Maryland

[Zeffy]

Baltimore Sun: A wrong turn at the NSA can bring trouble

The driver, identified by the FBI as 27-year-old Ricky Shawatza Hall of Baltimore, was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger was shot in the chest and taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center; the passenger's identity and condition have not been available.

Authorities have released few details of the incident, but the FBI was quick to rule out terrorism. Police say Hall and the passenger were traveling in an SUV that was reported stolen from a man at a motel in nearby Elkridge shortly before they arrived at the NSA gate off the Baltimore-Washington Parkway Monday morning.

The electronic eavesdropping agency is among the most secretive in the government, and signs at the parkway exit warn unauthorized motorists away.

Okay, for the first guy in the article, (and the second for that matter), before you turn onto MD 32 heading towards Fort Meade it CLEARLY says "EMPLOYEES ONLY". That's all there is to it. The whole thing where the guards basically treated them like criminals I don't agree with at all, but still, I don't know how you can miss the sign. For reference, here's the sign they are referencing. Further down the road, here's the sign on MD 32 for the NSA complex entrance.

The second person, he tried to drive headfirst into a police vehicle. That's a pretty good reason for the guards to open fire upon him.

The NSA should have an area to turn around if you accidentally enter the complex or be escorted out of the complex by the guards. I don't see why they need to treat people as terrorists for making a simple mistake.

[cpzilliacus]

Okay, for the first guy in the article, (and the second for that matter), before you turn onto MD 32 heading towards Fort Meade it CLEARLY says "EMPLOYEES ONLY". That's all there is to it. The whole thing where the guards basically treated them like criminals I don't agree with at all, but still, I don't know how you can miss the sign. For reference, here's the sign they are referencing. Further down the road, here's the sign on MD 32 for the NSA complex entrance.

This was the entrance off the southbound side of the Baltimore-Washington parkway, and it is probably more this sign that the Sun article refers to. 

The second person, he tried to drive headfirst into a police vehicle. That's a pretty good reason for the guards to open fire upon him.

Males wearing female clothing have been implicated in several acts of terrorism outside the United States, another reason for the NSA police to be more than a little suspicious of them.  NSA Security may not have been aware of it immediately, but the vehicle that they were driving had been stolen a short time earlier from a motel on U.S. 1 in nearby Howard County.

The NSA should have an area to turn around if you accidentally enter the complex or be escorted out of the complex by the guards. I don't see why they need to treat people as terrorists for making a simple mistake.

Though every entrance to the NSA campus is pretty clearly marked as being for EMPLOYEES ONLY or RESTRICTED ENTRANCE (I do not like that wording at all).

[Zeffy]

Okay, for the first guy in the article, (and the second for that matter), before you turn onto MD 32 heading towards Fort Meade it CLEARLY says "EMPLOYEES ONLY". That's all there is to it. The whole thing where the guards basically treated them like criminals I don't agree with at all, but still, I don't know how you can miss the sign. For reference, here's the sign they are referencing. Further down the road, here's the sign on MD 32 for the NSA complex entrance.

This was the entrance off the southbound side of the Baltimore-Washington parkway, and it is probably more this sign that the Sun article refers to. 

Oh, that would make more sense. I didn't see an exit that led directly into Fort Meade like that. In that case, RESTRICTED ENTRANCE should tell you that taking that exit is a dumb idea unless you have authorization to be there.

[DeaconG]

Okay, for the first guy in the article, (and the second for that matter), before you turn onto MD 32 heading towards Fort Meade it CLEARLY says "EMPLOYEES ONLY". That's all there is to it. The whole thing where the guards basically treated them like criminals I don't agree with at all, but still, I don't know how you can miss the sign. For reference, here's the sign they are referencing. Further down the road, here's the sign on MD 32 for the NSA complex entrance.

This was the entrance off the southbound side of the Baltimore-Washington parkway, and it is probably more this sign that the Sun article refers to. 

Oh, that would make more sense. I didn't see an exit that led directly into Fort Meade like that. In that case, RESTRICTED ENTRANCE should tell you that taking that exit is a dumb idea unless you have authorization to be there.

Does the exit sign for GSFC still say "EMPLOYEES ONLY?"
There should still be a turn-around just before you get to the gate.

[vdeane]

Regarding that ramp on MD 295, why does it shunt everyone to the NSA anyways?  It looks like there's a public business park on the other side of the road, so modifying the interchange to not restrict the turns would take care of the problem.

[Zeffy]

Regarding that ramp on MD 295, why does it shunt everyone to the NSA anyways?  It looks like there's a public business park on the other side of the road, so modifying the interchange to not restrict the turns would take care of the problem.

