Road Improvements

Ever since Harford County learned that the nationwide military base realignment would bring up to 10,000 new jobs to Aberdeen Proving Ground, officials and residents have pushed for road improvements around the Army base. Average daily traffic on Route 715 to and from the installation grew from 7,950 vehicles in 2004, the year before the Base Realignment and Closure process was announced, to 12,612 in 2011, according to the State Highway Administration. Traffic on U.S. 40 near the post increased by nearly 3,000 vehicles per day. "As we prepared for BRAC, our No. 1 roads priority was upgrades to intersections closest to the installation," said Karen Holt, who manages a consortium of government agencies and business groups formed to promote economic development in the region.

A major gateway to Baltimore's port is getting a $44 million upgrade and commercial trucks will be required to use specific streets in Southeast Baltimore to alleviate congestion under a plan to be announced Tuesday morning by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. Preparation work on the Southeast Road Reconstruction Program has begun and all work is expected to be completed by fall 2014. Rawlings-Blake called the port "one of the pillars of growth" in the city and said the upgrades will not only help the maritime industry expand but will make streets safer for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

The following letter was sent to Laurel Mayor Craig Moe: The condition of Cherry Lane from Van Dusen to Route 197 continues to be a driving irritant to me and others. Extensive and expensive "repairs" continue to be made with little if any improvement in the actual driving conditions of that street; one of the most traveled streets of our city. This past summer major "repairs" were done with entire sections removed and redone. These very areas are now bumpier and rougher than before.

Ever since Harford County learned that the nationwide military base realignment would bring up to 10,000 new jobs to Aberdeen Proving Ground, officials and residents have pushed for road improvements around the Army base. Average daily traffic on Route 715 to and from the installation grew from 7,950 vehicles in 2004, the year before the Base Realignment and Closure process was announced, to 12,612 in 2011, according to the State Highway Administration. Traffic on U.S. 40 near the post increased by nearly 3,000 vehicles per day. "As we prepared for BRAC, our No. 1 roads priority was upgrades to intersections closest to the installation," said Karen Holt, who manages a consortium of government agencies and business groups formed to promote economic development in the region.

Proposed traffic improvements to the main artery of southern Anne Arundel County have stoked fears that a better road will undermine efforts to keep the area undeveloped. "We're trying to stop that," said Lothian resident Charlotte Smutko, who was on the citizens panel that helped devise the county's plan on how the area should grow. "That's our motto: Keep South County rural. " More than 80 people crowded into the Deale library branch recently to scrutinize the $10 million worth of projects state officials have proposed for Route 2, also known as Solomons Island Road.

Scores of county residents told the Howard County Planning Board last night they don't want road improvements in their neighborhoods.Western county residents said they don't want Sharp Road to connect with Old Rover Road. Eastern county residents who live near Montgomery Road and Interstate 95 objected to three Montgomery Road projects.All were part of a crowd of more than 130 people attending last night's hearing on $108 million in new capital projects requested by county department heads.

The Maryland Court of Appeals last week set aside a Court of Special Appeals ruling that the assessments property owners and developers pay Harford County for future road improvements are an illegal tax.Richard K. Jacobsen, a Baltimore attorney representing property owners in the suit against the county in 1991, said the Court of Appeals decision to vacate the lower court's ruling means the case will "begin all over again at the county level."The property owners, Joseph J. Wielepski of the 3600 block of Day Road in Darlington and his brother and sister-in-law, Stanley and Janet Wielepski of the 3500 block of Day Road, first sought to subdivide their land into home lots in 1991.

The County Commissioners will hold a public meeting to address proposed improvements to Monroe Avenue in Eldersburg at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the County Office Building.Residents of Monroe Avenue between Liberty and Ridge roads have asked the county to take steps to reduce speeding.A petition has asked for safety measures along a curve and three-way stop signs at Monroe and Sherryl avenues.County Department of Public Works staff has recommended edge marking and center-line delineation to remind drivers to stay in their lane.

Before it approves a new football stadium near Laurel, Anne Arundel County should make the Washington Redskins post a bond to pay for $52 million in road improvements endorsed by state lawmakers, State Highway Administration officials said yesterday.If game day traffic congestion goes beyond levels predicted by the Redskins, the money could be used to pay for additional road improvements. Otherwise, it would be returned to the team, suggested Neil Pedersen, director of the SHA Office of Planning and Preliminary Engineering.

The Maryland Court of Appeals last week set aside a Court of Special Appeals ruling that the assessments property owners and developers pay Harford County for future road improvements are an illegal tax.Richard K. Jacobsen, a Baltimore attorney representing property owners in the lawsuit filed against the county in 1991, said the Court of Appeals' decision to vacate the lower court's ruling means the case will "begin all over again at the county level."The...

