The Maryland State Highway Administration will host a virtual meeting on its corridor safety study of a portion of River Road (MD-190) in Bethesda on Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. To join the meeting, follow the instructions pictured below. MDSHA states that the study's purpose is to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety on River Road between Springfield Drive and Little Falls Parkway.
During the meeting, MDSHA will present the findings and recommendations from the study, which - interestingly but not surprisingly - was conducted with zero input or notice to the community. The Larry Hogan legacy at MDSHA persists beyond his term of office, it appears. A longtime real estate developer, Hogan oversaw a seismic culture shift at MDSHA that threw the traffic engineering book out the window. Long known for its practice of making engineering best practices a priority over political or development interests, the agency under Hogan suddenly began folding like a card table, and acquiescing to any local politician's demands. Traffic signals, speed limit changes, access restrictions, and road diets repeatedly rejected in the past as unsafe or adding to congestion were suddenly being approved left and right.
Hogan's two terms in office coincided with a drastic speed limit reduction on River Road that defies the state highway's design, requiring drivers to ride their brakes along many stretches of the road, which was designed for a 45 MPH minimum. While Midas franchisees across the county celebrated with champagne, the change did not improve safety. Drag racers and motorcyclists can be heard roaring up and down the road all night long at three times the posted speed limit or higher.
During his governorship, Hogan was accused of approving road changes and projects that benefitted development interests, including some of his own real estate projects. The River Road record is no different, as developers and the Montgomery County politicians they control have a long term plan to bring the state highway down to 25 MPH, in preparation for urbanization and redevelopment of the corridor.
Developers are betting that rising land values, and a long-desired state tax on country clubs, will encourage or force sales of multiple properties between Brookside Drive and the Capital Beltway. They envision townhomes and apartment buildings on the current sites of the Kenwood Golf & Country Club, of many or all of the churches and schools along that stretch, and on the American Plant property at Burdette Road. MDSHA even owns a plot of land near the intersection of River and Braeburn Parkway that is currently used as a depot, but is coveted by developers. The long-"secret" plan to extend the Purple Line to Westbard will only juice the heights and density of many of these properties.
So, don't be surprised that MDSHA is coming in with a pre-formed proposal for more changes to River Road at this virtual meeting. There was no public meeting introducing a study. There was no public input. Remember when they changed the speed limit without going through the legal and required public process, and without the required advance notice posted on the roadway? Once again, they've already got something in mind, and they're going to tell us, "This is how it's gonna be." Democracy in action!
16 comments:
Why was anything beyond the first paragraph and the image of the meeting announcement needed?
Another case of democracy dieing in darkness. Maybe this time they'll take lanes from River Road.
Translation:
This River Road corridor will be transformed into a "Little Falls Pkwy" project.
All drivers are highly advised to avoid that area and use MD Route 396 instead.
5:04: Context.
I didn't see this coming but must be blind. This is a warning I think and I agree that River Road will soon become Little Falls Pkwy at maximum and OGR at minimum. They can reduce the speed limit there to 25 if they want but it won't prevent drivers from going 50. That stretch was never designed to go that slow. So, they will rip that up at huge cost to the taxpayer and put in bike lanes like OGR or worse. By the way, this morning, like most of the time, zero bikers on either side of OGR from Rockville to Cedar. Lastly, I don't think Todd Chamberlin, whose family own Kenwood CC, are in jeopardy at this stage. That's a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Don’t you think that this is now the chance for the public to weigh in? It would seem wasteful for the MDSHA to host a meeting with no conceptual ideas to present, and just stand in front of folks with their hands in their pockets and ask “So, what do you guys want us to do on River Road?”
A bit of professional study and analysis, and even a few ideas for change, before a public meeting gives the public a chance to review ideas and comment.
What evidence do you have about the secret to extend the Purple line to Westbard? I’ve seen it discussed here but where are the documents? It doesn’t make sense to even consider this since the Purple line is years from being completed with unknown utility once it is done.
6:12 AM Lack of.
Purple Line extension to Westbard? LOL! There's a less than zero chance of that ever happening. It'd be amazing if it did, I'd be all in favor of it (if it didn't cost $10 billion, which it definitely would), and I live in Westbard.
But no, not even in my kids' lifetimes. The political, fiscal, and engineering challenges would be mind-boggling.
Keep laughing, 9:47 Maybe it'll keep you from weeping once you realize the proposal is legitimate.
The political, fiscal, and engineering challenges proved no hindrance when ramming through the current portion of the PL. Why on earth would there suddenly be insurmountable obstacles now? Because MNCPPC, the Planning Board, or Washington Episcopal School are the 800-pound gorillas in the room, ready to fight to the death to preserve the exclusive reserves of Kenwood? Because rich & powerful people live in that neighborhood? Building the PL has nothing to do with commuters' needs or with utility for anyone except the contractors and property developers who will profit from its construction and completion. Have you not been paying attention to the theme? More mass transit options mean higher density building will be permissible by the obsequious, toadying Planning Board.
*BREAKING NEWS* Rich and powerful people live in Section 4/Town of Chevy Chase, including the Chief Justice of SCOTUS. You see how well that worked for their trying to thwart the PL. Bank on the boondoggle coming to more currently undisturbed neighborhoods near the old Georgetown Branch.
8:20 AM
"It would seem wasteful for the MDSHA to host a "
It is not their money they will be squandering.
In the past we received a glossy letter about a River road
crosswalk project that since has become a victim of oblivion.
The money was used for internal employee awards!
Yeah, I was initially skeptical but have come to think in the long term it may happen.
lol good luck getting Kenwood to sell..why even spew this stuff? There is no actual data to prove some of your points.
At some point the overall public good outweighs Kenwood Country Club needing an 18 hole golf course.
The county should start by redeveloping 9 holes with new housing. Housing costs are out of control and Kenwood can't squat on so much land inside the beltway near transit.
Other option is to build on a small portion of the agricultural preserve.
1:47 - Folks, this is so clearly David Moon posting this. Hello David! Mr. Moon is absolutely incensed that a private club, any club, exists. Sorry David, they aren't going anywhere nor should they. Wacko time
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