Maryland

[cpzilliacus]

Annapolis Evening Capital: Bay Bridge to be site of run in 2014

The Maryland Transportation Authority has agreed to allow a private group to host a 10K run across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge starting in the fall of 2014.

The agreement among the MDTA, Queen Anne's County and Chesapeake Bay Bridge Run LLC, the group organizing the event, was announced this week.

The first event will be held on Nov. 9, 2014. The agreement allows for subsequent runs in 2015 and 2016, said Sparrow Rogers, one of the event's organizers.

[1995hoo]

Channel 4 News just aired a report about new night speed limits in Montgomery County near a quarry, the goal being to reduce dump truck noise late at night.

I can't seem to get a direct URL on my iPad for the sign photo, so here's a link:

http://img.ly/u0WX

[cpzilliacus]

Channel 4 News just aired a report about new night speed limits in Montgomery County near a quarry, the goal being to reduce dump truck noise late at night.

I can't seem to get a direct URL on my iPad for the sign photo, so here's a link:

http://img.ly/u0WX

It's commonly known as the Travilah Quarry, or the "Rockville Crushed Stone" quarry, located near the extreme west end of Shady Grove Road off of Piney Meetinghouse Road.  A  lot of the people living near there consider themselves to be in Potomac or North Potomac, and would (presumably) want to shut the quarrying operation down for an assortment of reasons (never mind that the quarry was there decades before most of the people doing the complaining arrived. 

I think that sign is on Shady Grove Road west (south) of Md. 28.

Google Maps (of the quarry) here.

Google Maps (of the sign) here.

[BrianP]

Channel 4 News just aired a report about new night speed limits in Montgomery County near a quarry, the goal being to reduce dump truck noise late at night.

I can't seem to get a direct URL on my iPad for the sign photo, so here's a link:

http://img.ly/u0WX

I've seen the night speed limit signs before.  They are on Shady Grove Road.  I did not know why that was done though.
http://goo.gl/maps/mGyLh
I noticed them more than a year ago so I don't know what would have caused them to do a news story now. 

I see that the quarry issue has been going on for years:
http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2001/200111/potomac/news/47287-1.html
http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2001/200113/potomac/news/48880-1.html

[cpzilliacus]

MyEasternShoreMd.com: Plans on track for 301/304 overpass

CENTREVILLE - Concerned members of the community and several elected officials attended an informational meeting Tuesday, April 30, hosted by the Maryland State Highway Administration concerning the design for the proposed interchange at the intersection of US 301 (Blue Star Highway) and MD 304 (Ruthsburg Road).

Representatives of the SHA design team as well as advocates for the interchange and several lawmakers spoke to a crowd of about 100 people in the cafeteria of Queen Anne's County High School. Speakers included Del. Steve Hershey, R-36-Queen Anne's, a student from QACHS and the founders of the grassroots group Support Overpass 4 Students, which formed following the fall 2011 death of QACHS student Conor Rice, 15, who was killed in a traffic crash at the intersection on his way to school.

[cpzilliacus]

Baltimore Sun: State hopes to ease some Baltimore-area traffic jams - Beltway has half of 10 worst bottlenecks

In the stop-and-go world of Baltimore-area traffic, there's a lot more braking than commuters and transportation officials would like.

Take Russell Allen, a Federal Hill resident who gets in his silver Ford Edge every weekday morning before 7:30 and steers south toward Fort Meade and the region's biggest bottleneck: Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Route 175.

The trip starts fine. But around Route 100, Allen's windshield relfects a dazzling array of red taillights. "And it stays that way until I get to work – four miles and 20 minutes later," said Allen, 52, who works for the Army.

Going in the opposite direction in late afternoon is even more excruciating, as northbound commuters try to merge with drivers who opted to leave work by Route 32, slightly more than two miles south. The resulting mixing bowl creates a daily backup that averages nearly 10 miles, according to the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

Now that the General Assembly has approved a gas tax hike expected to generate $4.4 billion over the next six years, transportation officials see an opportunity to address some of the region's chronic trouble spots. They're planning to modify dangerous 1960s-style cloverleaf exchanges such as one at Harford Road and the Beltway – the second-worst bottleneck – and to make other localized remedies that cost a few million dollars.

