizing Hydrologic Flood Models in Virtual
Reality?was recently featured at the 2024 Montgomery County H2O
Summit.
Eric Buehl, Regional Watershed Restoration Specialist,
University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension
Eric has been with the University of Maryland Sea Grant
Extension since 2014 and provides technical assistance and outreach to
communities in the mid and upper Eastern Shore that are seeking solutions to a
variety of watershed issues. His professional experience includes stormwater
management, habitat and water quality restoration project design and
implementation, and land surveying.
Michael Lynn, Lead Ecological Designer, United Designers
International
Mike has worked on projects internationally in large-scale
watershed restoration, agricultural and agroforestry production systems, and
ecological restoration. Around the Chesapeake Bay, his focus has been on stormwater management, ecological restoration, and living shorelines. His experience
and professional certifications have made him a passionate, motivational
trainer in nature-based solutions.
Missy Lauterbach, Education & Training Coordinator,
Chesapeake Stormwater Network
Missy has over 25 years of experience as an environmental
educator in the Chesapeake Bay region, with an unwavering dedication to
preserving and improving the health of the watershed. She joined CSN’s team in
2024 to contribute to its vital mission. Her connection to the water runs
deep—she is also an accomplished paddling instructor and guide, seamlessly
blending her love for nature with her commitment to water quality.
For information about TSS, see our website at Steve Whitney Takoma Park, MD USA +1 301-437-4679
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You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Core Stormwater Takoma" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ?takomastormwatersolutions@...
To view this discussion visit .
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Stuffed horse toy on Westmoreland between Walnut and Carrol
If you are missing this furry friend it’s on Westmoreland! Hoping to reconnect it with its owner!
Sasha Elm Ave
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City Council budget work session tonight has been moved to Zoom (link included)
Hi all,
There has been another power outage affecting the Auditorium, so the City Council work session on the budget has been shifted to Zoom for this evening. This is strictly a work session, so there will be no opportunity for public comments (unlike at this week's regular Wednesday meeting).
The public Zoom registration link, if you want to watch, is:? As part of advocating for reconciliation items that I proposed, I'll be sharing a short presentation justifying significant reductions in spending for the Community Center renovation (a.k.a. "Atrium project"). By my calculations, the new functional space being added by this project will cost around $985 per square foot, which seems much too high. I'll be trying to make the case that more creative use of underutilized spaces, without decking over the Atrium, could meet all of the core objectives of the project.
Best regards, Roger
-- Roger Schlegel City?Council Member,?Ward Three?7500 Maple Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 Email:?RogerS@... Phone:?240-997-3041 Please note that all City emails can potentially be public.
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Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
Thanks, Roger. Just to add to this discussion---there continues to be little to no enforcement of the parking restrictions with numerous people parking all day and taking up two spaces. Frankly, I've all but given up reminding people how/when/where to park.? SImilarly, there is no enforcement of the no parking at the top of the hill---a safety issue due to blocking visibility.? We discussed these with the city manager at the last big WACO meeting.
-Lois on Westmoreland On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 4:17?PM Roger Schlegel, Ward 3 Council Member via <RogerS= [email protected]> wrote:
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Show quoted text
Thanks, George et al, for these informative reports and observations. George, I'm really sorry about all the?damage you're getting.?
I agree with the seriousness of these issues. I would like to see investigation of opening Laurel Avenue to two-way traffic on the north side. What you're reporting also bolsters my strong opposition to allowing commercial patrons to look for parking along Westmoreland. More circling traffic would be generated with more hazards, volume, and chaos.?
City staff have said that requests to restrict access to streets (e.g. making them one-way, or prohibiting entry during certain times) would require a traffic study. If WACO-area residents would like consideration of a traffic study, that would be (to my understanding) something that would be a request brought forward anytime before mid-fall of this year, for consideration?in the next year's budget.?
Perhaps it is possible, however, to explore whether any turn restriction signs could be helpful, since it's my understanding that these signs don't require traffic studies. Regarding that Walnut-Westmoreland intersection, I would?like to see whether it's possible to move the stop line forward to improve visibility and discourage the "stops" that turn over time into "stop-and-creeps," then "drifts-without-stops," and then even "blow-throughs."
