GCA Traffic Survey and Research Update: October 2023

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Click Here to Download a PDF of the GCA Traffic Survey. 

 

The July/August Traffic Survey Results:

 

The survey was specific to traffic issues on Central and Railroad Avenues and included the four connecting cross streets, Chatsworth, Glyndon, Belleview and Albright.

• 51 People Participated in the Survey out of approximately 95 that were distributed.

• 84.3% indicated that traffic was Very or Somewhat Problematic; 58.8% indicated Very Problematic.

• 82.6% indicated Safety concerns. o 67.3% indicated Quality of Life concerns.

• 88% indicated that Glyndon needs an updated traffic plan.

• Several people raised the question of sidewalks. We inquired. See the information below, under Baltimore County Transportation/Traffic Calming.

 

The State is conducting a Traffic Survey of Butler Road through Glyndon. We have not yet received the results of that survey, including whether they can offer us any traffic calming and/or speed enforcement measures on that state road.

 

Below is Information gathered from the Transportation Office of Baltimore County Traffic Calming representative:

• The county is prepared to install traffic calming speed humps on both Central Avenue and Railroad Avenue. This is the only traffic measure available to Glyndon at present.

• Only residents living on Central and Railroad would be petitioned, and the project would move forward if 75% of the people with Central and Railroad addresses approved.

• If speed humps were installed, stop signs would be removed. This is because studies have demonstrated that stop signs at intersections between main roads like Central and smaller roads like the cross streets are ineffective.

• We inquired as to whether the county would paint bright white lines at our stop signs to improve their visibility. The county will not do that because they will not support traffic measures that have been deemed ineffective and obsolete.

  • From the Transportation Office: The stop signs do not meet Federal warrants and were installed for speed control which is no longer allowed.

• The Chief of the Fire Department reported that speed humps have inconsequential impact on emergency response. The BCFD is supportive.

• Sidewalks, crosswalks, and drainage upgrades to improve the shoulders of our roads were mentioned by several people in the survey. We inquired and received this response:

  • Our question: What would the process be to install sidewalks along Central and then intermittent crosswalks across that road?

  • Answer from the County: We do not install sidewalks without curbs. This would involve a major capital project to install curbs and storm drains that is not in any of our long term plans.

 

BOTTOM LINE: These are the current available options:

1) Remove the stop signs and install speed humps on Central and Railroad.

2) Maintain our current situation exactly as it is.

 

Looking toward the future:

 

The survey indicated that many residents have additional concerns regarding traffic, safety and the condition of our neighborhood roads.

 

These include sidewalks, crosswalks, curbs, storm water and paving.

 

These projects typically require 6 –10 years for petitioning as a budget-based initiative. Here is what we—all interested residents—can do: Consistently and widely petition our elected officials to include a major infrastructure upgrade project for Glyndon in the county budget.

 

This would have to be a project for which many of us would take responsibility. It would require a cooperative effort with wide participation.

 

We would need to convene some sort of collaborative, cooperative committee to:

• attend election events to raise the issue

• attend local political and town hall meetings to raise the issue

• put consistent and long-term pressure on our elected leadership to prioritize our infrastructure

• keep up with legislative initiatives and opportunities

• contact your elected representatives

 

Elected Local Representatives: 

Julian Jones, County Counselman

https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/countycouncil/districts/district4/

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Johnny Olszewski, County Executive

https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/executive/

 

County sources for addressing other concerns Storm Water Management https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/environment/stormwater/

 

Highways and Roads

https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/public-works/highways/ https://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Public_Works/highways/roadrepaving.pdf

 

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/public-works/traffic/pedestrianbicycle/ https://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Planning/bikeandped/CompleteStreets.pdf

 

Baltimore County Master Plan

https://masterplan2030-bc-gis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/plandocument https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/planning/masterplanning/index.html

 

Baltimore County Planning Board and Schedule for Meetings

https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/boards-commissions/planning/planning-board