2014 \u2013 2017 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)<\/b><\/p>\n
[B’ Spokes: My highlights and comments on Baltimore city projects… you should make your comments as well per the following. The more people that demonstrate that they are watching bicycling issues the better.]<\/em><\/p>\n Comments may also be submitted to:<\/p>\n Baltimore Regional Transportation Board Fax: 410-732-8248<\/p>\n E-mail: comments@baltometro.org<\/a><\/p>\n Twitter: @bmoreinvolved<\/a>, @PlanIt2035<\/a>, #BRTBlistens<\/p>\n All comments must be received no later than 3 days after the close of the comment period.<\/p>\n Via https:\/\/baltometro.org\/plans\/2014-2017-tip-plan-it-2035-amendments-and-air-quality-report<\/a><\/p>\n Source of the following projects: https:\/\/baltometro.org\/downloadables\/TIP\/14-17TIP_BaltimoreCity.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n Citywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements<\/b> Boston Street Realignment and Reconstruction<\/b> Edmondson Avenue Bridge over Gwynn Falls and CSX Railroad<\/b> Citywide Bridge Preservation and Rehabilitation<\/b> What really bothers me is, this is where the money is allocated for our accommodations but we get such wishy washy wording and when the project moves forward in planning they’ll say “We don’t have enough money to accommodate bikes here.” What they really mean (in too many cases) is the original estimate done here at this phase was not large enough. But there has not been a year yet were MDOT has tens of millions if not hundreds of millions of dollars left over by year end… more than enough to cover the occasional “Whoops we forgot about bikes on this project.” (Though they never would put it in those words.) My crazy idea would be to add a $10 million fund to cover miss-estimates in accommodating cyclists in these projects.]<\/em> <\/p>\n Citywide System Preservation Resurfacing<\/b> York Road Reconstruction: 43rd Street to 29th Street<\/b> Key Highway and Light Street Roundabout<\/b> Harford Road Bridge Over Herring Run<\/b> Wilkens Avenue Bridge Over Gwynns Falls <\/b> Belair Road Complete Streets<\/b> [B’ Spokes: This is only some of the projects in Baltimore City, there maybe a project in your area that I did not cover that you may be concerned about please look into it. Additional I will not have time to look into the other counties so please take a look here find your county and comment. 2014 \u2013 2017 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) [B’ Spokes: My highlights and comments on Baltimore city projects… you should make your comments as well per the following. The more people that demonstrate that they are watching bicycling issues the better.] Comments may also be submitted to: Baltimore Regional Transportation BoardOffices @ McHenry Row1500 Whetstone Way, … <\/p>\n
Offices @ McHenry Row
1500 Whetstone Way, Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21230<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\nThe Citywide Bike\/Ped Group incl
\nudes but is not limited to:
\n– Baltimore City Bicycle Routes
\n– A city-wide bicycle network which will
\nencourage alternative modes of transportation, reduce emissions and
\nautomobile trips.
\n– Jones Falls Trail
\n– A recreational and commuting trail which will extend from
\nMount Washington to the Inner Harbor. (All phases 474
\n-788, 474-740)
\n– Western Run Trail – A pedestrian and bicycle trail connecting to the Jones
\nFalls Trail. This enhancement pr
\noject will create a neighborhood spur
\nallowin
\ng many residences to access the Jones Falls Trail, the Mount
\nWashington Light Rail Station
\nand commercial district.
\n– Herring Run Greenway
\n– A trail adjacent to a stream valley through
\nnortheast Baltimore.
\n[B’ Spokes: That sounds good.]<\/em><\/p>\n
\n
\nThe project will provide a north-south connection between Boston Street
\nand O\u2019Donnell Street. The new roadway will also provide a partial
\ncontinuation of the existing city grid
\n system by widening Boston Street
\nbetween
\nConkling and Eaton Streets. Then turning north, the roadway
\nwould extend parallel to South Haven St
\nreet, ultimately rising to intersect
\nO\u2019Donnell Street above Haven Street and the adjacent railroad tracks.
\nThe project will include constructing a portion of Eaton Street from Toone
\nStreet south to the new roadway.
