MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT: Route 197 North Median Landscape Proposal

DATE: 10/17/02

I. Background and Proposal

For many years, the City Council recommended that the State Highway Administration (SHA) study Maryland Route 197, north of Route 450, to determine if the roadway could be retrofitted with a landscaped median boulevard design. In 1999, the State agreed to fund a planning study under the Neighborhood Conservation Program. Staff has worked with SHA Highway Design Division staff and the Route 197 North Median Task Force to create a proposal for a landscaped median within the center turn lane of Maryland Route 197, between Grady's Walk and Rustic Hill Drive. The task force is broadly representative of the residents, churches and business in the corridor. A list of task force members is attached (see Attachment #1). The group began its work in late 2000 and met numerous times. The goals of the project, as initially stated by the task force, were to:

· Provide a median along Laurel-Bowie Road
· Enhance vehicular and pedestrian safety
· Provide on-road bicycle compatibility
· Reduce traveling speed on the roadway
· Address community concerns at specific locations

It should be noted that the level of improvements considered by the task force was limited to what could be accomplished within the existing roadway surface (essentially from curb to curb). A public meeting was held on June 13, 2001 to solicit input on three options developed by the task force (see Attachment #2). The task force selected a recommended option (see Attachment #3) for alterations to the existing roadway: Alternate 1 - Median Pockets with 14' Outer Lanes.

The task force held their final meeting in September, 2002 after almost a year of inactivity due to changes in the SHA project management team. The meeting was also attended by many residents of the Grady's Walk subdivision who objected to the task force's tentative proposal to recommend access consolidation with Trinity Lutheran Church and Cresthill Baptist Church at Grason Lane. The task force agreed that the access consolidation was not feasible at this location because of potential traffic impacts within the Grady's Walk neighborhood and due to the churches' plans to upgrade their existing access driveways on MD 197. Task force members also agreed that if support could not be obtained from the property owners at two other locations where driveway consolidation was proposed, these recommendations would be omitted from the final plan.

A notice of this public hearing was mailed to approximately 600 addresses along the corridor. An informal workshop was also held by the task force on October 9, 2002 in order to preview the concept to the public and to solicit questions and comments about the proposal. Between 25-30 residents attended the informational workshop. The majority of those who attended were generally supportive of the landscaping concept, although some did not want to see the center lane "refuge" eliminated. (The task force proposal does preserve these areas near the intersections, recognizing this need.) Other comments related to traffic signalization, pedestrian safety and crossings, signage and handicap accessibility at intersections.

In order for the State to consider funding improvements to the existing roadway in the future, the City Council must pass a resolution in support of this Neighborhood Conservation Program project. If Council chooses to support a specific proposal as a result of this public hearing, a resolution will be placed on an upcoming Council agenda for action.

II. Analysis

A. Median Landscape Areas

A summary of the locations where medians are proposed will provide the best overview of extent of the landscaping project. The following describes the project from south to north:

1. Grady's Walk Lane to Grason/Maddox Lane
Median length - 730 feet
No median for 250 feet south of Grason/Maddox and for 675 feet north of intersection.

2. Maddox Lane to Millstream Drive
Median length - 490 feet
No median for 230 feet south of Millstream to 625 feet north of Old Chapel North.

3. Old Chapel North to Westwind Drive
Median length - 375 feet
No median for 200 feet south of Westwind and for 80 feet north of intersection.

4. Westwind Drive to Whitehall Drive
Median length - 385 feet
No median for 275 feet south and north of Whitehall intersection.

5. Whitehall Drive to Rockledge Drive
Median length - 1,000 feet
No median for 1,650 feet between Rockledge Drive and existing median. This includes the area in front of Rockledge Elementary School, the golf course and Heartfields Assisted Living Facility.