Roger
On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 2:24?PM Rick Weiss via <rickweiss99= [email protected]> wrote: Carol’s mention of the stop sign at Elm and Pine (which, yes — people routinely roll through, barely slowing down) reminds me to ask: is that proposed TPPD electric motorcycle still on the budget? Because that seemed awfully unnecessary for our already over-sized and over-funded PD and sounded to me a lot more like a “fun to have” than a “must have”.? I’m of the belief that if we are going to have such a big force for our medium-small community then I want to SEE them, sitting in their cars in places like Elm and Pine and handing out hundreds of warnings and then tickets for all the cars (and food delivery motorcycles) that are blowing through our streets knowing they’ll never have to worry about enforcement of stop signs, parking restrictions, obnoxiously modified exhaust systems, and other “minor” violations (like any lingering use of gas leaf blowers once the summer ban kicks in). Small things like this that make a real difference in quality of life (and that remind people in this trump era that there is such a thing as “rule of law” in our town) are the everyday ways to gain community support for a police dept. that wants more resources.? On Apr 20, 2025, at 11:56?AM, CAROL CLAYTON via <carolclayton=[email protected]> wrote:
? I fully agree there is a terrible traffic problem in our neighborhood, however, making Walnut and Westmoreland one way will throw even more traffic onto Elm/Pine.? I see people blow through that stop sign at Elm and Pine all the time, and then speed up Pine.? I understand that "it's been good for business" to make an outdoor dining spot.? It's been horrible for residential areas however.? If they want to keep the outdoor area, why not adopt Byrne's idea of making another lane by removing part of the median?? It would take away 5 parking spots, but it would keep the traffic where it belongs-on the main road through town.?? On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:44?AM Marlana Valdez via <valdez53= [email protected]> wrote: I have my grandkids over here on Walnut and try to keep them out of the front yard because of the non stop traffic.?
I would be in favor of making walnut and westmoreland one way streets running in the opposite directions.?
The overwhelming amount of traffic dying rush hour in the evening terrifies me. Marlana on walnut I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going. In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate by ?a car coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps, our Public Works Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for which we don't have an?adequate plan.. -- George Kohl Mobile: 301-318-0258
--
Roger Schlegel City?Council Member,?Ward Three?7500 Maple Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 Email:?RogerS@... Phone:?240-997-3041 Please note that all City emails can potentially be public.
|
Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
Thanks, George et al, for these informative reports and observations. George, I'm really sorry about all the?damage you're getting.?
I agree with the seriousness of these issues. I would like to see investigation of opening Laurel Avenue to two-way traffic on the north side. What you're reporting also bolsters my strong opposition to allowing commercial patrons to look for parking along Westmoreland. More circling traffic would be generated with more hazards, volume, and chaos.?
City staff have said that requests to restrict access to streets (e.g. making them one-way, or prohibiting entry during certain times) would require a traffic study. If WACO-area residents would like consideration of a traffic study, that would be (to my understanding) something that would be a request brought forward anytime before mid-fall of this year, for consideration?in the next year's budget.?
Perhaps it is possible, however, to explore whether any turn restriction signs could be helpful, since it's my understanding that these signs don't require traffic studies. Regarding that Walnut-Westmoreland intersection, I would?like to see whether it's possible to move the stop line forward to improve visibility and discourage the "stops" that turn over time into "stop-and-creeps," then "drifts-without-stops," and then even "blow-throughs."
