We received a lot of great feedback which we will incorporate into the final plan. In general, communities want a more pedestrian friendly street, slower traffic, and a \u201cMain Street\u201d character to Belair Road which serves the needs of local businesses and residents rather than capacity expansions for pass-through traffic. Here\u2019s a brief summary of the concerns we heard:<\/p>\n
* Intersection of Parkside and Belair \u2013 lots of cars running into fixed objects and buildings
\n * Intersection of Belair and Erdman \u2013 dangerous left turning movements, cars running into sidewalks, high crash numbers. Community recommended left turn lanes\/signals and bollards on sidewalk
\n * Crosswalk needed somewhere between Erdman and Sinclair Lane. Bus stops, shopping mall, and large gap between pedestrian crossings (3500 ft.) causes people to jay walk at mid-block
\n * Need handicapped parking somewhere on Belair Road
\n * Need better pedestrian lighting near businesses
\n * Median\/bumpouts\/beautification needed near commercial districts to slow traffic down and create safer, walkable areas
\n * Consider streetcars as a long term goal. Streetcars down the middle of Belair Road would improve businesses visibility, vitality and act as traffic calming for cars.
\n * New crosswalks should be stamped concrete or asphalt and painted with bright colors to slow traffic down and make crosswalks more visible.
\n * Consider bumpouts near intersections to improve driver\/pedestrian visibility and prevent cars from parking right up against intersection
\n * Speeding traffic hurts businesses \u2013 drivers speed like they are on a highway, creating an intimidating place for pedestrians.
\n * Broken\/crumbling sidewalks throughout Belair Road
\n * Pinch points (places where sidewalk width is less than 5 feet) causes people who use a wheelchair to ride on street
\n * Speed cameras at Gardenville Elementary School at Belair & Frankford
\n * More frequent buses on Moravia and Frankford intersections needed
\n * Traffic calming needed on cut through roads in upper Belair Road corridor
\n * Short term implementation items should be:
\n – o Traffic\/pedestrian safety improvements at intersection of Belair and Erdman
\n – o ADA compliant curb ramps and widening \u201cpinch points\u201d
\n – o Rebuilt and more visible crosswalks
\n – o Pedestrian paddles in middle of street
\n – o Portable speed cameras\/displays
\n – o Pedestrian countdown timers<\/p>\n