Whether you are walking to work or school, or just out for a stroll, several improvements are making it safer for pedestrians across the city this fall.
Students returning to Richard Montgomery High School will find a new crosswalk and a pedestrian refuge in a new median at the westernmost driveway for the school. The goal is to improve safety for students by reducing their crossing distance and making them more visible to drivers.
The city recently completed a project to improve pedestrian safety and access to the Rockville Metro station along South Stonestreet Avenue, between Baltimore and Park roads. The project narrowed South Stonestreet Avenue from four to three lanes, creating room for a sidewalk adjacent the Metro station parking lot and adding a bike lane.
Commuters will also notice the completion of safety improvements near the Twinbrook Metro station, including bike lanes and bump-outs on Chapman Avenue. The bump-outs are intended to slow traffic, increase visibility for drivers and shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians. Other improvements include a new crosswalk at Twinbrook Parkway and Chapman Avenue, with coordinated signal improvements and accessible pedestrian signals; signal replacement with accessible pedestrian signals at Rollins Avenue and East Jefferson Street; a small sidewalk link on Halpine Road at Lewis Avenue; and curb bump-outs at Lewis and Rockland avenues.
Improvements completed in August at the Maryland Avenue and South Washington Street intersection include a median to break up the crossing distance and create a refuge for pedestrians crossing Maryland Avenue, and a realigned crosswalk that shortens the crossing distance. To learn more,
visit youtube.com/cityofrockville. Search “Pedestrian Safety Improvements in Rockville.”
A proposed project in the 1300 block of Piccard Drive would add curb bump-outs and a safer midblock crossing, primarily for employees of nearby businesses. It should be completed by early September.
Meanwhile, Rockville is moving forward with a study of the feasibility of a 1.2-mile path for pedestrians and bicycles along Scott and Veirs drives that would improve access between Robert Frost Middle School, Thomas S. Wootton High School, The Village at Rockville senior community and the surrounding neighborhoods. Learn more at rockvillereports.com/path-for-scott-and-veirs-drives-moves-forward-with-study-funding.