There are two points in the cycle where drivers waiting to make a right turn onto westbound River Road (MD 190) get a green arrow to do so (no turns are allowed on red). First, when all of southbound Little Falls Parkway has the green light. And a shorter green arrow later in the cycle when River Road has a red light going both east and westbound.
The shorter green arrow cycle has been malfunctioning over the last few days. It now allows a maximum of two cars to make the turn before snapping back to yellow and red. Not only does this cause the queue line to grow longer, but also increases the risk of conscientious drivers getting rear-ended from others not used to the shorter turn time.
Is this a glitch? Or a purposeful change, as yet another ham-fisted strategy in the War on Cars? This intersection is controlled by the Maryland State Highway Administration.
"This intersection is controlled by the State Highway Administration."
ReplyDeleteWhich completely contradicts the gibberish of your first sentence.
Hogan's War On Dyer!
No, it doesn't. The County-level effort to cover up that several intersections on River Road are failing has nothing to do with it being a state highway.
DeleteDid Dyer report the "glitch" on 311?
ReplyDeleteOne car waiting to turn right. Three cars waiting to go southbound on River Road.
ReplyDeleteThis photo doesn't quite demonstrate the "failure" of this intersection.
Robert, getting SHA to do anything is next to impossible. I have brought several issues in our neighborhoods of Green Acres/Somerset to their attention.
ReplyDelete1. Southbound lanes of River Road 5000 block has needed repaving for many years, badly cracking and deteriorated. The northbound lanes were resurfaced after years of utility work. How about finishing the other half of the same road?
2. What ever happened to the pedestrian/bicycle crossing that was supposed to be installed at River and Ventnor? Tons of money was spent to construct the new handicap curbs and platforms but there's no light so you can't even cross the street anyhow?
3. The makeshift yellow median poles at River and Greystone at Somerset have been knocked over (run over) for most of the summer and need to be reinstalled as soon as possible. Cars speed down the median illegally now to reach the left turn signal at River & Little Falls Pkwy.
"The intersection of River Road and Little Falls Parkway has one of the longest light cycles in the County."
ReplyDeleteIt does? Which are the others? Can you document this?
Is that a 135 second light? Nicholson at 355 is another interminably light.
ReplyDeletethat should be interminably long
ReplyDeleteGiven the heavy volume of left turns from all directions, this intersection would be better off with a roundabout.
ReplyDelete"Montgomery County Council or Planning Department"
ReplyDeleteYou realize they have, literally, nothing to do with the timing of lights on a state road, yes? You sound like such a moron pointing fingers at the county council about every random thing you can think to whine about.
8:01: You're the moron with your poor reading skills. The article says the Council and Board have attempted to deceive the public with fake traffic data to pretend the failing intersection isn't failing. It never states that they control the intersection - however, the County does time traffic signals, contrary to your assertion. In fact, MoCo synchronizes over 225 traffic signals on state roads in the County.
DeleteThere's plenty to hold the Council responsible for, and I will continue to do so.
You'll hold them responsible for kicking your butt in multiple elections?
ReplyDelete