The city is taking steps to improve pedestrian safety in Rockville Town Center following several crashes involving vehicles and pedestrians at Beall Avenue’s intersections with Gibbs Street and Maryland Avenue.
In March, following a review of options, City Manager Rob DiSpirito instructed staff to do the following:
- Install pedestrian-activated flashing devices at the crosswalks at Beall Avenue and Gibbs Street, and Beall and Maryland avenues.
- Work with Pepco to expedite the installation of two mast-arm street lights at each intersection. The lights were scheduled to be installed in mid-April.
- Reduce the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph, which was done in mid-April, and conduct a study to see if lower speeds are an option.
- Remove two small trees that partially obstructed pedestrian crossing signs and pedestrians’ sightlines. This was completed in late March.
- Raise the height of the pole-mounted signs at the approach to the crosswalks to improve sightlines for drivers and pedestrians.
- Increase Rockville City Police Department patrols to enforce speed and compliance with yielding to pedestrians on Beall Avenue.
DiSpirito also directed the installation of a pedestrian-activated flashing device at the intersection of Middle Avenue and Helen Heneghan Way. The midblock crossing had the highest pedestrian counts in a study last spring of Town Center crossings without a traffic signal or stop sign.
City staff is reviewing other intersections in Town Center, and citywide, for potential additional safety improvements.