But fixing some problems – like the B-W Parkway – will happen "when we make cars that fly," deadpanned John Powell Jr., Howard County's transportation chief.

[kj3400]

I never do understand why anyone would rather take 295 to Washington than 95. Maybe during a non peak time, but rush hour has that freeway going slow for miles.

I sorta like those cloverleafs, but at the same time, wondering why they never clovecloed them, like US 40 on the west side.

[cpzilliacus]

I never do understand why anyone would rather take 295 to Washington than 95. Maybe during a non peak time, but rush hour has that freeway going slow for miles.

Don't forget that the National Park Service is very  hard-core about the federally-maintained part of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (from U.S. 50 and Md. 201 at Tuxedo in Prince George's County to Md. 175 at Odenton in Anne Arundel County) being a parkway and not a freeway, even though it enjoys full access control.

I sorta like those cloverleafs, but at the same time, wondering why they never clovecloed them, like US 40 on the west side.

That sort of treatment is not a good idea when both roads have full access control with no traffic signals (and probably contrary to SHA policy).  I presume you mean the interchanges on the B-W Parkway at I-95/I-495 (Capital Beltway) in Greenbelt and at Md. 32 (adjacent to Fort Meade).

The interchange in Greenbelt is clearly out of capacity, and the "weave" in the cloverleaf on the northbound side of the Parkway can cause queues of northbound traffic backing up for many miles, especially during the P.M. peak period commute, but fixing it is going to be expensive.  Consider that the Capital Beltway (Exit 19) interchange at U.S. 50 was once a full cloverleaf, but is now three large flyovers (and the National Park Service probably  would not agree to something like that).

[kj3400]

Oh those interchanges. I thought we were talking about the Baltimore Beltway

Yes, the Capital Beltway and MD 32 interchanges deserve at least a clovestack, or a cloverleaf with both ramps diverging at the same time, like a stack, but on the same level. Hell, C-D lanes would do better than the current situation.

[lepidopteran]

On I-95 in Savage, MD, I noticed a VMS saying the "Welcome Center" rest area on the SB side would be closing temporarily.  Anyone know if this is for the project to triple the number of truck parking spaces there?  This is between MD-32 and MD-216.  (Note that this is NOT the Chesapeake House/Maryland House project.)

[mtantillo]

That's not good. That is, since Maryland House is closed, and many many temporary signs have the mileage to the Howard County rest area as the next rest area on I-95. Are they really going to temporarily change all of those temporary signs, or are they going to, "break a promise" they made to drivers on signs no fewer than 10 times?

[cpzilliacus]

On I-95 in Savage, MD, I noticed a VMS saying the "Welcome Center" rest area on the SB side would be closing temporarily.  Anyone know if this is for the project to triple the number of truck parking spaces there?  This is between MD-32 and MD-216.  (Note that this is NOT the Chesapeake House/Maryland House project.)

Just repaving of both sides, but  one side at a time.  Daytime only, apparently.

I-95 WELCOME CENTERS TO CLOSE FOR DAYTIME PAVING

Closures to Occur 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, May 13 through June 30; Closures will Affect One Welcome Center at a Time Starting with Southbound Side

[cpzilliacus]

That's not good. That is, since Maryland House is closed, and many many temporary signs have the mileage to the Howard County rest area as the next rest area on I-95. Are they really going to temporarily change all of those temporary signs, or are they going to, "break a promise" they made to drivers on signs no fewer than 10 times?

That's a very  good point.  I doubt that they have considered that.

[Alps]

On I-95 in Savage, MD, I noticed a VMS saying the "Welcome Center" rest area on the SB side would be closing temporarily.  Anyone know if this is for the project to triple the number of truck parking spaces there?  This is between MD-32 and MD-216.  (Note that this is NOT the Chesapeake House/Maryland House project.)

Just repaving of both sides, but  one side at a time.  Daytime only, apparently.

I-95 WELCOME CENTERS TO CLOSE FOR DAYTIME PAVING

Closures to Occur 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, May 13 through June 30; Closures will Affect One Welcome Center at a Time Starting with Southbound Side

Who comes up with a scheme to only close the welcome center during DAYTIME?

