Police, Traffic & Public Safety Committee

Town of University Park Council Committee on Police, Traffic and Public Safety Saturday, November 3, 2018 Meeting notes Committee Members present: David Brosch, Council Member, Ward 1; Joe Schultz, Council Member, Ward 2 and Committee Chair; Linda Verrill, Council Member, Ward 4; Martha Wells, Council Member, Ward 6; Roland Stephen, Council Member, Ward 7 Guests: Mickey Beall, Director of Public Works The meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. at University Park Elementary School. The purpose of this special work session of the committee, as set out in the agenda, was: [T]o visit and discuss numerous sites around the town that have been proposed as potential sites for sidewalk construction or repair, street reconfiguration, or other work that might be carried out in conjunction with the street repaving necessitated by replacement of water mains by the WSSC in various areas of town. Sites visited: 1. Queens Chapel Road. The roadway was not repaved after the last round of water-main replacement by WSSC, several years ago. That, combined with the damage being done to the roadway in the course of the current WSSC work, means that the entire length of the road in University Park, from Baltimore Ave. to East-West Highway, is at issue. The site presents numerous concerns in addition to the roadway itself: curbs and gutters, problematic water flows, roadway elevation higher than that of intersecting streets, missing or especially narrow sidewalks among them. 2. Underwood St. between Beechwood and College Heights Drive. This is the block adjacent to UPES, a natural walking route to the school, with considerable vehicle traffic from school drop- off and pick-up, and lacking sidewalks on either side of the street. 3. College Heights Drive between Wells Pkwy and Woodberry St. One of the widest streets in the town, part of a natural walking route to UPES from the northwest part of the town as well as a walking/biking route to locations north and east of town (e.g., UMD), lacking sidewalks on either side of the street, but offering connection to sidewalks that now die at the bridge at Wells Pkwy. 4. Woodberry St. between College Heights Dr., Clagett-Pineway, and Clagett Rd between Clagett-Pineway and College Heights Dr. An area of the town that sees heavy foot and bike traffic, being a main route to College Park. No sidewalk connections between the existing sidewalks on the west side of Woodberry St. and the west side of Pineway. Residents have expressed concerns about traffic volume and behavior. There are unique sightline concerns for northbound pedestrians on Clagett. 5. Beechwood Rd. and Wells Pkwy area. Sidewalk dies on Beechwood; lack of utility, cost of repair/maintenance are concerns. Sidewalks along Wells are in a state of extreme disrepair relative to all other parts of town except part of Tuckerman Street, in Mr. Beall's estimation. Gap in the sidewalk on the west side of Wells is along the natural walking route to the new playground as well as UPES. 6. Adelphi Field, park path south of Wells Run. Connectivity to Adelphi and locations west of Adelphi from the park path system is affected by the stairs where the creek passes underneath the roadway. The park path from approx. 40th Ave to the soccer field is in a state of disrepair. 7. 43rd Ave behind Riverdale Presbyterian Church. Sidewalk dies. 8. Tuckerman St. between Queens Chapel Rd. and 44th Ave. Sidewalks in a state of extreme disrepair, relative to the rest of town. 9. Sheridan St. at Baltimore Ave. Site inspection to clarify an idea put forward by Mr. Brosch that would involve acquiring an easement over the property at the northwest corner of the intersection for the purpose of improving sightlines for vehicles exiting Sheridan onto Baltimore Ave. The meeting was adjourned at 12:20 PM Submitted by Joe Schultz, Chair