Roger
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 2:24?PM Rick Weiss via <rickweiss99= [email protected]> wrote: Carol’s mention of the stop sign at Elm and Pine (which, yes — people routinely roll through, barely slowing down) reminds me to ask: is that proposed TPPD electric motorcycle still on the budget? Because that seemed awfully unnecessary for our already over-sized and over-funded PD and sounded to me a lot more like a “fun to have” than a “must have”.? I’m of the belief that if we are going to have such a big force for our medium-small community then I want to SEE them, sitting in their cars in places like Elm and Pine and handing out hundreds of warnings and then tickets for all the cars (and food delivery motorcycles) that are blowing through our streets knowing they’ll never have to worry about enforcement of stop signs, parking restrictions, obnoxiously modified exhaust systems, and other “minor” violations (like any lingering use of gas leaf blowers once the summer ban kicks in). Small things like this that make a real difference in quality of life (and that remind people in this trump era that there is such a thing as “rule of law” in our town) are the everyday ways to gain community support for a police dept. that wants more resources.? On Apr 20, 2025, at 11:56?AM, CAROL CLAYTON via <carolclayton=[email protected]> wrote:
? I fully agree there is a terrible traffic problem in our neighborhood, however, making Walnut and Westmoreland one way will throw even more traffic onto Elm/Pine.? I see people blow through that stop sign at Elm and Pine all the time, and then speed up Pine.? I understand that "it's been good for business" to make an outdoor dining spot.? It's been horrible for residential areas however.? If they want to keep the outdoor area, why not adopt Byrne's idea of making another lane by removing part of the median?? It would take away 5 parking spots, but it would keep the traffic where it belongs-on the main road through town.?? On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:44?AM Marlana Valdez via <valdez53= [email protected]> wrote: I have my grandkids over here on Walnut and try to keep them out of the front yard because of the non stop traffic.?
I would be in favor of making walnut and westmoreland one way streets running in the opposite directions.?
The overwhelming amount of traffic dying rush hour in the evening terrifies me. Marlana on walnut I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going. In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate by ?a car coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps, our Public Works Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for which we don't have an?adequate plan.. -- George Kohl Mobile: 301-318-0258
-- Roger Schlegel City?Council Member,?Ward Three?7500 Maple Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 Email:?RogerS@... Phone:?240-997-3041 Please note that all City emails can potentially be public.
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Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland - TP traffic coordinator
? Therese Gibson reacted via
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Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland - TP traffic coordinator
Therese,
Thanks for the suggestion. ?I think that’s a great idea, I’ll pursue and get back to you and WACO on this. ?
Bruce Moyer
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On Apr 21, 2025, at 2:28?PM, Therese Gibson via groups.io <theresegibson53@...> wrote:
My understanding is that the city’s new traffic coordinator is already on the job. I wonder if we could have a WACO neighborhood meeting with her?
Therese Gibson
On Apr 21, 2025, at 2:24?PM, Rick Weiss via groups.io <rickweiss99@...> wrote:
Carol’s
mention of the stop sign at Elm and Pine (which, yes — people routinely roll through, barely slowing down) reminds me to ask: is that proposed TPPD electric motorcycle still on the budget? Because that seemed awfully unnecessary for our already over-sized
and over-funded PD and sounded to me a lot more like a “fun to have” than a “must have”.?
I’m of the belief that if we are going to have such a big force for our medium-small community then I want to SEE them, sitting in their cars in places like Elm and Pine and handing out hundreds of warnings and then tickets for all the cars (and food delivery
motorcycles) that are blowing through our streets knowing they’ll never have to worry about enforcement of stop signs, parking restrictions, obnoxiously modified exhaust systems, and other “minor” violations (like any lingering use of gas leaf blowers once
the summer ban kicks in). Small things like this that make a real difference in quality of life (and that remind people in this trump era that there is such a thing as “rule of law” in our town) are the everyday ways to gain community support for a police
dept. that wants more resources.?
On Apr 20, 2025, at 11:56?AM, CAROL CLAYTON via groups.io <carolclayton@...> wrote:
?
I fully agree there is a terrible traffic problem in our neighborhood, however, making Walnut and Westmoreland one way will throw even more traffic onto Elm/Pine.? I see people blow through that stop sign at Elm and Pine all the time, and then
speed up Pine.? I understand that "it's been good for business" to make an outdoor dining spot.? It's been horrible for residential areas however.? If they want to keep the outdoor area, why not adopt Byrne's idea of making another lane by removing part of
the median?? It would take away 5 parking spots, but it would keep the traffic where it belongs-on the main road through town.??
On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:44?AM Marlana Valdez via ??<valdez53= [email protected]>
wrote:
I have my grandkids over here on Walnut and try to keep them out of the front yard because of the non stop traffic.?
I would be in favor of making walnut and westmoreland one way streets running in the opposite directions.?
The overwhelming amount of traffic dying rush hour in the evening terrifies me. Marlana on walnut
On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:39?AM George Kohl via ??<geokohl12= [email protected]>
wrote:
I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going.