[mtantillo]

That's not good. That is, since Maryland House is closed, and many many temporary signs have the mileage to the Howard County rest area as the next rest area on I-95. Are they really going to temporarily change all of those temporary signs, or are they going to, "break a promise" they made to drivers on signs no fewer than 10 times?

That's a very  good point.  I doubt that they have considered that.

Yeah, if they are going to post very specific information, that should at least keep it up to date.  I suppose they would have to update the signs with distance to the Dale City rest areas in Virginia.  This is starting to seem like the infamous sign in Virginia on I-95 north in Carson saying the next rest area is in 180 miles (when Virginia temporarily closed its rest areas for budgetary reasons). 

[mtantillo]

On I-95 in Savage, MD, I noticed a VMS saying the "Welcome Center" rest area on the SB side would be closing temporarily.  Anyone know if this is for the project to triple the number of truck parking spaces there?  This is between MD-32 and MD-216.  (Note that this is NOT the Chesapeake House/Maryland House project.)

Just repaving of both sides, but  one side at a time.  Daytime only, apparently.

I-95 WELCOME CENTERS TO CLOSE FOR DAYTIME PAVING

Closures to Occur 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, May 13 through June 30; Closures will Affect One Welcome Center at a Time Starting with Southbound Side

Who comes up with a scheme to only close the welcome center during DAYTIME?

Yeah, this does seem like strange logic.  No parking when the Welcome Center is open, no Welcome Center when the parking is open!

[cpzilliacus]

On I-95 in Savage, MD, I noticed a VMS saying the "Welcome Center" rest area on the SB side would be closing temporarily.  Anyone know if this is for the project to triple the number of truck parking spaces there?  This is between MD-32 and MD-216.  (Note that this is NOT the Chesapeake House/Maryland House project.)

Just repaving of both sides, but  one side at a time.  Daytime only, apparently.

I-95 WELCOME CENTERS TO CLOSE FOR DAYTIME PAVING

Closures to Occur 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, May 13 through June 30; Closures will Affect One Welcome Center at a Time Starting with Southbound Side

Who comes up with a scheme to only close the welcome center during DAYTIME?

Probably driven by demand for truck parking, which is much higher in the overnight hours.

There's not nearly enough of it along I-95 between Emporia, Virginia and Wilmington, Delaware, and the (lack of) truck parking is even worse between Carmel Church/Ruther Glen, Va. and Perryville, Md.

[cpzilliacus]

That's not good. That is, since Maryland House is closed, and many many temporary signs have the mileage to the Howard County rest area as the next rest area on I-95. Are they really going to temporarily change all of those temporary signs, or are they going to, "break a promise" they made to drivers on signs no fewer than 10 times?

That's a very  good point.  I doubt that they have considered that.

Yeah, if they are going to post very specific information, that should at least keep it up to date.  I suppose they would have to update the signs with distance to the Dale City rest areas in Virginia.  This is starting to seem like the infamous sign in Virginia on I-95 north in Carson saying the next rest area is in 180 miles (when Virginia temporarily closed its rest areas for budgetary reasons).

I very  well remember that sign in Carson. 

I suppose for southbound I-95 traffic, they can encourage persons needing to stop for a rest room break to use the park-and-ride lot at College Park (which has port-a-potties).

With enough signage, SHA might even convert it to a temporary rest area (it also doubles as a truck weigh/inspection station, though it's not very big, and much of the parking capacity is used as a park-and-ride).

[froggie]

One more traffic signal on my Eastern Shore trips.  Per an SHA release, they recently installed a traffic signal at US 113/MD 12 in Snow Hill.  The intersection has seen crashes off and on over the years, and the 4-laning of US 113 didn't help any.  I know at one point, there was talk of building an interchange or closing the median, but apparently that didn't come to pass.  IMO a J-turn would've been better than a signal.

According to the release, the signal goes active tomorrow.  Didn't take them long to put it in...5 weeks ago it was still just the flashing yellow light with no indication of anything else going on.

[cpzilliacus]

Baltimore Sun: Man runs out of gas, sets up drum kit on Interstate 695 - Driver not cited and continued on his way after highway officials help

It wasn't the average traffic stop on the Baltimore Beltway Tuesday morning.

