Streets & Roads Commission

PATRICK T. ROCKINBERG Streets and Roads Commission Mayor MARY BETH OBREMSKI, Chair JON SAMAYOA, Secretary LYNNE GALLETTI, Liaison JASON POIRIER, Council President Commission Members: PAMELA REED, Secretary LUCI RIEGEL KARL MUNDER MARY HUSHOUR LYNNE GALLETTI STEPHEN DOMOTOR ZACHARY FANNING CAROLYN LANGILLE Streets and Roads Commission Agenda Via Teleconference and Streamed on Facebook/TownofMountAiry July 29, 2021 6:30 p.m. I. Call to Order and Pledge Meeting called to order at 6:35pm. In attendance: Chairperson Mary Beth Obremski, Council Liaison Lynne Galletti, Jonathan Samayoa, Luci Riegel, Mary Hushour, Councilperson Stephen Domotor. II. Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes Meeting Minutes- No changes to the minutes- Motion to approve made by Mary Hushour and seconded by Luci Riegel. Minutes approved unanimously. III. Staff Updates Mount Airy Chief of Police Douglas Rietz on community outreach: Goal is to have a community policing philosophy in town. A way to reach out to the community is through the boards and commissions in town. One of which is streets and roads because streets and road safety is a big concern among residents. Police Chief Reitz explained that when a complaint is made, Police Corporal Brooks the traffic supervisor will take those concerns and contact the complainant to go over how the department operates, a plan, and follow up about the enforcement used. IV. Council Liaison Report Council Liaison Lynne Galletti added to what Chief Rietz told us about providing outreach and education about streets and road safety. Speeding continues to be an issue in the neighborhoods around town. Speed deterrents include speed bumps, rumple strips, speed cameras, and police enforcement. One idea to reduce the speed issue is having head of homeowners from the affected neighborhoods come to meetings to discuss what’s going on and what is being done. Police enforcement has been utilized but not the best solution to speeding. Council Liaison notes that most people pulled over for speeding are the ones living in the neighborhoods. Chief Reitz will further the efforts of community outreach and see how talks with head of homeowners goes. Council Liaison Lynne Galletti gave an update about a Maryland Municipal League (MML) event, said it was great! Council Liaison Galletti was able to collaborate with colleagues from other towns in Maryland. Speeding is an issue everywhere, but an advantage that other municipalities have is speed cameras. Council Liaison Galletti reached out to two speed camera companies that would administer a speed camera program, as well as the mayor and councilmembers of the town of New Market. Council Liaison Galletti is looking into the feasibility of speed camera programs. At the MML event, Council Liaison Galletti spoke with P.O. Box 50, Mount Airy, MD 21771 Telephone: (301) 829-1424 • Fax: (301) 829-1259 Email: town@mountairymd.gov • Web Page: www.mountairymd.gov  Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Gregory Slater and Tim Smith, the administrator of the MDOT State Highway Administration (SHA). Council Liaison Galletti asked about route 27 corridor study from 2016. Asked about a more updated study, and how to get consideration for annual state highway administration master plan for the state roadway project regarding route 27. Secretary Slater and Administrator Smith advised that district engineer for the area would contact. MD Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford visited town as part of Maryland Buy Local Week. Town staff gave presentation thanking Lt. Governor for different grants, including grant funds to improve Rails to Trails with an ADA-compliant boardwalk. Council Liaison Galletti received email on July 28th from district engineer regarding meeting in next couple weeks. An updated corridor study would be beneficial for coming up with questions for an upcoming meeting between administrator Tim Smith and the district engineer. V. Public Comment pertaining to non-agenda items No public comment. VI. Old Business a) Speed and Traffic Studies Twin Ridge: Leafy Hollow at Twin Ridge Elementary School – Not above guidelines of 85% Twin Ridge: Deer Hollow between Park Ridge and Meadow Green – Not above guidelines of 85% Main Street: S Main S/B – Not above guidelines of 85%, some high speeds clocked (95MPH) Main Street: N Main S/B – Not above the guidelines of 85%, some high speeds clocked (65MPH) Park Avenue: Eastbound at Howard – Not above the guidelines of 85% -Member Mary Hushour suggested that data may be inaccurate because of COVID-19 causing reduction in driving and we should redo studies as people get back to driving. - b) Route 27 Corridor Study Council Liaison Lynne Galletti received copies of the 2016 Route 27 corridor study in May. Action Item: Mary Beth will create google doc to compile comments and questions regarding the issue. c) Rising Ridge Road speeding update Rising ridge has been a continuous issue: A road with a slope that causes safety issues along the crosswalks, stop signs, and school bus stops. Stop signs are added at crosswalks with bus stops, so it is reasonable to expect a stop sign at the crosswalk. Update the striping of the crosswalk. Raise the crosswalk to make pedestrians more visible. Crosswalk suggested for people crossing into East West Park. Could end up being a four way stop sign. Once the storm water project is finished the crosswalks and stop signs will be worked on. d) Buffalo Road speeding Mary Beth update: Contact with Carroll County Sheriff office that does control. Waiting for response. Very complicated issue due to jurisdiction issues. Action Item: Will keep on agenda for September meeting. P.O. Box 50, Mount Airy, MD 21771 Telephone: (301) 829-1424 • Fax: (301) 829-1259 Email: town@mountairymd.gov • Web Page: www.mountairymd.gov VII. New Business a) Citizen submittals Twin Arch Road – Citizen wants a light coming out of the Weis shopping center onto Twin Arch Road. Council Liaison Lynne Galletti will send to Town staff Larel Court (Back behind Burger King) – Concerned about dead end court, wants a no-outlet sign to prevent speeders coming in and out. Signs to be placed, Lynne to follow up with staff. Summer Sweet/Bridlewreath – Wants a 4-way stop. That road is heading downhill onto buffalo road. Action Item: Redo study in the fall Rising Ridge – Speeding and people not stopping at the 4-way stop. Chief Reitz comments that police are in this area a lot, however constant enforcement is not plausible. Action Item: Chairperson Mary Beth Obremski will follow up Summit Ridge – Wants a speed bump at Summit Ridge and Scotch Heather. Luci suggests a caution sign warning of children in area. Another suggestion is to make the lines wider on the roads to encourage people to go slower. Most neighbors put out their own children at play signs. There could be a sign that indicates children walking to school, because there are walkers going to the elementary and middle school. Action Item: Council Liaison Lynne Galletti to ask staff about caution sign Route 27 and S. Main Street – Right turn only lane at S Main and 27. Complicated because of jurisdiction. The road can be confusing, as Council Liaison Lynne points out. Recommendation is to clarify signage Action Item: Put on the list for the district engineer meeting Back Acre Cir – Wants a speed bump on Back Acre Circle, however that is an industrial area and therefore no speed bumps are allowed. Chief Reitz emphasizes that a lot of the driving violations were residents. Community outreach is recommended. Adjournment – Chairperson Mary Beth Obremski motioned to adjourn the meeting and Mary Hushour seconded the motion. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:47pm. Next meeting: September 30, 2021, 6:30 pm at Town Hall P.O. Box 50, Mount Airy, MD 21771 Telephone: (301) 829-1424 • Fax: (301) 829-1259 Email: town@mountairymd.gov • Web Page: www.mountairymd.gov