Proposed traffic improvements to the main artery of southern Anne Arundel County have stoked fears that a better road will undermine efforts to keep the area undeveloped. "We're trying to stop that," said Lothian resident Charlotte Smutko, who was on the citizens panel that helped devise the county's plan on how the area should grow. "That's our motto: Keep South County rural. " More than 80 people crowded into the Deale library branch recently to scrutinize the $10 million worth of projects state officials have proposed for Route 2, also known as Solomons Island Road.

I was surprised to read of the upcoming Baltimore County Council vote on rezoning the Solo Cup site in Owings Mills ("A boon for Owings Mills," July 19). County Councilwoman Vicki Almond has spoken positively about the rezoning and the Foundry Row Shopping Center from the start. Yet when faced with the demands of her constituents to be kept informed of the process, as well as to have input into rezoning decisions, she stated that she is undecided. It appears that she has political ties to former County Executive Jim Smith, and I believe her support for the rezoning is "unconditionally in favor of it" in part because Mr. Smith is involved, legally and financially, with the plans for Foundry Row. With such political ties, her vote will not reflect what is really the best for Baltimore County.

Responsible planning and growth policy calls for key infrastructure to be in place before the country government approves new development projects. In the case of the Solo Cup property in Owings Mills, that means the road improvements to relieve the congestion along Reisterstown Road need to in place before 400,000 square feet of new retail is approved. As CouncilmanKenneth N. Oliverrecently pointed out, state officials have barely begun two comprehensive studies of the Reisterstown Road corridor.

The following letter was sent to Laurel Mayor Craig Moe: The condition of Cherry Lane from Van Dusen to Route 197 continues to be a driving irritant to me and others. Extensive and expensive "repairs" continue to be made with little if any improvement in the actual driving conditions of that street; one of the most traveled streets of our city. This past summer major "repairs" were done with entire sections removed and redone. These very areas are now bumpier and rougher than before.

While I am sure that the vast majority of Baltimore residents will be happy with a Grand Prix result of $2 million a year in direct tax benefits to the city or a full $70 million in economic impact ("The Road to a Grand Prix ," Aug. 14), there is always the slippery slope of how much is projected to win the votes and backers needed for an event and the eventual result. Since my tax dollars supported the $7.75 million in road improvements, I would like to know how many city residents received the jobs which repaved the roads or erected the fences for the Grand Prix and if they were they paid a living wage.

Improvements to a section of Woodbine Road at Weller Drive will begin on or about June 13, according to county officials. The construction project, scheduled to be completed by the end of December, is expected to cause temporary lane closures along the stretch of road. Signs will be in place to direct traffic. Details and updates on the closures are available by calling 410-313-3638. The project will include pavement improvements, new curbs and gutters, roadside grading, and construction of a retaining wall, a drainage system and a storm water management pond.

Baltimore County children would learn and play in refurbished schools and in new recreation centers -- and their parents would spend less time stuck in traffic -- if county officials have their way in the General Assembly session.In unveiling the county's 1999 legislative agenda yesterday, County Executive C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger called for legislators to approve nearly $37 million for construction and maintenance of schools, $600,000 for two Police Athletic League recreation centers in northwest Baltimore County and more than $50 million for road improvements.

Westminster Common Council members voted three to one last night for the introduction of a proposed city budget that would increase the city property tax by 6 cents -- primarily to pay for road improvements.A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled at 7 p.m. Monday, and the council is to vote on a budget May 12.The lone negative vote came from Councilman Stephen R. Chapin Sr., who was out of town two weeks ago when a work session on the budget was belatedly scheduled. At that session, a consensus arose that road projects should not be delayed -- as they were last year -- because costs were rising and residents were asking that the work be done.

A proposal to build a shopping center on 11 acres in Remington received preliminary approval in a unanimous Baltimore City Council vote Monday, all but guaranteeing that the council will grant final zoning permission next week. Councilwoman Belinda Conaway, who introduced the zoning for the 25th Street Station shopping center, which is in her district, lauded it as "a development project that will bring jobs to the community" and said the plan "really embodies community input. " Jon Laria, an attorney for developer Rick Walker, thanked Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the council and "community partners" and said the project "has been a collaborative process without equal.

The thousands of new employees coming to military-related jobs in Harford County in the next three years will likely grapple with traffic congestion caused by inadequate roads, failing intersections and insufficient mass transit. Maryland's revenue shortfall has delayed several key projects that were designed to relieve commuter traffic to and from Aberdeen Proving Ground, which is expected to grow by about 10,000 jobs within the next three years. BRAC, the nationwide military base expansion set for a 2011 completion at APG, will bring those new employees to the county.