Maryland state troopers noticed a man playing a drum kit on the shoulder of the Interstate 695 inner loop, between Windsor Mill Road and Security Boulevard, around 10:30 a.m., a spokeswoman said.

[cpzilliacus]

Baltimore Sun: With traffic growing, state begins another study of Bay Bridge capacity - Two-year analysis will determine when a new crossing should be built

State workers ready to untangle Memorial Day traffic snarls - AAA Mid-Atlantic projects slight drop in holiday travel, despite lower gas prices from a year ago

[cpzilliacus]

Trash truck vs. CSX train.  Trash truck appears to have lost, though the  train derailed.

This has impacted U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway) near I-95 and I-895 in Baltimore County and Baltimore City. Apparently no direct impact on 95 or 895 themselves. Video of the resulting explosion is pretty spectacular.

Baltimore Sun: Train derails in Rosedale area

A CSX freight train derailed Tuesday afternoon in the Rosedale area, damaging nearby buildings, shutting down US Route 40 and causing a loud explosion that could be felt several miles away.

Authorities in Baltimore County said the 15-car train struck a commercial truck near the 7500 block of Lake Drive, veering off the tracks near an industrial park. Initial reports were that no one was hurt, but County Executive Kevin Kamenetz later said the driver of the trailer was extricated and taken to Maryland Shock Trauma center in serious but stable condition.

[cpzilliacus]

Baltimore Sun: Former Balto. Co. Exec. Smith to head state transportation department - O'Malley expected to announce former county executive to lead critical agency

Gov. Martin O'Malley will turn to a longtime political ally, former Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith, to lead the Maryland Department of Transportation as it begins a new era of stepped-up construction, administration officials confirmed Tuesday.

O'Malley is expected to announce the appointment of Smith, 71, on Wednesday. His selection ends a search that has continued for more than a year – since former Transportation Secretary Beverly Swaim-Staley announced her departure last spring.

Former Deputy Secretary Darrell Mobley has been running the department since Swaim-Staley left last summer. The administration officials said that Mobley will be offered another position in the administration. The officials did not name the post, but there is a vacancy in the high-ranking position of executive secretary of the Maryland Transportation Authority, which Mobley has chaired since Swaim-Staley left.

An administration official said O'Malley had chosen Smith for his experience with financial management and development issues as county executive and his familiarity with the needs of local jurisdictions. The official said Smith is especially qualified to lead the state's efforts to forge public-private partnerships to build major projects with non-traditional financing – an approach bolstered by legislation that passed the General Assembly this year.

Smith appointment subtracts one from ticket speculation

Wednesday's appointment of former Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr. as Maryland's secretary of transportation removes one prominent name from the guessing game over who the leading Democratic contenders for governor will choose as their running mates.

Smith said Wednesday that he has no interest in any job other than his new one running the transportation department. Gov. Martin O'Malley announced the appointment at a news conference with Smith at the site of a new Beltway expansion project near Frederick Road.

The former county executive's name had been floated a few weeks before as a possible runnng mate choice by a campaign aide to Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown. The Brown gubernatorial campaign ended that speculation Wednesday when it confirmed that Ulman has accepted an invitation to run for lieutenant governor on Brown's ticket.

[cpzilliacus]

Trash truck vs. CSX train.  Trash truck appears to have lost, though the  train derailed.

Story  below has a video of the trash truck being struck by the CSX locomotives.

Baltimore Sun: Company of trucker injured in train derailment has poor safety record - Alban Waste's federal safety compliance in bottom 10 percent of companies nationally

The waste-removal company owned by the trucker who was seriously injured when an oncoming CSX Corp. train collided with his truck in Rosedale on Tuesday had been flagged previously for having a poor safety record, according to federal transportation and state police records.

Because of the accident, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulators and inspectors with the Maryland State Police are planning a top-to-bottom compliance audit of the trucking company, Alban Waste.

Officials plan to vet the company, its drivers and vehicles for any violations that had gone undetected in previous reviews, said Capt. Norman "Bill" Dofflemyer, head of the state police commercial vehicle enforcement division.

[kj3400]

Shame. That was a nice train. Also, that crossing should have at least had lights, though I'm sure there's some logical reason behind it not having them.