Projects: Traffic

Due to the community’s narrow, winding roads, increased vehicle traffic over the years is cause for safety
concerns. This is compounded by significant disregard to posted speed limits. Widening “improvements” would only encourage more traffic and even greater speeds. There is heavy motorist use on the community’s major east-west arterial, Joppa Road. Ruxton Road, Boyce Avenue, Malvern Avenue, and Rolandvue Avenue are neighborhood roads inappropriate for expanded use. Falls Road and Charles Street are scenic byways and traffic policy should conform to the guidelines. Pedestrians are forced to walk along narrow roads with neither walkways or shoulders. Walkways should be added to major roads.

The community opposes widening or straightening neighborhood streets to increase vehicular capacity as this would dramatically alter the residential character of the community. The community traffic committee must work with county agencies to identify effective solutions to slow cars and reduce cut-through traffic. The community should also network with other communities and groups with similar interests in finding solutions to calming traffic and obtaining funding for reconstruction, new construction, maintenance, and traffic planning.

Summary of Goals:

• Recognize that safety and neighborhood scale are both top priorities
• Work with county and state officials to resolve traffic problems
• Work with MTA to resolve light rail issues
• Continue to act as a forum to discuss traffic issues within the community

Issues & Actions:

Issue #1: Policy governing road construction, maintenance and traffic laws are dictated by the State
Highway Administration (SHA) and Baltimore County.

Action 1.1 [RRLRAIA board] Establish a Traffic Committee (TC) to work with county and state officials to solve traffic problems in the community.

Action 1.2 [TC] Conduct periodic traffic meetings with the community, county and state officials and police to discuss problems and solutions.

Action 1.3 [TC] Develop list of concerns based on community input at traffic meetings. Forward list to county and state roads officials and copy to 4th, 2nd and 3rd district councilmen.

Issue #2: Traffic calming devices may help to slow traffic and discourage cutting through neighborhoods.

Action 2.1 [TC] Join with other community associations and work with county officials to develop new policies regarding traffic calming devices such as speed humps or bumps.

Action 2.2 [TC] Refer to “tool box of solutions” for traffic calming solutions.

Action 2.3 [TC] Discuss with Baltimore County officials the possibility of installing traffic control devices in the community as part of a “pilot project” to determine effectiveness and problems.

Issue #3: Some traffic problems are caused by community residents.

Action 3.1 [TC] Association newsletter should encourage defensive/cautious driving, walking, telecommuting, clustering errands and carpooling (especially for private school students).

Action 3.2 [TC] Lobby for sidewalks along major roads to promote safe pedestrian and bicycle alternatives
to vehicle trips.

Issue #4: There are intricate issues throughout the community related to specific intersections, traffic volume and speed. Solutions can be controversial even within each neighborhood.

Action 4.1 [TC] Before attempting to resolve specific traffic issues, establish a process to determine
consensus on proposed solutions. Conduct specific traffic issue meetings with county or state roads officials.

Issue #5: There is little public transportation in the community. Such a service could reduce traffic.

Action 5.1 [TC] Review prospects for community shuttle buses with MTA and/or county transportation
planners.