In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate by ?a car
coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps, our Public Works
Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for which we don't
have an?adequate plan..
--?
George Kohl
Mobile: 301-318-0258
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Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland - TP traffic coordinator
My understanding is that the city’s new traffic coordinator is already on the job. I wonder if we could have a WACO neighborhood meeting with her?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Apr 21, 2025, at 2:24?PM, Rick Weiss via groups.io <rickweiss99@...> wrote:
Carol’s mention of the stop sign at Elm and Pine (which, yes — people routinely roll through, barely slowing down) reminds me to ask: is that proposed TPPD electric motorcycle still on the budget? Because that seemed awfully unnecessary for our already over-sized and over-funded PD and sounded to me a lot more like a “fun to have” than a “must have”.?I’m of the belief that if we are going to have such a big force for our medium-small community then I want to SEE them, sitting in their cars in places like Elm and Pine and handing out hundreds of warnings and then tickets for all the cars (and food delivery motorcycles) that are blowing through our streets knowing they’ll never have to worry about enforcement of stop signs, parking restrictions, obnoxiously modified exhaust systems, and other “minor” violations (like any lingering use of gas leaf blowers once the summer ban kicks in). Small things like this that make a real difference in quality of life (and that remind people in this trump era that there is such a thing as “rule of law” in our town) are the everyday ways to gain community support for a police dept. that wants more resources.? On Apr 20, 2025, at 11:56?AM, CAROL CLAYTON via groups.io <carolclayton@...> wrote:
? I fully agree there is a terrible traffic problem in our neighborhood, however, making Walnut and Westmoreland one way will throw even more traffic onto Elm/Pine.? I see people blow through that stop sign at Elm and Pine all the time, and then speed up Pine.? I understand that "it's been good for business" to make an outdoor dining spot.? It's been horrible for residential areas however.? If they want to keep the outdoor area, why not adopt Byrne's idea of making another lane by removing part of the median?? It would take away 5 parking spots, but it would keep the traffic where it belongs-on the main road through town.?? On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:44?AM Marlana Valdez via ??<valdez53= [email protected]> wrote: I have my grandkids over here on Walnut and try to keep them out of the front yard because of the non stop traffic.?
I would be in favor of making walnut and westmoreland one way streets running in the opposite directions.?
The overwhelming amount of traffic dying rush hour in the evening terrifies me. Marlana on walnut On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:39?AM George Kohl via ??<geokohl12= [email protected]> wrote: I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going. In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate by ?a car coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps, our Public Works Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for which we don't have an?adequate plan.. --?George Kohl Mobile: 301-318-0258
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Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
Carol’s mention of the stop sign at Elm and Pine (which, yes — people routinely roll through, barely slowing down) reminds me to ask: is that proposed TPPD electric motorcycle still on the budget? Because that seemed awfully unnecessary for our already over-sized and over-funded PD and sounded to me a lot more like a “fun to have” than a “must have”.? I’m of the belief that if we are going to have such a big force for our medium-small community then I want to SEE them, sitting in their cars in places like Elm and Pine and handing out hundreds of warnings and then tickets for all the cars (and food delivery motorcycles) that are blowing through our streets knowing they’ll never have to worry about enforcement of stop signs, parking restrictions, obnoxiously modified exhaust systems, and other “minor” violations (like any lingering use of gas leaf blowers once the summer ban kicks in). Small things like this that make a real difference in quality of life (and that remind people in this trump era that there is such a thing as “rule of law” in our town) are the everyday ways to gain community support for a police dept. that wants more resources.?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Apr 20, 2025, at 11:56?AM, CAROL CLAYTON via groups.io <carolclayton@...> wrote:
? I fully agree there is a terrible traffic problem in our neighborhood, however, making Walnut and Westmoreland one way will throw even more traffic onto Elm/Pine.? I see people blow through that stop sign at Elm and Pine all the time, and then speed up Pine.? I understand that "it's been good for business" to make an outdoor dining spot.? It's been horrible for residential areas however.? If they want to keep the outdoor area, why not adopt Byrne's idea of making another lane by removing part of the median?? It would take away 5 parking spots, but it would keep the traffic where it belongs-on the main road through town.?? On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:44?AM Marlana Valdez via <valdez53= [email protected]> wrote: I have my grandkids over here on Walnut and try to keep them out of the front yard because of the non stop traffic.?
