NAC 6 MINUTES – March 8, 2004

Present: Katherine J. Jones, Trish Cunningham, Gail Marie Denny, Sarah Finefrock, Sgt. Hansell. Paul Dienes called before the meeting to advise he was called out of town for business, and could not attend the meeting.

Katherine moderated while taking notes for this meeting. Unfortunately, I did not catch the names of the neighbors who testified, at least not as they testified. I have attached a list of those present.

Many neighbors appeared for the meeting. After an introduction by Katherine about the proposal to place stop signs at strategic intersections in the neighborhood, we took the comments from neighbors in order of their desire to speak. Here are brief paraphrases of the statements of the neighbors who appeared. Katherine apologizes if she misstated any comments made.

A neighbor from Lee Place spoke first to speak about her efforts about a year ago to seek similar traffic calming measures. She and others living on Lee Place wanted stop signs on Meade and Bolton. They obtained 60 signatures in support of their effort. There are two school bus stops on Lee, and there have been numerous problems with tailgaters behind the buses, and drivers failing to stop when the buses stop, as is required by law. They also witness drivers speeding. There are a lot of children living on Lee Place. They were able to get some 25 MPH speed signs on Lee Place as a result of their efforts. The city also prohibited the left turn from Lee onto 7^th. The neighbor has noticed an increase in problems since Military Road was closed to left turns into Fort Detrick. Seeing a lot more speeding. In making their request, the Streets and Sanitation Department did do a traffic study, specific to Lee Place. The city determined that stop signs are not appropriate for the area, and should only be used for ensuring safety.

The next speaker lives on Lee Place and 7^th Street. Feels the “No Left Turn” sign placed there now does not work, because if moved the turning traffic to Wilson Place. The traffic lights on Wilson encourage drivers to use it to avoid the prohibition on Lee. The speaker’s interest was primarily in reducing the traffic seeking to avoid Route 15.

The next neighbor to speak lives on Wilson Place. They realized Wilson was a through street when they moved there, and does not find that to be a problem. Very strongly against putting stop signs on Wilson Place.

The next neighbor likes the idea of 4 way stop signs, but was concerned about the effects on fire trucks and other emergency vehicles, as that might slow them down a good bit. Otherwise, generally in favor of the proposal.

The next neighbor opposed the proposal. Thinks there is a logistical problem with the idea, as it does not appear there are appropriate intersections for putting in stop signs, most of the intersections are 3 way stops on Wilson, not cross streets. Also does not find there to be a problem with traffic on Wilson. Strongly opposes the proposal.

The next neighbor lives on Military Road. Has witnessed many years of increasing problems. Has several ideas to propose. Supports stop signs as a passive inconvenience to slow traffic, and perhaps divert it from the neighborhood. Feels that might cause more noise – screeching brakes, air brakes of big trucks, gunning engines. Suggested we consider: wide speed bumps; lane striping to narrow the appearance of the street, which was used successfully in Montgomery County; making the streets alternating one way streets; setting up speed gun trailers periodically, and moving them around the neighborhood (devices that advertise the oncoming driver’s speed as they reach the display); and opening up the Rosemont Avenue gates to Fort Detrick traffic.

The next neighbor recently moved from Lee Place to Wilson Place. Remembered the traffic study the city performed for Lee Place. Streets and Sanitation had not planned on doing any more until Fort Detrick development advanced further. Reminds us that the houses are much closer to the street on Lee than on Wilson. Finds a lot of speeding. Mentioned a solution used elsewhere: setting the traffic lights to allow traffic to move freely if cars are moving at the speed limit of 25 MPH, but the lights change where the traffic exceeds the speed limit. Thinks opening the Old Farm exit on Rosemont into Fort Detrick would help, and that having staggered shift times at Fort Detrick would help.

Sgt. Hansell let us know that the police are doing traffic checks when time permits. They find little to no violators. And let us know that Vinnie is checking on getting the signs preventing through truck traffic on Wilson moved to more prominent placements.

The next neighbor testified to the big trucks that use Biggs Avenue more than necessary.

The next neighbor has lived on Biggs Avenue for 48 years. Remembered when the city required all parking on Biggs to be off street parking. Then moved to being off street parking on garbage nights. Complained about commercial trucks parking on the street in the neighborhood. Remember when children could play in the streets because you could see clearly, without the cars obstructing the view.

Someone suggested more speed limit and children at play signs.

The next neighbor that spoke lives on Lee Place, and supported the statements made about the dangerous traffic there.

There are 93,000 vehicles using Route 15 through Frederick every day, and 70% of them do not come from Frederick, they are moving from points north or south through traffic to points beyond Frederick.

The final speaker has concerns about the expansion of Route 15, and the effects of this on Schifferstadt, as it may encroach on the historic property.

We advised the neighbors about the tentative plans for picnics at the neighborhood parks, but as the public comments took up most of the meeting time, that concluded this meeting.