STAFF COMMENT: Staff finds the median lengths of the five (5) segments to be long enough to provide for substantial planting areas that will achieve the purposes of the project. The installation of approximately 3,000 feet of planted median area (approximately one-third of the corridor distance) will improve the appearance of the roadway and serve a traffic calming function. Unfortunately, a continuous median is not feasible for the entire length of Route 197. The task force examined this issue extensively, but options were limited because the scope of the project does not provide for a reconstruction of the roadway. If left-turning traffic movements from the center lane are precluded by installation of a median at all locations other than major intersections, U-turn patterns would have to be introduced. From traffic circulation perspective, most cars would be able to make U-turn movements without difficulty; however, larger vehicles, such as trucks and school buses, would not. The U-turn movement for all vehicles would not be possible without a reconstruction of the outer edges of the road and additional widening. Staff also finds the proposed plan addresses the need to maintain "refuge" areas for left-turning vehicles either accelerating out of the side streets or those making a left-turn from Route 197. However, staff believes the adequacy of the refuge area north of Westwind Drive (only 80 feet long, see Segment #3 above) should be reexamined.

B. Planting Program

The proposed landscape plan identifies a variety of trees and shrubs that could be used in the plan. The plan also includes brick splash block treatment similar to that used in the Route 450 median design. The proposed landscaping does not include flower beds.

STAFF COMMENT: While the task force did not identify specific landscape materials to be used in the landscape plan, the type and number of plantings was considered acceptable. In accordance with the City's Development Review Guidelines, staff recommends that all of the plant materials used in the median landscape plan be native plants. The task force discussed, but did not provide recommendations for, maintenance of the landscape medians. The question of maintenance will need to be addressed before any construction begins on the project.

C. Driveway Consolidation

As noted above, the task force originally examined driveway consolidation at several locations. However, since support was not solicited from the adjacent owners, specific recommendations were left out of the current proposal.

STAFF COMMENT: Because of the potential to eliminate multiple access points in the highly congested vicinity of Millstream Drive, staff recommends that the idea of consolidating traffic from Lancaster Lane, the Post Office, the former Goodwill store and Bowie Plaza into a single access point be retained. The pending update of the Bowie-Collington-Mitchellville and Vicinity Area Master Plan represents an opportunity to further define this need as part of the long-range plan for the City.

D. Traffic Signalization

As part of the study of existing conditions in the Route 197 corridor, SHA's consultants conducted a traffic signal warrant studies at all of the intersections. None of the intersections met warrants for installation of traffic signals.

STAFF COMMENT: It has been the City's longstanding belief that a traffic signal should be installed at the intersection of Millstream Drive and MD 197. The access driveway consolidation recommended above would concentrate traffic on the west side of MD 197 opposite Millstream Drive. If the above scenario were to occur, staff believes a strong case could be made for traffic signalization in the future.

E. Other Improvements

The proposed plan includes extension of the existing sidewalks on both sides of MD 197 from their current location to the WB & A Trail. Staff supports such extensions as they will provide off-road pedestrian access to the regional hiker-biker trail. However, coordination with MNCPPC will be necessary to address the grade differential between the existing grade of Route 197 and the trail facility.

STAFF COMMENT: Staff recommends identification of this need as part of the City's recommendation on the MNCPPC Capital Improvement Program (CIP) next spring. This project is a logical one, since MNCPPC is working to create various trailhead enhancements elsewhere in the WB & A corridor.

In addition to the above, staff noted that many of the comments made at the informational workshop held on October 9th related to speeding vehicles and a general lack of coordination of traffic control (e.g. speed limit) signage. It is recommended that the City recommend that a comprehensive signage study be performed by SHA to ensure that speed limit and other traffic control signage is appropriately designed and located. Perhaps larger signs or signs emblazoned with orange markings oriented to southbound traffic in the vicinity of Rustic Hill Drive would help slow vehicle speeds as motorists enter the neighborhood. In addition, it is recommended that speed enforcement efforts in this corridor be increased in conjunction with signage improvements.

III. Recommendation

Because the task force proposal represents the best effort to achieve many of the City's long-term goals, it is recommended that Council support the Route 197 North Median Landscaping Proposal as a Neighborhood Conservation Project, with the suggestions identified in this report.