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Pedestrian walk signal won't be extended |
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Recently, Adam Pagnucco contacted the office of County Executive Ike Leggett and asked about inexpensive solutions that might aid the pedestrians at Georgia Avenue and Forest Glen Road, especially given the MD budget crunch. As chronicled in our video, pedestrians simply do not have enough time to cross the intersection, especially hospital patrons, including pregnant women or elderly citizens. Apparently, the Department of Public Works and Transportation believes the timing to be just fine (fine for who? pedestrians? or the drivers?). Bottom line: we don't expect the county to ever increase the pedestrian signal timing. It is clear that the only safe alternative for pedestrians is a new Metro entrance - let's take the pedestrians out of harm's way! Ike Leggett's letter follows:
Dear Mr. Pagnucco:
Thank you for your email of December 6, 2007, regarding conditions
for pedestrians at the intersection of Forest Glen Avenue (MD 192)
and Georgia Avenue (MD 97).
The pedestrian signal timing intervals have been established to
allow pedestrians adequate time to cross Georgia Avenue. These
timing have been checked by the Department of Public Works and
Transportation and found to be appropriate. In addition, the
Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) installed Countdown
Pedestrian Signals at this intersection in December of 2005. These
signals provide pedestrians with a display of the exact amount of
time remaining for them to complete their crossing and have proven
very effective in reducing the number of pedestrians remaining in
the crosswalk at the onset of green signals for opposing traffic.
As the video contained on your website points out, there are other
factors beyond pedestrian signal timing that affect safe pedestrian
crossing. Traffic engineers have many tools at their disposal in
attempting to provide a safe and efficient intersection operation.
In addition to engineering, we must also rely on two other "E's."
Those are education and enforcement. No amount of engineering can
assure safe intersection operations unless motorists and pedestrians
alike know and recognize their respective responsibilities. When
they fail to do so, it becomes a matter for enforcement. By copy of
this email to Captain Donald M. Johnson, Commander of the 3rd
District – Silver Spring, Montgomery County Police, I have made him
aware of your concerns at this location.
Our engineers are in the process of reviewing our standards for the
timing of pedestrian signals in light of their experiences, the
experiences of engineers throughout the country, research efforts,
and comments from residents. I expect that their efforts will
result in a recommendation to lengthen pedestrian crossing
intervals. Once finalized it will take a considerable period of
time for any new standard to be fully implemented at all of the
approximately 750 traffic signals for which the County is
responsible. In addition, they are in contact with the MSHA and
working together with them to identify any measures that could
improve intersection safety.
Thank you again for your letter and if you have any questions or if
any additional information is required, please contact Mr. Bruce C.
Mangum in our Traffic Engineering and Operations Section at 240-777-
6000.
Sincerely,
Isiah Leggett
County Executive |