It looks like heading right at the intersection after the ramp leads you into Jessup, which isn't restricted access, while heading left dumps you into Fort Meade, right next to the NSA.

[vdeane]

That ramp doesn't look like it's set up to allow people to legally turn right.  Hard to say without street view though.

[davewiecking]

If you want to go to the Jessup Business Center, you should use the ramp a few hundred feet south. Note that this road is NOT MD 295; it is the Baltimore Washington Parkway, and is maintained by the NPS. MD 295 starts further north at MD 175. These ramps and bridge were built with NSA funds specifically for NSA employees. And don't believe for a second that those are innocent plumbing companies and the like in that business center...

[froggie]

And don't believe for a second that those are innocent plumbing companies and the like in that business center...

It's fairly common knowledge in the area (and also on Google Maps) that the business center is full of DoD contractors (Raytheon, Boeing, and Praxis to name a few).

[davewiecking]

Re the MD 404 widening project in the vicinity of MD 309 intersection:

Have dropped a note to Project Engineer (I wonder how "Mr. Colbert Stephen" pronounces his first name).

Received a reply today from my new best friend Mr. Colbert Stephen, who kindly attached a PDF of the sort that should be on the SHA website, but isn't. So I posted it here. I really only wondered if the existing Tuckahoe Creek bridge would remain for the westbound lanes, but in a followup reply he said what's being built now is basically the eastbound half of a single bridge that will have a jersey barrier in the middle. Question finally answered.

[cpzilliacus]

Regarding that ramp on MD 295, why does it shunt everyone to the NSA anyways?  It looks like there's a public business park on the other side of the road, so modifying the interchange to not restrict the turns would take care of the problem.

That is along the National Business Parkway, formerly the National Security Business Parkway.

I believe all of the buildings that adjoin the NSA Connector Road belong to or are least leased by the U.S. government, so effectively that area is part of the NSA campus.

[vdeane]

Regarding that ramp on MD 295, why does it shunt everyone to the NSA anyways?  It looks like there's a public business park on the other side of the road, so modifying the interchange to not restrict the turns would take care of the problem.

That is along the National Business Parkway, formerly the National Security Business Parkway.

I believe all of the buildings that adjoin the NSA Connector Road belong to or are least by the U.S. government, so effectively that area is part of the NSA campus.

Still, I don't see any access restrictions on that part, which would be helpful for those who figure out they made a wrong turn after they left the highway but before they get shoehorned to the gate.  Besides, why should it be easier to access the NSA than the contractors near them?

[davewiecking]

On Google Earth, note the police car that's permanently stationed at the intersection. There are 2 spots along 32 near the 198 intersection that are also permanently "guarded". Obviously not fail safe, because the 2 individuals apparently made it past the first position. While driving along 32, I've often wondered what I would need to do to get a reaction out of them, but haven't tested the first line of defense. Must admit this discussion makes me want to read the fine print on that yellow sign with lots of small print (visible on GSV) where Technology Drive turns into Connector Rd. Good chance I'll be passing by there tomorrow, but probably no time to spare.

[cpzilliacus]

On Google Earth, note the police car that's permanently stationed at the intersection. There are 2 spots along 32 near the 198 intersection that are also permanently "guarded". Obviously not fail safe, because the 2 individuals apparently made it past the first position. While driving along 32, I've often wondered what I would need to do to get a reaction out of them, but haven't tested the first line of defense. Must admit this discussion makes me want to read the fine print on that yellow sign with lots of small print (visible on GSV) where Technology Drive turns into Connector Rd. Good chance I'll be passing by there tomorrow, but probably no time to spare.

Some months ago, I drove by the NSA campus headed west on Md. 32 in the early evening, but after dusk.

As I approached Exit 9 (Canine Road/Samford Road [the streets inside the NSA perimeter appear to be generally named for former NSA directors]), I saw that a white Land Rover SUV had lost control just before Exit 9, and had gone down a bank and crashed completely through the NSA's fence.

There was no help on the scene, so I called 911, and got Anne Arundel County, who said they had dispatched county and Fort Meade fire and EMS, and the county police.

Being nice, I decided to try and contact the NSA Police, but I did not have their number.  So I called 411 and was connected to the main NSA number, which was answered by a female voice who said "operator"  and nothing more.  I asked if I had reached NSA, and she said yes, and I asked to speak to someone at the NSA Police.  After asking why I was calling them, she connected me, and a male voice there answered "operations," and again, I asked if this was the NSA Police, and the answer was yes. 

