For Immediate Release: Tuesday, March 1, 2016
The Montgomery County Council, County Executive Ike Leggett, Congressman Chris Van Hollen and four members of the Maryland General Assembly today sent a letter to the administrator of the Maryland State Highway Administration asking for a review of safety issues at the intersection of River Road (Maryland 190) and Pyle Road/Braeburn Parkway in Bethesda. The intersection was the site of an accident this past weekend in which three members of a local family were killed in a two-vehicle accident.
State Senator Susan Lee and State Delegates William (Bill) Frick, Arianna Kelly and Mark Korman also signed the letter.
In the letter to Administrator Gregory C. Johnson, the elected officials wrote: “As representatives of the area at the state and county levels, we believe that traffic and pedestrian safety issues at this intersection must be more comprehensively addressed.”
The letter goes on to state: “Residents and members of the Whitman High School community are again calling for a traffic light at this intersection via a petition that already has over 2,000 signatories. We ask that you conduct a traffic safety study that examines all potential options—including a traffic light—that could make that intersection safer for all users. We ask that you conduct this study as quickly as possible.”
The complete text of the letter:
March 1, 2016
Mr. Gregory C. Johnson, Administrator
Maryland State Highway Administration
707 N. Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Dear Administrator Johnson:
We are writing to you today concerning the recent fatal crash at the intersection of River Road (MD 190) and Pyle Road/Braeburn Parkway in Bethesda that took the lives of three members of our community. As representatives of the area at the state and county levels, we believe that traffic and pedestrian safety issues at this intersection must be more comprehensively addressed.
We appreciate that you have agreed to evaluate this intersection again. Safety at this intersection has been a priority of the local community since at least 2008. Local residents report that the combination of high speeds on River Rd., limited visibility due to the nearby crest of the hill, wide travel lanes, and proximity to the Beltway make this intersection particularly dangerous. As this is a major entry point for a local high school, we must take all possible steps to address the unsafe conditions.
Residents and members of the Whitman High School community are again calling for a traffic light at this intersection via a petition that already has over 2,000 signatories. We ask that you conduct a traffic safety study that examines all potential options—including a traffic light—that could make that intersection safer for all users. We ask that you conduct this study as quickly as possible.
We understand that the District 3 team recently reviewed the pedestrian safety issues associated with the nearby crosswalk. We regretted SHA’s initial determination to not make any significant pedestrian safety improvement upgrades. We do not think that fresh paint will be sufficient to address the serious safety challenges posed by an unsignalized crosswalk frequently used by high schoolers where the posted speed is 45 mph. As we seek to improve traffic safety, everything must be done to also ensure that students walking to and from Whitman can do so safely.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter. We look forward to your prompt reply.
Sincerely,
Chris Van Hollen Isiah Leggett Nancy Floreen
Member of Congress County Executive Council President
Roger Berliner Marc Elrich Tom Hucker
Council Vice President Councilmember Councilmember
Sidney Katz George Leventhal Nancy Navarro
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember
Craig Rice Hans Riemer William (Bill) Frick
Councilmember Councilmember State Delegate
Ariana Kelly Mark Korman Susan Lee
State Delegate State Delegate State Senator
CC: Brian Young, District 3 Engineer, Maryland State Highway Administration
Chief J. Thomas Manger, Montgomery County Police Department