I would be in favor of making walnut and westmoreland one way streets running in the opposite directions.?
The overwhelming amount of traffic dying rush hour in the evening terrifies me. Marlana on walnut I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going. In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate by ?a car coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps, our Public Works Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for which we don't have an?adequate plan.. -- George Kohl Mobile: 301-318-0258
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Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
In agree with Carol about this.
Adriana Elefante 6607 Westmoreland Ave Takoma Park MD 20912 301-602-8712
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On Apr 20, 2025, at 11:55?AM, CAROL CLAYTON via groups.io <carolclayton@...> wrote:
I fully agree there is a terrible traffic problem in our neighborhood, however, making Walnut and Westmoreland one way will throw even more traffic onto Elm/Pine.? I see people blow through that stop sign at Elm and Pine all the time, and then speed up Pine.? I understand that "it's been good for business" to make an outdoor dining spot.? It's been horrible for residential areas however.? If they want to keep the outdoor area, why not adopt Byrne's idea of making another lane by removing part of the median?? It would take away 5 parking spots, but it would keep the traffic where it belongs-on the main road through town.?? On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:44?AM Marlana Valdez via ??<valdez53= [email protected]> wrote: I have my grandkids over here on Walnut and try to keep them out of the front yard because of the non stop traffic.?
I would be in favor of making walnut and westmoreland one way streets running in the opposite directions.?
The overwhelming amount of traffic dying rush hour in the evening terrifies me. Marlana on walnut On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:39?AM George Kohl via ??<geokohl12= [email protected]> wrote: I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going. In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate by ?a car coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps, our Public Works Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for which we don't have an?adequate plan.. --?George Kohl Mobile: 301-318-0258
|
Re: Traffic on Upper Westmoreland
I fully agree there is a terrible traffic problem in our neighborhood, however, making Walnut and Westmoreland one way will throw even more traffic onto Elm/Pine.? I see people blow through that stop sign at Elm and Pine all the time, and then speed up Pine.? I understand that "it's been good for business" to make an outdoor dining spot.? It's been horrible for residential areas however.? If they want to keep the outdoor area, why not adopt Byrne's idea of making another lane by removing part of the median?? It would take away 5 parking spots, but it would keep the traffic where it belongs-on the main road through town.??
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 9:44?AM Marlana Valdez via <valdez53= [email protected]> wrote: I have my grandkids over here on Walnut and try to keep them out of the front yard because of the non stop traffic.?
I would be in favor of making walnut and westmoreland one way streets running in the opposite directions.?
The overwhelming amount of traffic dying rush hour in the evening terrifies me. Marlana on walnut I am in the process of filing my third insurance claim for three separate instances of cars or trucks traveling down Westmoreland hitting my parked car in front of 7000 Westmoreland. ??
The increased traffic volume, in both directions, on a street too narrow for a marked center lane has led to these three incidents in the last two years.?
In one case a truck took off my side view mirror.? A neighbor saw it but the truck kept on going. In the second case, shortly after the side view mirror was replaced, someone else hit the side mirror of the car again and didn't stop. ? And this week, a car going down the hill swiped the ?front end of my parked car as she tried to navigate by ?a car coming up the hill with a delivery truck double parked at a neighbor's house.
I'm not sure if our location in the middle of the block or the fact that there are driveways on both sides of our property which folks use to try to avoid oncoming traffic?are the fault or not.?
None the less, what's clear to me is that as traffic volumes have grown, the street is too narrow to contain it. ?
As far as solutions go, there's the longstanding conversation to make the street one way. ? The street is too narrow to carry its current load. ?
Perhaps, we need the orange safety cones just as utility workers place around parked cars and give drivers more visual help to avoid parked cars. Perhaps a can of red spray paint to mark a safety zone is the cheapest solution.? Perhaps, our Public Works Dept can?provide some other viable answer??
While this is not a crusade for me, it's?certainly aggravating, and costing?me time and money. So far I'm adding it to my tax bill and the cost of the pleasant city amenities.? But I'll add it to the building chorus of traffic issues for which we don't have an?adequate plan.. -- George Kohl Mobile: 301-318-0258
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