So I explained why I was calling, and the voice asked "how I knew this," and I curtly responded because I saw the aftermath of the crash, and added a snide comment that they obviously do not have any detectors in place to identify breaches of their fence.  At that point the guy seemed to grasp that I was trying to do them a favor, and said that yes, he would dispatch the NSA Police to the scene.  He then asked for my name and phone number, so I gave them my middle name (since that is typically all you get from an intelligence agency if you call them), and cell phone number, and said I am sure your agency can get the rest of my name if needed - or - you can just call me back.

[davewiecking]

So I guess the answer to my question about what the occupants of those police cars can do is "sleep".

[cpzilliacus]

So I guess the answer to my question about what the occupants of those police cars can do is "sleep".

I don't think so.  Most of the police cars you see outside the NSA fences are Maryland State Police troopers working some overtime.

I have driven by there many times over the years, and have never observed one of them to be asleep.

[froggie]

Maryland's 2015-16 state highway map is available:

http://www.roads.maryland.gov/pages/release.aspx?newsId=2199

[Alps]

Maryland's 2015-16 state highway map is available:

http://www.roads.maryland.gov/pages/release.aspx?newsId=2199

I'll pick mine up at any of the next 45 meets when Laura, Mike (T or P), or the others bring a few dozen.

[cpzilliacus]

Maryland's 2015-16 state highway map is available:

http://www.roads.maryland.gov/pages/release.aspx?newsId=2199

I'll pick mine up at any of the next 45 meets when Laura, Mike (T or P), or the others bring a few dozen.

You even get a mugshot of our new governor, Larry Hogan, Jr. included at no extra charge!

[cpzilliacus]

Baltimore Sun: State Highway administrator resigns in second major transportation departure this week

Melinda B. Peters, the head of the Maryland State Highway Administration, resigned on Thursday to spend more time with her family, she said.

Peters is the second agency head under the Maryland Department of Transportation to depart in a week, after Robert L. Smith was pushed out as administrator of the Maryland Transit Administration on Friday following months of skepticism about the MTA's performance from the new administration of Gov. Larry Hogan.

Peters, 41 and on the job for 3 1/2 years, said she voluntarily left her position, and that the decision was "absolutely not" about the political transition under Hogan or fears her job was threatened.

Instead, she said she felt the SHA is in "great hands" and this was a good time to leave as administrator.

[D-Dey65]

Beyond making some anti-freeway activists happy, I am not sure what the proposed freeway removal will accomplish.

That's basically it. Just making the anti-freeway activists happy.

[ixnay]

Maryland's 2015-16 state highway map is available:

http://www.roads.maryland.gov/pages/release.aspx?newsId=2199

I picked up a copy the other day at the downsized, no-longer staffed welcome center on Route 301 in Queen Anne's County.  Gone from the map vis a vis its previous edition, for obvious reasons, are the references to the War of 1812, whose bicentennial has come and gone.

ixnay

[Roadrunner75]

Maryland's 2015-16 state highway map is available:

http://www.roads.maryland.gov/pages/release.aspx?newsId=2199

I picked up a copy the other day at the downsized, no-longer staffed welcome center on Route 301 in Queen Anne's County.  Gone from the map vis a vis its previous edition, for obvious reasons, are the references to the War of 1812, whose bicentennial has come and gone.

ixnay

Doh! I was just in one of the MD rest areas on 95 last weekend and skipped the maps because I already had a couple and didn't think they updated them as frequently anymore.

[cpzilliacus]

Cecil Whig: County asks toll authority for a 30-percent Hatem multi-axle reduction

A group of Cecil County representatives traveled to Baltimore on Thursday morning to meet in person with the Maryland Transportation Authority, requesting a reduction in tolls for multi-axle vehicles that cross the Hatem Bridge.

Toll relief has long been an issue for local traffic using the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge, which carries Route 40 over the Susquehanna River between Perryville and Havre de Grace.

However, toll officials gave some relief to single-axle vehicles when the last toll increases were implemented. They allowed a discounted Hatem Bridge-only transponder, but nothing was granted for multi-axle vehicles.

"We used this data to validate our request for a 30 to 40-percent reduction in tolls for multi-axle vehicles, and also for the toll facilities to be relocated to the Maryland/Delaware state line,"  Moore said, noting she felt the presentation was well received. "I believe our strategy of early and frequent communication, and collaboration with MDTA will prove to be very effective in providing measurable toll relief that should decrease the cost of doing business in Cecil County."

[Mergingtraffic]

Those that are near Baltimore, what intersections were affected most with the rioting?  Parts around the US-40 stub?  How is traffic in the area?  Lighter than normal?