Adrian for Laurel

At this week’s Work Session, Kelly from Century Engineering presented a Concept Study overview for improvements to Van Dusen Road – It takes a look at the full length of Van Dusen (all the way from Sandy Spring Road to Konterra Road) and identifies multitudes of enhancements and streamlines that’ll make residents’ lives easier while traveling the corridor.

I really appreciated the number of and types of improvements identified, as development along Van Dusen has been modified here-and-there over the last couple decades (and the City even inherited part of it from PG County in that time window), so it’s become a little choppy and confusing in more than one part (I know I’ve experienced myself the need to weave back-and-forth between lanes just to go straight, leading to confusion).

Some of the highlights are:

• Consistent car ‘through lanes’ (i.e., no more weaving back and forth) :)
• Consistent and compliant road signage and pavement paintings (so fully comparable to what you are used to on other roads)
• Building out the bus pads to meet requirements and make much more usable
• Traffic barriers and median strips to help calm and shepherd traffic in a safe manner
• Better timing and phasing of traffic light signals
• Connecting, extending, upgrading sidewalks for walkers, hikers, cyclists, wheelchair users, and more

I took particular interest in this last one as I think it’d be a real service to the community to have end-to-end sidewalk/ hiker-biker trail – It would allow residents to avail of getting to different City parks, easier access down to Laurel Lakes amenities and shopping, schools (like Laurel High School), and more. This would be not only good for general health and recreation (like taking jogs, going for walks and bike rides, etc.), it also expands access for employment (getting to various retail and office locations), and make our town even more attractive for getting around in multiple ways.

Note: Some of the steps are easily accomplished in next 3-6 months (and some are already done), others will involve getting an engineering work up, then construction bid. So you’ll be seeing these improvements over approximately the next 1-3 years, but the end result is going to be great in my opinion.

Thank you to DPW Director Miller for inviting Kelly to come present and share with the community, and check out the presentation slides for additional details.

Wanted to share on a personal note, that my wife and I welcomed our new little tyke last month! - I’m happy to report that mom and baby are doing good and recovering well. Also that his brothers are very excited to have their new little buddy (even if he can’t play and run with them just yet). ;)

Our thanks to the Mayor, fellow members of Council, and City Staff for their support and congratulatory notes. And a hearty thanks as well to so many of you who have sent your well wishes and supportive comments in person - we truly appreciate them! :)

I also wanted to give a huge note of admiration for the strength, courage, and love of all mothers out there! - The gift of new life is something that never ceases to amaze me and is truly special. Thank you!! :)

For me, one of the things that can make for good community are a variety of easy and safe ways to get around town, whether walking, cycling, busing, driving, or other.

Which is why it was a little concerning to see this recent study by the Governors Highway Safety Adminsitration referencing that ​pedestrian deaths are up in Maryland, opposite national average:

Maryland saw an 18% increase in pedestrian deaths in 2023 amid a 5% decrease nationwide, according to preliminary data from the Governors Highway Safety Association released in June.

We’ve probably all sensed this at some level in our daily comings and goings (I know I have). Some possible helps referenced?

The Maryland Department of Transportation, which includes MVA, implemented a new Complete Streets policy June 1 that requires all its divisions to follow planning and design principles that consider the safety, access and mobility of all users in projects in state rights of way involving more than one mode of transportation, starting next year.

And there’ll even be a demo the latter part of this year to see suggested ways of designing streets better:

The first visible signs of Maryland’s new Complete Streets policy are to be temporary demonstration projects in partnership with advocacy group Smart Growth America. Targeting intersections or corridors with histories of fatalities or crashes in Bel Air, Hagerstown and Howard County, they are to be completed by fall and removed by the end of the year.

I also use it as a reminder to myself to ​take things a little slower out there, avoid feeling in a rush, be patient on the roads, and be extra courteous to people moving about without the protection of a car around them.

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