Rockville’s Mayor and Council heard an update on planned pedestrian safety improvements to the Maryland Avenue and South Washington Street intersection during their April 9 meeting.
Following a traffic study and city staff discussions with community groups, City Manager Rob DiSpirito has instructed staff to make the following improvements:
- Install a median to break up the crossing distance and create a refuge for pedestrians crossing Maryland Avenue.
- Install flashing beacons to be activated by pedestrians seeking to cross Maryland Avenue.
- Realign the crosswalk to shorten the crossing distance.
- Trim back foliage blocking sightlines on southbound Maryland Avenue.
The improvements will be made within the next three months. Staff will meet with residents in spring 2019 to assess the effectiveness of the improvements.
The Rockville City Police Department deployed speed cameras at the intersection beginning in January 2017, and the city’s Traffic and Transportation Division conducted a traffic signal study in fall 2017, from which it developed safety improvement options.
The cameras reduced speeding violations by more than 70 percent, Emad Elshafei, the city’s chief of traffic and transportation, said during the presentation.
Find the staff report on the recommendations and video of the presentation with the April 9 Mayor and Council agenda at www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter.