The Washington Post published an article about a pedestrian recovering from serious injuries

The Washington Post published this shocking article about a pedestrian, Danalee Ariel Casey of Silver Spring, who was hit by a car last October 2011 and sustained serious injuries.  Her example serves as a cautionary tale to everyone here to be careful when walking, biking, or simply crossing the streets around the Norbeck and Layhill areas. 

The injuries sustained by this pedestrian demonstrates an urgent need for sidewalks and bike paths on Norbeck Road to ensure that pedestrians (particularly the car-less, namely children, teenagers, young adults, the disabled, and the low-income) can travel safely without fear of getting hit and killed by vehicles.

Enjoy reading,
Jesse 

P.S. Full article available after the jump along with a photo gallery

Pedestrian hit and killed in Kensington

Sad news from the Washington Post.  A pedestrian was struck and killed by three vehicles this morning in Kensington, which is not far from Norbeck and Layhill.  Our condolences go out to his family. 

I can't imagine the pain and shock this pedestrian felt when he was hit and run over by not one, but three vehicles!  It sounds as if this road was designed to move large numbers of vehicles without any regard for pedestrian safety. 

Regardless of who was at fault, imagine the guilt and grief felt by the drivers who ran over this pedestrian.  The painful memory of hitting this defenseless pedestrian will be with them for the rest of their lives.

Do you know if any pedestrians or bicyclists have been hit, injured, or killed on Norbeck Road and Layhill Road?  To my knowledge, I've not heard of any incidents, but that could still happen since both roads are narrow and curvy with poor sightlines, few shoulders, and no sidewalks or bike paths.   

We can prevent such tragedies from occuring on Norbeck Road and Layhill Road by contacting our County councilmembers and State Senators to demand that they take action and provide the necessary funding.

Full article available after the jump:

As U.S. road deaths drop, more pedestrians getting struck

Here's some ammunition as to why Norbeck Road and Layhill Road need sidewalks and pedestrian-bike paths. 

According to a recent article in the USA TODAY newspaper, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) discovered in its data for 2010 that road fatalities involving motor vehicles have dropped, yet pedestrian deaths continue to climb upward. 

To be specific, pedestrian fatalities rose 4.2% in 2010 over the previous year.  In addition, pedestrian injuries from collisions with motor vehicles soared 19%, to 70,000.

Experts are perplexed by the increase in pedestrian fatalities and injuries, but they theorize that it may be the result of more low-income people and minorities moving from walkable cities to car-centric suburbs that were not designed for walking or biking.  Another factor could be the increasing numbers of people who don't have cars, as pointed out by the Washington Post in a September 2011 article, due to the economic downturn, high gas prices, and a desire to save money.  As a result, more people are walking and biking these days.  And cell-phone distraction while walking could be a contributing factor as well.

In summary, the USA Today article combined with NHTSA's data highlights the urgent need for our roads in the suburbs to be upgraded with sidewalks and bike paths so that everyone can get to their destinations safely regardless of their travel mode, whether it be driving, walking, biking, riding the bus, etc.

There is also a benefit to designing roads for all kinds of travel - they become safer for drivers as well.  So let's make Norbeck Road and Layhill Road safer for everyone by contacting our County Councilmembers and State Senators to demand that they take action and secure the necessary funding.

Thanks for your support,
Jesse

Full article available after the jump:

Happy Thanksgiving!

Walking has many health benefits.  Too bad that Norbeck Road is not a walkable area at the moment

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  We have lots to be thankful for, especially with our loving families, roofs over our heads, yummy food, warm clothing, creature comforts, and so forth.  But one thing that we could be thankful for (and hopeful for) are sidewalks and pedestrian-bike paths to ensure the safety and well-being of our children, friends, and neighbors who live off Norbeck Road and Layhill Road.

A popular holiday tradition among many families is going for a leisurely walk or bike ride before sitting down to hearty meal of turkey, stuffing, steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes, creamed corn and pumpkin pie. 

Unfortunately for those who live off Norbeck and Layhill Road, they can't really walk or bike anywhere since their residential streets are only accessible by car due to the fact that neither Norbeck Road and Layhill Road have sidewalks or bike paths. 

Consequently, residents must get in their cars and drive elsewhere, which adds to the traffic congestion on both roads and pumps more exhuast emissions into the atmosphere.

Even worse, there are many residents who cannot drive due to age, ability, income, health, etc.  So they are trapped and isolated in their neighborhoods and must rely on family members and friends to drive them.  That can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you value your independence. 

Wouldn't it be nice if residents could walk and bike to the nearby ICC Bike Trail, the East Norbeck Local Park (aka Bradford Park), the Layhill Park, the Olney Pool, the Leisure World Shopping Center, etc.?  This could happen only if sidewalks and pedestrian-bike paths are built on the entire stretches of Norbeck Road and Layhill Road.

With this blog and campaign, I hope that we come together as a collective voice to pressure State and County officials to take action that would make Norbeck Road and Layhill Road more accessible to pedestrians, bicyclists, and anyone who cannot drive.  Doing so would also make both roads safer for motorists since they would not have to worry about hitting or swerving around pedestrians and bicyclists in the road. 

And property values would probably improve if the area becomes more walkable.  See my earlier blog story on a study that showed a positive relationship between walkability and property values.

Please lend your support by e-mailing our State and County officials.  Their contact information is posted below and also available on the right-side of this blog.

Thanks for your support and happy Thanksgiving,
Jesse

Please telephone or e-mail our County Councilmembers and County Executive:
Nancy Navarro at 240-777-7968 or Councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov
Marc Elrich at 240-777-7966 or Councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov
Phil Andrews at 240-777-7906 or Councilmember.andrews@montgomerycountymd.gov
Ike Leggett at 240-777-2500 or ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov

Also, please telephone or e-mail our State Senators:
Roger Manno (301-858-3151) or roger.manno@senate.state.md.us
Karen S. Montgomery (301-858-36251) or karen.montgomery@senate.state.md.us

ICC now open and connecting Montgomery County to Prince George's County



Workmen finalize details for Tuesday’s opening of the ICC near Georgia Avenue and Norbeck Road.

The second segment of the ICC opened with little fanfare on Tuesday, November 22, 2011.  The new highway now stretches from Prince George's County to Montgomery County and connects to the BWI Airport.  The ICC also connects to the I-270 job corridor with Howard and Baltimore counties.

Drivers are reporting shorter and faster commutes on the new highway.  It remains to be seen how many drivers will continue to use the ICC after the tolls kick in on Monday, December 05, 2011.  And will the ICC alleviate traffic congestion on local roads, especially Norbeck Road? 

Only time will tell.  But if you see any problems, be sure to contact Ray Feldman of the ICC Project Office at: rfeldman@iccproject.com. 

In the meantime, check out the Washington Post's guide to the ICC highway after the jump:

ICC straining Maryland's transportation funds

Maryland now straining under a $2.8 billion debt that will limit the State's ability to maintain aging infrastructure

According to this Washington Post article, the $2.56 billion Intercounty Connector (ICC) has maxed out Maryland's debt and depleted its transportation funds for the future. 

The total debt from the ICC and other transportation projects around the State will increase to $2.8 billion by 2017, which is just under the State's conservative debt limit of $3 billion. 

Consequently, the State has little flexibility to borrow money without again raising the tolls, which already increased recently to become one of the highest in the nation.  In fact, the $2.8 billion debt will limit the Maryland Transportation Authority's ability to upgrade its aging infrastructure, let alone build any new roads, tunnels, and bridges. 

The Authority expects that its next major project, a fortification or replacement of the aging 71-year-old Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge in Southern Maryland won't happen for a decade or more until toll revenue has rebounded enough to cover more debt

Interestingly, the State will have to commit $87 million of its federal highway funds to ICC bond payments every year through 2019.  Beyond that, the final bond payment for the ICC will be made in the years between 2041 and 2046, which is 30-35 years off.  In addition, the authority’s annual debt service payments will jump from $25 million in fiscal 2007 to about $190 million in fiscal 2021.

Despite all these dire calculations, the Maryland Transportation Authority's financial health is relatively stable and its bonds still attract the highest rating due to the Authority's willingness to raise tolls when necessary.  It also helps that the Washington D.C. metropolitan area ranks as one of the most affluent and suffers from the worst traffic congestion in the nation, recently beating out Los Angeles for this dubious distinction.

As a result, there should be plenty of drivers who will pay to zip along the ICC in record time despite its high tolls.  That will come in handy for those rushing to the BWI Airport to catch flights.  A trip on the ICC from Gaithersburg to BWI should take 37 minutes as opposed to 71 minutes on local roads.  It remains to be seen if the ICC will absorb traffic from local roads. 

Check out the new ICC highway while it's open to the public for free from Tuesday, November 22, 2011, through Sunday, December 04, 2011.  Too bad that the ICC did not include bike lanes as many high-speed bicyclists would have enjoyed riding it, especially with traffic so light on the new highway. 

Hopefully, the Maryland Transportation Authority will direct more attention and funding to the State's pedestrian and bicycle facilities, which are severely neglected, yet increasing in popularity due to high gas prices, environmental concerns, and a desire to stay fit and connected to personal telecommunications devices.

Check out the full article and insightful reader comments after the jump:

Maryland to monitor ICC traffic

According to the Washington Post's Robert Thomson who writes a column under Dr. Gridlock, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will monitor ICC traffic to ensure that the highway and local roads do not become too congested. 

If you have encountered any protracted delays or heavy congestion as a result of the ICC highway's opening this week, please do not hesitate to e-mail Dr. Gridlock at drgridlock@washpost.com and be sure to copy the ICC"s Spokesperson Ray Feldman at rfeldman@iccproject.com.

Dr. Gridlock pointed out in his column that the temporary interchange between the ICC and Norbeck Road was removed last weekend, but east-west commuters may still use Norbeck to link up with the interchanges on Georgia Avenue or Layhill Road.

That means we could still see heavy traffic congestion on Norbeck Road in the mornings and evenings as motorists jockey to reach the new ICC highway.  Hopefully, congestion will ease up when the tolls kick in on Monday, December 05, 2011.

In the meantime, take advantage of the Thanksgiving holiday and weekend to check out the new ICC highway and let us know what you think.  By the way, I noticed that the new traffic lights on the Layhill Bridge with entrance/exit ramps to the ICC are poorly timed and abnormally long. 

Have a nice holiday and weekend,
Jesse

Full article available after the jump: 

Study shows that walking and biking yields enormous savings in healthcare and transportation costs

Save on your transportation costs by walking or biking

Here's a strong case for why Norbeck Road should have sidewalks and pedestrian-bike paths. 

According to this Washington Post Express newspaper article, transit columnist Vicky Hallett wrote about an interesting study by the Environmental Health Perspectives that found if more people in the upper-Midwestern United States biked instead of drove for half of their trips that are five miles or less, there would be 1,100 fewer deaths and a savings of $7 billion in reduced helath care costs and improved air quality.  And if people walked instead of biked, the savings would jump even higher than $7 billion.  That's huge!

In the U.S. roughly 28% of all car trips are one mile or less, another 41% are two miles or less. Those short trips are particularly damaging, based on research that shows 25% of volatile organic compounds and 19% of particulate matter are emitted by cars in the first few minutes of operation.

The researchers concluded: “The current fossil fuel-based transportation system of the U.S. negatively impacts human health by increasing air pollution and automobile accidents and decreasing physical activity.

“Transport-related inactivity, i.e. the use of motorized transport rather than walking and bicycling, has been linked to increased mortality and decreases in healthy life years, with the greatest impacts on chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2, obesity, breast cancer, and osteoporosis.”

The results of this study show that walking and biking are a legitimate means of transportation and should not be overlooked in our race to pave over the country with new roads. 

Please contact our County Councilmembers, County Executive, and State Senators to express your support for sidewalks and pedestrian-bike paths on Norbeck Road to make the area more walkable, liveable, and appealing. 

Please telephone or e-mail our County Councilmembers and County Executive:
Nancy Navarro at 240-777-7968 or Councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov
Marc Elrich at 240-777-7966 or Councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov
Phil Andrews at 240-777-7906 or Councilmember.andrews@montgomerycountymd.gov
Ike Leggett at 240-777-2500 or ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov

Also, please telephone or e-mail our State Senators:
Roger Manno (301-858-3151) or roger.manno@senate.state.md.us
Karen S. Montgomery (301-858-36251) or karen.montgomery@senate.state.md.us

Together, we can bring change to Norbeck Road and create a safer environment for everyone,

Full article available after the jump:

Has the East Norbeck Local Park been renamed the Bradford Park?

Was the East Norbeck Local Park renamed Bradford Park? 

Have you guys checked Google Maps lately?  I was studying the Intercounty Connector (ICC) highway's route on Google Maps when I noticed a park with an unfamiliar name located on Norbeck Road near Bailey's Lane.  It was located where the East Norbeck Local Park has always been sited. 

To my astonishment, the East Norbeck Local Park, which is often referred to as ENLP by the friendly folks at the ICC Project Office and Maryland State Highway Administration, has apparently been renamed as Bradford Park.  Is that correct or has it always been known as the Bradford Park prior to the ICC's construction?  I don't recall ever seeing or hearing the name of Bradford Park before. 

Readers, if you know any details, please e-mail me at norbeckroad@gmail.com.  Thank you!  In the meantime, I'll e-mail the ICC's spokesperson Ray Feldman for more details on the park's name and amenities.  And I'll press for more specific details on when the park will be completed and open to the public.

Stay tuned for an update,
Jesse

Link to Google Maps of Bradford Park

Melinda Peters appointed to lead Maryland State Highway Administration - starting mid-December 2011



Congratulations to Melinda Peters who will lead SHA

 The Washington Post reported that Melinda Peters has been appointed to replace Neil Pedersen as the next adminstrator of the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA).

Ms. Peters who is the current director of the Intercounty Connector (ICC) will begin her new position in mid-December after the ICC is fully completed and open to the public, which will occur on Tuesday, November 22, 2011. 

Interestingly, the Washington Post mentioned that Ms. Peters' husband, Phil, oversees paving projects for P. Flanigan & Sons, a transportation construction firm based in Baltimore. 

Congratulations to Ms. Peters for this impressive achievement.  Hopefully, she'll use her new position as the SHA's adminstrator to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety in the State.

Full article available after the jump:

Sidewalk being built on Norbeck Bridge!!

Sidewalk being added to the north-side of the Norbeck Bridge on 11/12/2011

Good news!

For pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers who use Norbeck Road (MD-28/MD-198), the ICC Project Office has now begun upgrading the bridge with an 8-foot wide sidewalk on the north side.  Also, bicycle lanes/shoulders have been striped on both the north and south side of the bridge.  

Previously, the bridge did not have any sidewalks, bike paths, or even shoulders.  It opened to the public last March 2011 with only four vehicle lanes and nothing else.  Not even shoulders, which was frustrating for anyone who wanted to cross the bridge on foot or bike.  Then in September 2011, a median buffer lane was installed, which necessitated the removal of one vehicle lane fom the northbound direction (heading towards Georgia Avenue).

Then in early November 2011, the ICC Project Team began installing a sidewalk and two shoulders on the bridge.  That necessitated the removal of one vehicle lane from the southbound direction (heading towards Layhill and Norwood). 

As a result of the new construction work on the bridge, occuring mostly on weekends and during non-peak hours, vehicle traffic can only pass through the bridge via one open lane.  That has created considerable delays with southbound and northbound traffic having to take turns to pass through.  Not surprisingly, traffic backed up quickly in both directions - all the way to Georgia Avenue and all the way to Layhill Road.

With all the traffic delays on Norbeck Road, I decided to walk instead of drive over the last two weekends.  So I did!  Walked past most of the idling vehicles and got to my destinations in less time than it would have taken me to drive there. 

My experience exemplifies the fact that we need sidewalks and pedestrian-bike paths for the entire stretch of Norbeck Road so that people can choose any travel mode to safely reach their destinations.  For some people, that could be walking, especially to reach the nearest bus stop.  For others, that could be bicycling or even rollerblading and skateboarding.  And the rest would probably drive, but at least they would have the option of walking and biking if they were so inclined.  And the drivers would not have to worry about swerving around pedestrians and bicyclists in the road. 

The point here is that providing other travel options, especially walking and biking via sidewalks and bike paths would increase the carrying capacity of the road and allow it to move larger volumes of people through the area more efficiently.

If you want a sidewalk and pedestrian-bike path on Norbeck Road, please e-mail or telephone Councilmembers Nancy Navarro and Marc Elrich to demand that they take action to make Norbeck Road more accessbile to pedestrians and bicyclists by placing it on the County's 2012 Transportation Priority Letter. 

Thanks for your support!!!

Nancy Navarro County Councilmember
District 4 – includes Norbeck Road
240-777-7968 (Office)
Councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov

Marc Elrich
County Councilmember-at-large
240-777-7966 (Office)
Councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov

ICC will have a no-toll period November 22 through December 04, 2011



ICC will open Tuesday, November 22 with no tolls through Sunday, December 4, 2011

According to the latest article about the Intercounty Connector (ICC) in the Washington Post, the remaining 10-mile segment of the ICC will be completed and open to the public on Tuesday, November 22, 2011.  That's coming up fast.

Unfortunately, for residents who live near the ICC, their local roads may be swamped by heavy traffic as many drivers jockey for access to the entire stretch of the fully completed ICC highway during a no-toll period that will start Tuesday, November 22, 2011, and end on Sunday, December 04, 2011, at midnight.  Then the tolls will kick in on Monday, December 05, 2011. 

History shows precedent.  Last February 2011 when the ICC's first segment opened to the public for a free, two-week period with no tolls, as many as 30,000 vehicles passed through the first segment.  After the tolls kicked in, the number of vehicles fell by half to 15,000 or less on a daily basis. 

There may be some good news and relief for residents on local roads near the ICC.  The State Highway Adminstration expects the ICC to take some traffic off local roads and ease congestion, including Route 198, which is Norbeck Road. 

Starting Dec. 5, tolls for passenger cars traveling the entire highway during peak hours will be $4 each way with an E-ZPass transponder or $6 without one.

With the ICC highway fully completed, can we please get sidewalk and pedestrian-bike paths along the entire stretch of Norbeck Road?  You can help our cause by contacting Councilmembers Nancy Navarro and Marc Elrich.  Please be sure to copy County Executive Ike Leggett as well as Montgomery County's Department of Transportation.  Please also blind-copy (BCC) me if possible so I can see how many e-mails are going out to them. 

Huge thanks!!
Jesse

Nancy Navarro County Councilmember
District 4 – includes Norbeck Road
240-777-7968 (Office)
Councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov

Marc Elrich
County Councilmember-at-large
240-777-7966 (Office)
Councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov

Ike Leggett County Executive
Montgomery County
240-777-2500
ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov

Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT):

Tom Pogue
Community Relations Manager
County Pedestrian Safety Program
Montgomery County DOT
240-777-7155 (Office)
mcdot.pedestriansafety@montgomerycountymd.gov

Jeff Dunckel
Pedestrian Safety Coordinator
County Pedestrian Safety Program
Montgomery County DOT
240-777-7197 (Office)
mcdot.pedestriansafety@montgomerycountymd.gov

Full article available after the jump:

With November 22, 2011 opening of ICC, motorists will discover whether the toll road was worth the wait

Will the ICC be a success or a flop?  We won't know for at least a year.

The Washington Post published this article about the Intercounty Connector (ICC) highway's upcoming opening on November 22, 2011, with serious questions about the new highway's future prospects. 

Will enough drivers use the ICC to make it successful and help the State of Maryland amortize the highway's construction costs and recoup its investments and pay for future maintenance costs?  Or will the new highway be a major flop since people are driving less these days due to the economic downturn and high gas prices?

Will the new highway be able to alleviate traffic congestion on local roads?  Or will it induce more traffic congestion as usually occurs when new highways are built or new lanes are added to existing roads?.

And will the ICC have a deleterious impact on the environment?  We won't have the answers until the new highway has been open for at least a year. 

These questions aside, the Washington Post pointed out that during the free no-toll period on the ICC highway from Tuesday, November 22, 2011, through Sunday, December 04, 2011, any driver using the ICC wiithout an E-Z Transponder will receive a notice in the mail urging them to buy one. 

Also, for those wondering how much it would cost to travel on the ICC highway once the tolls kick in on Monday, December 05, 2011, passenger vehicles pay 25 cents per mile at peak hours, 20 cents per mile during off-peak, and 10 cents per mile during overnight hours. 

For a passenger vehicle traveling the ICC from end-to-end (17.5 miles) during peak hours (25 cents per mile), the toll would cost $4.00.

Full article available after the jump:

Hairline cracks found in three Intercounty Connector overpasses

Hairline cracks have been found on three ICC bridges

The Washington Post reported that safety inspectors have found hairline cracks on three new Intercounty Connector (ICC) bridges in our Rockville-Olney area.  The affected overpasses are located on Georgia Avenue, Emory Lane, and Needwood Road.  The bridges are safe at the moment, but their conccrete piers will need to be reinforced, even rebuilt, if they are to last 50-100 years as is typical for a bridge. 

According to the ICC Project Office, the safety inspectors found 40 to 50 cracks in the concrete pier caps of all three overpasses.  Those concrete caps sit atop the supporting piers and connect them to the overpasses’ steel understructure. The cracks are .005 to .035 inches wide and range from seven inches to 3 feet 8 inches long.  The cracks appear to be a design flaw caused by the construction firms that used an inaccurate model to determine how many steel rods were needed inside the concrete pier caps to properly fortify them .

The ICC Project Office is now reviewing overpasses on the unopened stretch of the ICC, which is still scheduled to open to the public on Tuesday, November 22, 2011.  However, the remaining piers were designed by another firm, and no problems have been found so far.

There is some good news for the ICC Project Office and taxpayers.  The construction firm responsible for the concrete caps has agreed to reinforce or replace them at no cost to the State of Maryland.

Full article and reader comments available after the jump:

Two Crosswalks are Planned for Norbeck at Wintergate

Wintergate needs three crosswalks like this one at Georgia

I have been e-mailing back and forth with Ray Feldman who is the spokesman of the Maryland State Highway Administration's (SHA) Intercounty Connector (ICC) Project Office.  He has been wonderfully responsive to my e-mails. 

I asked Ray to confirm if there would be crosswalks at the T-intersection of Norbeck Road and Wintergate Crossing.  To my relief, there indeed will be marked and painted crosswalks.  Unfortunately, there will be only two crosswalks, not three crosswalks as I recommended. 

The first crosswalk will be installed on Wintergate south of Norbeck.  This location is good news as it will allow users of the ICC Bike Trail on the west side of Wintergate to cross to the sidewalk on the east side of Wintergate or vice versa. 

The second crosswalk will be installed across Norbeck Road on the west side of the Wintergate Intersection (same side as the ICC bike trail - also nearest the Norbeck bridge).  This crosswalk will allow users of the ICC bike trail to continue through Norbeck to reach the rest of the ICC bike trail as it heads towards Georgia Avenue and Emory Road in Olney.   

However, I am concerned about the safety of the west-side crosswalk on Norbeck Road at Wintergate.  What happens when the long line of drivers in their idling cars at Wintergate begin to turn left onto Norbeck with the green light?  They will be turning directly into the path of pedestrians and bicyclists on the west-side crosswalk.  This could create serious conflict between crosswalk users and left-turning cars in the Norbeck intersection.

I wrote back to Mr. Feldman and urged him to include a third crosswalk on the east-side of the Norbeck intersection at Wintergate as very few cars turn right from Wintergate onto Norbeck and head uphill towards Layhill and Norwood.  To clarify, a lot fewer cars turn right compared with the majority that turn left onto Norbeck and head over the bridge towards Georgia Avenue. 

I pointed out to Mr. Feldman that the inclusion of a third crosswalk on the east-side of the Norbeck intersection would be much safer and would allow anyone not comfortable with the west-side crosswalk on the ICC bike trail side to switch over to the sidewalk on the east-side of Wintergate and cross Norbeck more safely there without having to dash for their lives.

What are your thoughts on this crosswalk issue as it relates to vehicular traffic?  If you support my opinion that this T-intersection at Wintergate and Norbeck should have three crosswalks (one for each side), then please express your support by e-mailing Mr. Feldman at rfeldman@iccproject.com.

Thanks!

SHA needs to paint crosswalks at Norbeck & Wintergate Intersection

T-shaped Intersection at Norbeck and Wintergate

Over the last two weeks, I have been in frequent touch with Ray Feldman of the Maryland State Highway Administration's (SHA) Intercounty Connector (ICC) Project Office about a number of issues involving the ICC highway and Norbeck Road.

I recently had a chance to inspect and observe conditions on the ICC Bike Trail, which runs along the ICC highway from Georgia Avenue (MD-82) to Wintergate Crossing at Norbeck Road (MD-28) to Layhill (MD-182). 

Armed with my observations, I wrote to Mr. Feldman and asked him if there would be marked and painted crosswalks at the intersection of Wintergate and Norbeck to facilitate safe crossing for users of the ICC bike trail?  Also, I asked if would be flashing count-down timers to signal how much time a pedestrian or bicyclist has to cross?   

Please note that this intersection at Wintergate and Norbeck is a T-intersection.  That means all the cars exiting Wintergate at the traffic light will be turning left or right into the paths of pedestrians and bicyclists who will also be crossing with the green light. 

For that reason, it would be wise for SHA to proivde marked and painted crosswalks across Norbeck Road on both sides of the Wintergate intersection to ensure maximum visibility and crossing safety. 

Here are some pictures I took of the Wintergate Intersection.  The first picture shows a gold Subaru Forester blocking what would be the crosswalk space in the intersection.  That's another reason to provide marked and painted crosswalks so that drivers know where to stop.

Even then, many drivers make rolling right turns from Norbeck onto Wintergate regardless of the traffic light and they may not stop for pedestrians and bicyclists who have the right-of-the-way during green cycles.  It would be wise to install a "No right turns on RED" sign at the Norbeck traffic light.

More pictures available after the jump:

Why didn't ICC give Norbeck the same bridge as Layhill?



Why didn't ICC use the same specs from Layhill bridge for Norbeck? 

 The Intercounty Connector (ICC) Project Team recently built new bridges on both Layhill Road (MD-182) and Norbeck Road (MD-28). 

For some reason, both bridges got different designs.  The Layhill bridge is undeniably fantastic while the Norbeck bridge is seriously flawed. 

Yep, the Norbeck bridge is that bad!  Initially, the Norbeck bridge opened in March 2011 with four travel lanes and New Jersey concrete barriers lining both sides of the bridge.  It has no bike lanes or shoulders, no sidewalks, and no median islands. 

Then in September 2011, one travel lane in the northbound direction of Georgia Avenue was eliminated to create a painted median in the road.  This allowed enabled traffic planners to create a permanent left-turn lane on the downhill stretch of Norbeck Road, east of the bridge, at the Wintergate traffic light. 

Anyone who has driven or even walked/biked over the Norbeck bridge agrees that it is not an attractive or safe design.  That brings up the question - why didn't the ICC Project Team use the same specifications from the fantastic Layhill bridge for Norbeck's bridge? 

Using the same specs from the Layhill bridge would have solved all the safety problems that currently exist on the Norbeck bridge.  And using the same specs from the Layhill bridge would have ensured that the Norbeck bridge would be compatible with future improvements to the rest of Norbeck Road including the inevitable widening to four lanes with ample shoulders, bike lanes, and sidewalks. 

So I wrote to Ray Feldman, spokesman of the ICC Project Team.  He was very responsive to my inquiries.  He said that the Norbeck bridge was temporary while the ICC highway is still under construction through the Winter. 

Mr. Feldman said that in 2012 when the ICC highway is finally completed, the bridge would be upgraded.  That lead me to believe the ICC Project Team would actually tear down the bridge and replace it with an entirely new, hopefully, wider bridge like the one on Layhill Road.

Not so accordingly to Mr. Feldman.  Instead, the Norbeck bridge is permanent while the configuration is temporary.  In 2012 when the exit/entrance ramps to the ICC will be removed, the Norbeck bridge will lose two travel lanes.  That means there will only be one southbound travel lane and one northbound travel lane.

The loss of travel lanes is not good news for drivers who have to contend with heavy traffic congestion during morning and evening rush-hour, but that will provide enough room to install ample shoulders/bike lanes on both sides of the bridge, plus a sidewalk on the north-side of the bridge that will connect to the ICC bike trail at Wintergate Crossing. 

There is more good news for pedestrians and bicyclists.  This north-side sidewalk will stretch 600 feet westward from the bridge towards Bailey's Lane and terminate at the property line of the East Norbeck Local Park (ENLP).  Then the Montgomery County Recreational Department will add another 800 feet of sidewalk into the East Norbeck Local Park and possibly link up with the ICC bike trail further west.

While I am relieved to learn that the Norbeck bridge will indeed have ample shoulders/bike lanes on both sides, plus the north-side sidewalk, I am disappointed that the ICC Project Team did not see fit to design Norbeck bridge with four lanes, raised median islands, and sidewalks on both sides.   

What is going to happen when the County finally decides to widen the rest of Norbeck Road to four lanes replete with sidewalks and ample shoulders on both sides? 

Will the County have to tear down the Norbeck biridge and install a new, wider bridge to accommodate the four lanes and sidewalks? 

That begs the question:  Why didn't the ICC Project Team anticipate the future improvements to Norbeck Road and plan accordingly by using the same specs from the Layhill bridge for the Norbeck bridge?  That would have saved a lot of money and labor costs upfront, plus that would have meant a much better bridge on Norbeck for everyone.

What do you think?

Major traffic back-up on Norbeck Road 10/03/2011

Not Norbeck pictured here, but traffic was backed-up in both directions

My mother just e-mailed me her observations that there was a major traffic back-up on Norbeck Road this morning 10/03/2011. 

She could see sirens flashing at the top of the hill near the entrance to the Norbeck Animal Clinic.

She could not tell if the flashing sirens were for a routine traffic stop or a vehicular collision. 

She reported that traffic was backed up on the southbound and northbound lanes and none of the vehicles could get past the flashing sirens at the top of the hill in either lane.

If Norbeck Road were wider with ample shoulders, bike lanes, and pedestrian-bike paths, then vehicle traffic would be less hindered and probably be able to flow more easily.

And those who were trying to reach the bus stops on Wintergate Crossing and the bus pick-ups at the Norbeck Kiss-and-Ride bus lot probably missed their buses due to the major traffic back-up.

It's frustrating that a traffic stop by a police officer or a fender-bender or even a flat tire can cause major gridlock on the road.  That costs drivers time, money, and wasted gas.

It's time to get Norbeck Road upgraded with ample shoulders, bike lanes, and shared pedestrian-bike paths on both sides.  And it'd be nice if the road were widened to four travel lanes with a raised safety median between north and southbound travel lanes.  But such a project could be a long way off. 

That's why I'm advocating for sidewalks and shared-use pedestrian-bicycle paths because those can be installed relatively quickly and more affordably with a lasting improvement on roadway safety.

After all, we don't want people walking or biking in the road, which can cause vehicular accidents if drivers have to suddenly slow down, slam on their brakes, or cross the double yellow-line to swerve around.

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below or e-mail me at norbeckroad@gmail.com



The new Layhill Bridge is a vast improvement over the previous road's blind curve

The Layhill Bridge features four travel lanes, a median island,
bike lanes, and raised sidewalks on both sides

Have you seen the new bridge on Layhill Road (MD-182) over the Intercounty Connector (ICC) highway near Park Vista Road? 

If not, let me just say that it is a fantastic design and a major improvement compared with the conditions that existed before.  

Prior to construction of the ICC highway and the new Layhill Bridge, conditions on MD-182 in this area were downright treacherous. 

The road was a scary downhill stretch towards Park Vista Road with a blind curve (including a sheer cliff-side wall) on the northside and a farmland ditch on the southside. 

There were no shoulders whatsoever, therefore, no room for driver error, especially during inclement weather. 

And there were no sidewalks or bike paths.  Anyone who dared walk, jog, or bike on this curvy blind stretch had to walk on the south-side next to the farmland ditch since the north-side was virtually impassable with its sheer cliff-side wall, lack of shoulders, and horrid sightlines.  As a result, pedestrians and bicyclists had to contend with speeding cars downhill that could lose control and crash. And they had to contend with drivers hindered by poor sightlines as they headed uphill next to the cliff-side wall around the blind curve. 

Compounding the situation were free-roaming dogs who lived at an idyllic farm on the south-side of this blind curve on Layhill Road, directly across from the cliff wall.  The free-roaming dogs were very terrirtorial and would chase anyone walking, jogging, or biking past the farmhouse on Layhill Road.  

I know these dogs all too well because they chased me each time I tried to walk or jog through the area.  To escape the dogs, I had to switch to the north-side of the road, walking alongside the sheer cliff wall.  Consequently, drivers heading uphill could not see me in their lane due to the blind curves of the cliff wall. 

Needless to say, I rarely walked or biked through this blind curve on Layhill Road and avoided the area altogether for years.  Fortunately, that is no longer the case thanks to the ICC Project Team's major upgrade of Layhill Road near Park Vista over the last 12 months.

The ICC Project Team saw fit to seize the farmhouse property and evict the territorial dogs, demolish the sheer cliff-side wall, level the earth, flatten the terrain, and straighten the road to accommodate the new Layhill Bridge.  Then they built ample shoulders with plenty of room for biking, plus raised sidewalks with hefty curbs to protect pedestrians from passing vehicular traffic on both sides of the bridge.

There is good news for drivers too!  The bridge features not two, not three, but four travel lanes!  There are two northbound lanes and two southbound lanes, separated by a raised median with hefty curbs to ensure that vehicles stay in their lanes.  This is a very wise design feature as it prevents vehicles from drifting into oncoming traffic, which almost always proves fatal. 

The result is a very safe bridge, accessible to everyone regardless of their transportation mode.  Pedestrians and bicyclists can now travel safely on sidewalks and bike lanes from Park Vista Road up Layhill Rd. to Longmeade Crossing and to the bus stops and shopping centers on Bel Pre Road. 

Kudos to the ICC Project Team for doing a fantastic job on what was once a scary and treacherous road near Park Vista Road.  

I have no "before" pictures of Layhill Road with its blind curve near Park Vista, but if you do, please e-mail them to me and I will post them here! 

More pictures of the new Layhill Bridge and straightened road available after the jump.

Fender-bender on Norbeck Road caused a major traffic back-up because the road has no shoulders

Fender-bender caused a major traffic back-up

In addition to seeing a high school student walking on Norbeck Road, my mother also reported a fender-bender collision between two cars on the downhill section of Norbeck Road near Drury Road. 

She did not witness the actual collision, but said that that the fender-bender caused traffic to come to a standstill behind the damaged cars blocking the southbound lane.  As a result, traffic quickly backed up a mile all the way to Wintergate Crossing.  

Because Norbeck Road is so narrow and has no shoulders, the cars involved in the fender-bender were unable to move off the road and allow traffic to flow by.  Instead, the damaged cars blocked the entire south-bound lane of traffic, forcing everyone else to come to a stand-still.

This is another reason to contact your elected officials and urge them to get Norbeck Road widened with ample shoulders and pedestrian-bike paths on both sides.

I urge you to call or e-mail your County Councilmembers and County Executive:
Nancy Navarro at 240-777-7968 or Councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov
Marc Elrich at 240-777-7966 or Councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov
Ike Leggett at 240-777-2500 or ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov

Also, please call or e-mail your State Senators:
Roger Manno (301-858-3151) or roger.manno@senate.state.md.us
Karen S. Montgomery (301-858-36251) or karen.montgomery@senate.state.md.us

Together, we can bring change to Norbeck Road and create a safer environment for everyone, including those not-so-lucky drivers who crashed into each other and caused a major traffic back-up! 

High school student spotted walking on Norbeck Road



Not Norbeck Rd here, but high school students have been spotted

My mother just reported to me that she observed this afternoon (09/27/2011) a high school student wearing a backpack and carrying a musical instrument while trudging up Norbeck Road toward the traffic light at Wintergate Crossing. 

She said this is not the first time that she has seen high school students and teenagers wearing backpacks while walking on Norbeck Road after school. 

Another resident we spoke with over the weekend who lives near the Norbeck Bridge also reported seeing high school students with backpacks walking on the road and even across the new bridge as well.  That's even more alarming since the bridge has no shoulders, sidewalks, or bike paths. 

It's time for the State and County to take action on Norbeck Road's dangerous conditions with its heavy traffic congestion, high speeds, poor sightlines, and lack of shoulders, sidewalks, and bike paths.

It is unacceptable that high school students are forced to walk on the road in this day and age when they should be able to travel safely regardless of their transportation mode.  This is a tragedy waiting to happen, but it can be averted if the State and County spring into action by building pedestrian-bike paths on both sides of Norbeck Road to enhance safety, connecitivity, independence, and mobility.

I urge you to call or e-mail your County Councilmembers and County Executive:
Nancy Navarro at 240-777-7968 or Councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov
Marc Elrich at 240-777-7966 or Councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov
Ike Leggett at 240-777-2500 or ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov

Also, please call or e-mail your State Senators:
Roger Manno (301-858-3151) or roger.manno@senate.state.md.us
Karen S. Montgomery (301-858-36251) or karen.montgomery@senate.state.md.us

Together, we can bring change to Norbeck Road and create a safer environment for everyone, including your high school teenagers. 

Thanks for your support!

Active elderly woman spotted jogging on Norbeck Rd.

Elderly woman spotted jogging on Norbeck Road

My mother, who is an astute observer, reported that she saw an elderly woman in her 70s jogging on Norbeck Road during rush-hour traffic on Friday afternoon 09/23/2011. 

The jogger was actually trying to cross from the south-side of Norbeck Road to the north-side where Mount Everest Lane is located.  I presume that she came from Wintergate Crossing, which is a popular area to walk and jog as it has wonderful sidewalks and the fantastic ICC Bike Trail. 

Unfortunately, traffic was so heavy on Norbeck Road during the afternoon/evening rush-hour that there were no gaps to safely dash across the southbound and northbound lanes at the same time. 

Instead, the jogger was forced to cross the southbound lane and wait on the double yellow line in the middle of Norbeck Road for a gap to open up in the northbound lane.  Finally, she sprinted across the northbound lane and continued on her way home. 

My mother was on pins and needles while watching this jogger attempting to cross heavy traffic and being forced to wait in the middle of the road while cars and trucks zoomed by on each side. 

This jogger was inches away from crippling injury or death if a vehicle had drifted into her or hit her head-on.  This is another reason to lobby our elected officials, namely Councilmembers Nancy Navarro and Marc Elrich along with State Senators Roger Manno and Karen S. Montgomery to do something about the dangerous conditions on Norbeck Road. 

Our elected officials have the political clout to pressure the State and County to build pedestrian-bike paths and marked crosswalks on Norbeck Road to ensure safety for everyone regardless of their transportation modes.

I urge you to call or e-mail your County Councilmembers and County Executive:
Nancy Navarro at 240-777-7968 or Councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov
Marc Elrich at 240-777-7966 or Councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov
Ike Leggett at 240-777-2500 or ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov

Also, please call or e-mail your State Senators:
Roger Manno (301-858-3151) or roger.manno@senate.state.md.us
Karen S. Montgomery (301-858-36251) or karen.montgomery@senate.state.md.us

Together, we can bring change to Norbeck Road and create a safer environment for everyone, including your active grandmothers!  :-) 

Thanks for your support,
Jesse

The upcoming FY 2012 Transportation Priority Letter

County Executive Ike Leggett with Councilmember Nancy Navarro

I was just informed by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) that lobbying the Montgomery County Council would be our BEST chance at getting Norbeck Road upgraded with pedestrian-bike paths and even widened to four lanes if you're in favor of that as well.

The Council will be drafting a Fiscal Year 2012 Transportation Priority Letter that includes a list of local projects considered important and should be funded and constructed in the near future.  Considering all the problems on Norbeck Road with its lack of safety medians, shoulders, and pedestrian-bike paths, along with dangerous blind curves and heavy traffic congestion, we definitely need to get Norbeck Road onto that letter for FY 2012. 

I urge you and all of you who live along Norbeck Road to call or write to Councilmember Nancy Navarro who represents District 4, which covers our area.  Please also call or copy Marc Elrich who is the Councilmember-at-large and is involved with local transportation projects. 

Be sure to copy County Executive Ike Leggett as he launched a Pedestrian Safety Initiative in 1997 and is a major supporter of improving pedestrian safety.

Optionally, you can copy Montgomery County DOT's Tom Pogue and Jeff Dunckel. 

Please call or e-mail them at your earliest convenience.  Huge thanks!

Nancy Navarro County Councilmember
District 4 – includes Norbeck Road
240-777-7968 (Office)
Councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov

Marc Elrich
County Councilmember-at-large
240-777-7966 (Office)
Councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov

Ike Leggett County Executive
Montgomery County
240-777-2500
ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov

Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT):

Tom Pogue
Community Relations Manager
County Pedestrian Safety Program
Montgomery County DOT
240-777-7155 (Office)
mcdot.pedestriansafety@montgomerycountymd.gov

Jeff Dunckel
Pedestrian Safety Coordinator
County Pedestrian Safety Program
Montgomery County DOT
240-777-7197 (Office)
mcdot.pedestriansafety@montgomerycountymd.gov

Passing out flyers all over the Norbeck Road area

For the last two weeks, I have been passing out flyers all over the Norbeck Road area.  So far, I've reached 450 houses up and down Norbeck Road between Mount Everest Lane to the Norbeck Animal Clinic to Radwick Lane to Twin Valley Lane to Laughline Lane to Drury Road, Tierra Road, and Merrifield Road.

Over the next few weeks, I plan to hit Wintergate Crossing, Longmeade Crossing, Park Vista Drive, Barn Ridge Lane, and many more side streets. 

I have been walking from house to house and tucking the flyers in mailboxes and flagging down passer-bys and drivers to introduce myself and raise awareness about my campaign.  I'm thrilled to say that the response has been nothing short of phenomenal and encouraging.

It's obvious that residents are fed up with the dangerous and deteriorating conditions on Norbeck.  They want to see Norbeck Road upgraded with separate and dedicated bike paths so that everyone can travel safely regardless of their transportation mode, whether it is walking, jogging, biking, driving, or reaching a bus stop.

Pasted below is the flyer that I created and have been passing out all over the area.  It is chock-full of useful contacts for the Maryland State Highway Administration, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, and the Montgomery County Executive and Councilmember.  I wanted to upload the flyer in a WORD file to the blog, but it does not offer that feature.



But you can e-mail me at norbeckroad@gmail.com and I will gladly e-mail back with copies of the flyer attached and you can print or forward to your neighbors and friends.

If you see me passing out flyers, please say hello and introduce yourself!  :-)

Full flyer available after the jump:

Montgomery County has a Fiscal Year Transportation Priority Letter that allocates funding for local projects

I just spoke with Michael Jackson who is the Director of Bicycle-Pedestrian Access for the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT).  He stated that MDOT does not have jurisdiction over Norbeck Road (MD-28), which is maintained by the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA).

Norbeck Road lies in District 4 and should receive priority

To get pedestrian-bike safety improvements on Norbeck Road, Mr. Jackson highly recommends that residents in the affected area contact their Montgomery County Councilmember, Nancy Navarro, of District 4, to request that she add Norbeck Road to the County's Transportation Priority Letter for critical roadway projects that should be funded and constructed.

Mr. Jackson sent me a copy of the County's latest Transportation Priority Letter for Fiscal Year 2011 and it shows that Ms. Navarro and her Council have requested $142 million for an intersection interchange at Norbeck Road and Georgia Avenue.  Also, another $135 million has been requested for widening Norbeck Road to four lanes between Georgia Avenue and Layhill Road. 

I'll contact Councilmember Nancy Navarro and ask her if these requests for Norbeck Road include any pedestrian-bike improvements to the entire stretch of Norbeck between Georgia and Layhill.  It should be noted that this stretch of Norbeck is the ONLY part of MD-28 that has no sidewalks or bike paths.  Filling in this glaring gap would ensure continuous pathway connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists between Georgia Avenue and New Hampshire. 

Here's the link to the County's Transportation Priority Letter for FY 2011 if you would like to see which projects are on the D&E list, but not on the Construction list.  It's an interesting read:
http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/Planning/County_Priority_Letters/2011_Priority_Letters/Montgomery_County.pdf

Please contact Councilmember Nancy Navarro by telephone at 240-777-7968 (Office) and by e-mail at Councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov to express your support for the widening of Norbeck Road to four lanes between Georgia Avenue and Layhill Road. 

Please also urge her to include a pedestrian-bike path on this segment of Norbeck so that residents can travel safely by foot or bike.

Many thanks for your support!

Pedestrian injuries from striking vehicles

Suffered black eye, forehead gash, and bruises

Ever wonder what it's like to get hit by a vehicle while walking or biking? 

What kind of injuries could a pedestrian suffer in such an accident?

Ponder no more!  Check out these pictures of injuries sustained by Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon who was jogging near her home in Santa Monica, California, when she got hit by a car that failed to yield to her in an unmarked crosswalk. 

Fortunately, the vehicle was traveling at a leisurely 20 mph.  But at that speed, the vehicle was still able to inflict quite a bit of damage to Ms. Witherspoon's trademark face. 

She sustained a black eye, a noticeable gash on her forehead, and a big bruise on her shoulder. 

I shudder to think what would've happened had the vehicle been traveling faster at 40-50 mph as is typical on Norbeck Road where we live. 

This is another reason to contact Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Navarro at 240-777-7968  and urge her to get separate and dedicated paved bike paths built on Norbeck Road to ensure that everyone can travel safely regardless of their transportation mode.

Thanks for your support!  Full article available after the jump:

Councilmember Nancy Navarro has the power to make Norbeck Road safer

Councilmember Nancy Navarro

Did you know that Montgomery's Councilmember Nancy Navarro is a strong supporter of pedestrian safety?  Councilmember Navarro represents District 4, which includes our stretch of Norbeck Road (MD-28) between Georgia Avenue (MD-97) and Layhill Road (MD-182).

According to the Montgomery County Website, Councilmember Navarro was instrumental in getting pedestrian-safety improvements to Castle Boulevard, which is also in District 4.  The pedestrian-safety improvements to Castle Boulevard became possible only when Councilmember Navarro requested that the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) take action to upgrade the road after receiving complaints and reports of dangerous road conditions that caused nine vehicle crashes with two of those involving pedestrians, over the last three years.

Does this remind you of Norbeck Road and its curvy, narrow two-lane segment devoid of shoulders and bike paths between Georgia Avenue and Layhill Road?  Yup!  And there have been a number of vehicle accidents on Norbeck Road and many close calls between vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

I urge you to contact Councilmember Navarro by telephone at 240-777-7968 (Office) and by e-mail at Councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov

You can also copy County Executive Ike Leggett at ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov since he launched a Pedestrian Safety Initiative in 1997 and is a big supporter of such efforts. 

Making Norbeck Road safer for pedestrians and bicyclists would dovetail nicely with County Executive Leggett's Pedestrian Safety Initiative.  Plus, it would make the road safer for drivers as well.

Thanks for your support.  Full article available after the jump:

Maryland legislators warned of cuts to federal transportation funds

Reduced Federal funding may affect Maryland roads

This week, Maryland legislators were warned that upcoming budget negotiations on Capitol Hill could result in less federal transportation funding for roads, highways, and transit projects in the State.  Congress has until September 30, 2011, to reauthorize and extend federal funding for State roads and transit systems.

The Republican-controlled House has proposed a six-year $230-billion extension that would cut current annual spending by 35 percent.  If that becomes a reality, then Maryland would be forced to make painful decisions on its future road and transit projects.  The State may have to delay or cut more than $170 million in projects annually, which would eliminate 1,800 direct and indirect jobs.   

Previously, Maryland officials called for an $800 million increase to the State's transportation budget to maintain aging infrastructure and pay for new road and transit projects.  Unfortunately, any funding could be difficult to obtain since both the Federal and State highway trust funds, which depend on gas taxes, have been depleted in recent years due to the economic downturn that saw fewer motorists driving and many of those motorists switched to more fuel-efficient vehicles.  The State may have to resort to a toll increase to help close any budget shortfalls and ensure ongoing maintenance of the State's toll facilities, including the Intercounty Connector (ICC), which is nearing completion in 2012.  Also under consideration is an increase of the State's gas tax, which currently stands at 23.4 cents per gallon.

If the tolls on the ICC go up, that could spell further disaster for Norbeck Road as drivers using the ICC may simply switch back to local roads, as if there isn't already enough traffic on Norbeck.  Anyone been on Norbeck during morning and evening rush hours?  If so, you'll know what an ordeal it is just to enter/exit Norbeck Road from residential streets.  An impossible task! 

Please contact your Maryland State Senator Roger Manno by telephone at 301-858-3151 and by e-mail at roger.manno@state.senate.md.us to voice your support for safety improvements to Norbeck Road including ample shoulders, sidewalks, and bike paths. 

See full article after the jump: