January 17, 2007
The Honorable John D. Porcari, Secretary
Maryland Department of Transportation
7201 Corporate Center Dr.
Hanover, MD 21076
Dear Secretary Porcari:
Congratulations again on your return to state government. I look forward to working with you to rebuild the Department of Transportation. Today, I am writing to you regarding a significant and growing pedestrian safety problem in Montgomery County at the intersection of MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) and Forest Glen Road in Silver Spring.
Located only a few hundred feet north of the Washington Beltway in the heart of a residential neighborhood, this intersection was cited by Montgomery County’s 2006 Highway Mobility Report as the most congested intersection in the county. It is also the location of the Forest Glen Metro station. In addition to serving the local residential community, this station serves as the primary public transportation arrival point for employees of and visitors to Holy Cross Hospital, one of Montgomery County’s largest health care providers.
Unfortunately, station entrances for Metro riders are only on the west side of the intersection. As a result, residents living east of Georgia Avenue must cross nine lanes of traffic in order to reach the Metro station, as must hospital staff and visitors. Pedestrians do not have enough time to cross the intersection safely, and they risk getting hit by vehicles every time they cross the street. Previous studies have indicated that changing the timing of the traffic signals to help pedestrians would cause unacceptable traffic backups on MD 97.
As a result, a number of residents who live only three or four blocks away from the Metro station nevertheless drive there instead of walking, because they are afraid to cross the street on foot. For the same reason, others bypass the station altogether and commute by car. We end up with frightened pedestrians on the street and more cars on the road.
Fortunately, the state, working with Montgomery County, can resolve this problem with the construction of a new Metro entrance on the east side of Georgia Avenue, going underneath the intersection and connecting to the station’s existing underground facilities. WMATA has already completed a feasibility study, showing that this project can be completed for $12.6 million.
Completion of an additional entrance and the resultant reduction of people walking in the intersection will both enhance pedestrian safety and facilitate greater vehicular traffic flow at Montgomery County’s most congested intersection.
I hope you will review the WMATA drawings and estimates in the hope this project can receive state funding in the near future. County officials are already planning a comprehensive multi-agency study of the intersection to develop a package of complementary improvements in addition to a new Metro entrance. I would also request that SHA join WMATA and the county in conducting this study.