\n[B’ Spokes: I hope there is some bicycle considerations with this project.] <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n
\n
\nDesign and construct a complete replacement of the Edmondson Avenue
\nBridge over the Gwynn Falls\/CSX Railroad. The new bridge will be 23
\nfeet wider to accommodate a dual
\n-track light rail line as currently
\nproposed for the MTA Red Line. The new bridge will also incorporate
\nsidewalks and lighting.
\n[B’ Spokes: But no bike lane or shoulder???]<\/em><\/p>\n
\n
\nJustification: …
\n* Could serve to improve conditions for bicycling and\/or walking per
\napproved local, regional and\/or statewide bicycle and pedestrian planning
\ndocuments.
\n[B’ Spokes: Why don’t the other projects have this note? And why use the word “Could”? “Must have” or at least “Should have” would be much better.<\/p>\n
\n
\nCity wide resurfacing projects.
\n[B’ Spokes: The most economical way to accommodate cyclists is with road resurfacing projects,<\/b> yet no note about doing so. \ud83d\ude41 Time permitting I’ll do a little photo essay about our roads and how the city is failing to do proper maintenance thus wasting taxpayers dollars on resurfacing projects.]<\/em> <\/p>\n
\n
\nReconstruction of York Road between 43rd and 29th street, including
\nmilling\/repaving, lighting, landscaping, new sidewalks and traffic calming.
\n[B’ Spokes: I do hope that’s bike friendly traffic calming but then again does Baltimore even know how to do that? Too many speed humps here you have to do 5 mph over instead of the 15 mph as intended. And the worst is when cyclists have to go slower than the cars over the humps\/bumps and that’s not right.]<\/em><\/p>\n
\n
\nThe intersection of Key Highway and
\nLight Street has a high crash rate
\nand is confusing for pedestrians and vehicular traffic. This intersection is
\nalso an important gateway into the Inner Harbor tourist area and South
\nBaltimore neighborhoods. Reconstruction into a roundabout will improve
\npedestrian and traffic safety while making the intersection a greener, more
\nattractive community gateway
\n[B’ Spokes: Maybe I am off base here but it sounds to me like they are ascribing one lane roundabout attributes to two lane roundabouts, which do not have much of a reputation for being a “pedestrian improvement” unless \u201c
\nTraffic signals shall be placed at
\ncrosswalks on all multi-lane approaches
\nto roundabouts.
\n\u201d<\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n
\n
\nBridge has deteriorated beyond repair. A total reconstruction of the bridge
\nis needed.
\n[B’ Spokes: It really makes me nervous when they forget to mention something about including bike lanes or shoulders.]<\/em> <\/p>\n
\n
\nReplacement of bridge, which has
\ndeteriorated beyond repair.
\n[B’ Spokes: The same as above, no mention of bike lanes or shoulders.]<\/em><\/p>\n
\n
\nPlanning, design and construction for street, sidewalk, bike improvements
\nand greening at key intersections on Belair Road, including Erdman Ave.,
\nFrankford Ave., and Fleetwood. Project is a major implementation item
\nfrom the Urban Land Institute Belair Road report and BCDOT traffic study.
\n[B’ Spokes: See this is what I am talking about. I really have to ask why this kind of wording is not in other projects given state law:
\nTR \u00a7 2-602.(3) As to any new transportation project or improvement to an existing transportation facility, the Department shall work to ensure that transportation options for pedestrians and bicycle riders will be enhanced and that pedestrian and bicycle access to transportation facilities will not be negatively impacted by the project or improvement;<\/b>]
\n<\/em>
\nWaterview Avenue and Hollins
\nFerry Road Reconstruction <\/b>
\nResurface and reconstruct portions of Waterview Avenue, Annapolis
\nRoad
\n and Hollins Ferry Road, as well as geometric improvements as
\nnecessary to improve truck access to small industrial districts in the area.
\n[B’ Spokes: This is one of the few bike routes out of the city, I do hope they include bicycle improvements.]<\/em><\/p>\n
\n
\nhttps:\/\/baltometro.org\/plans\/2014-2017-tip-plan-it-2035-amendments-and-air-quality-report<\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"