Home  Blog County Council President Urges Action
|
|
County Council President Urges Action |
|
|
|
Following is the text of a letter written by Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal to the heads of the State Highway Administration, the Montgomery County Department of Public Works & Transportation and WMATA.
This letter represents an important first step towards improving safety at the Georgia-Forest Glen intersection. The county council deserves credit for focusing on the safety problems at our intersection and we will keep working with them for further improvements - Adam Pagnucco, Crossing Georgia.
November 3, 2006
Neil Pedersen, Administrator, SHA
Arthur Holmes, Director, DPWT
Jack Requa, Acting General Manager, WMATA
Dear Gentlemen:
On October 26 the Transportation and Environment Committee reviewed
some initial proposals for improving pedestrian safety in the
immediate vicinity of the Forest Glen Metrorail station and the
Georgia Avenue (MD 97)/Forest Glen Road (MD 192) intersection. The
recently opened Forest Glen pedestrian bridge certainly is a major
safety and access improvement for residents of Montgomery Hills
accessing the station. The installation of the new crosswalk and
pedestrian countdown signals at the Georgia Avenue/Forest Glen Road
intersection are also appreciated.
We, nevertheless, believe much more needs to be done at this
location. WMATA has completed a feasibility study for a potential
pedestrian tunnel under Georgia Avenue to the Forest Glen Metro
Station, and this concept is supported by the Forest Glen community.
Later this winter the County Council and Executive will consider this
project as a candidate to be added to our joint State transportation
project priority list. Even if it is added to our list, however, it
may be several years before the State accepts it for funding. We
cannot wait indefinitely for further improvements at this location.
We therefore request that SHA, WMATA and the County DPWT jointly
conduct a study to determine more extensive pedestrian safety and
access improvements at low-to-moderate costs that can be implemented
in the next year or two. WMATA's planning office is developing a
draft scope of service for such a study, which can be used as a
starting point. The County's Mid-County Regional Services Center can
be an important resource to you in identifying key stakeholder groups
and individuals for your outreach effort.
We urge you to proceed with this study as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
George L. Leventhal
Council President |
|