WORK SESSION of the Greenbelt City Council held Monday, March 17, 2008, for the purpose of holding a stakeholder meeting with the State Highway Administration (SHA).

Mayor Pro Tem Roberts started the meeting at 8:02 p.m. It was held in the Council Room of the Municipal Building.

PRESENT WERE: Councilmembers Konrad E. Herling, Leta M. Mach, and Mayor Pro Tem Rodney M. Roberts. Councilmember Edward V.J. Putens arrived at about 8:05 p.m. Mayor Judith F. Davis was out of town.

STAFF PRESENT WERE: Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; and Kathleen Gallagher, City Clerk.

ALSO PRESENT WERE: Wesley G. Mitchell, Deputy District Engineer, Brian Young, Assistant District Engineer for Traffic, and Karen Fiasco, Engineering Systems, State Highway Administration, District 3 Office; Sheldon Goldberg, Advisory Planning Board; Kap Kapastin, Beltway Plaza; Robin Everly, Greenbelt News Review; and Bill Orleans.

Following introductions, Mr. Mitchell explained that Darrell Mobley, District Engineer, had planned to attend but had been called away by a family emergency. He distributed a handout they had prepared in response to a number of the items on the City's list.

Status of the construction work on 193 near Hanover for the left turn lanes : Ms. Fiasco said they had started on the utility work in October, stopped during the cold weather, and were now back on the job. Ms. Mach said she hoped they would finish before school starts, since the opening of the high school causes back-ups turning onto Hanover. Mr. Mitchell said they had listed a summer completion to give themselves some leeway but fully expected to be finished earlier. Council thanked them for the work, saying it would be a big improvement when done. Mr. McLaughlin also thanked them for the countdown crossing signals, which he said were much appreciated, although some people believed the crossing time was still too short. Mr. Herling said he had been told that the beeping time was backwards – slower rather than faster as the time shortened. Mr. Mitchell said they would check it.

Future of funding for the Neighborhood Conservation Program : Mr. Mitchell said some initial funding was committed to concept work for a couple of projects but that otherwise he thought the program was still on hold. Mr. Putens pointed out that this project had been viewed as high priority because of its size and its inclusion of commercial sections, different types of properties, and several municipalities. Mr. Mitchell asked if there were any break-out projects, noting that the whole thing was priced at $30 million and that funding was still likely to be limited. Mr. Goldberg said his memory was that there had been three segments to the project as designed, which were to be done sequentially. Mr. Mitchell said he would get more information on this from Dennis German in their Baltimore office, who is actually dealing with this program.

Need for asphalt repair on Walker Drive from Rt. 193 to end of state property : Mr. McLaughlin said in the past, SHA had gone up to Capitol Drive in repaving Walker Drive. Would they continue to do that, or should the City pick it up? Mr. Mitchell said they could not readily contract out such a small job but could probably do it in conjunction with more major work they intend to do at that intersection in FY 2009. Mr. Herling asked about water that stands in that intersection, Mr. McLaughlin said it might involve a leak; he said both the SHA and the City had called WSSC about it in the past and that there had been a similar problem at 193 and Capitol Drive. Mr. Mitchell said they would call WSSC but it would be helpful if the City would do so, too.

Pothole on Rt. 193 at Cherrywood Lane: Mr. Mitchell said they had a perennial problem with that pothole and did not know why. He said they would patch it soon and do more permanent work when their crews are back out on the road in April.

SHA evaluation of new right-turn configuration onto southbound Rt. 201 from the inner-loop exit : Mr. Young said the main problem had been there was too short a distance for the weave of traffic required approaching Rt. 193. They tested doing a full stop instead of a merge southbound but found that traffic queued back to the Beltway, which was unacceptable. He said their receipt of crash data runs about six months behind, and when they have received that, they will be better able to evaluate what the effect has been.

Repair of street lights on state highways – how should these be reported? Mr. Young said to call them, and they could figure out whose responsibility the light is. He said at a signal intersection, it is SHA, but lights in the area may also belong to Pepco or to the county. Mr. McLaughlin said the light at the intersection of Rt. 193 and Hanover Parkway was right at the intersection on the south side. Mr. Mitchell said they would look at it.

Are there any plans for improving crosswalks for Berwyn Heights students crossing Rt. 193 to get to Greenbelt Middle School? Mr. Young said they are now for the first time doing an inventory for all the school zones in Prince George's County and anticipate being able to make better evaluations and plans when that is completed. Mr. Putens asked them to consider doing an overpass. It was suggested that using the natural rise of the property toward the site of the new school might make it more feasible.

Other topics:

Countdown lights: In response to a question, Mr. Young said that there was a statewide plan to do countdown lights at intersections. Mr. Putens asked about the crosswalks that have the lights embedded in the crosswalk that flash and can be seen from a distance if someone is crossing. Mr. Young said that everyone agreed this type of lighted crosswalk was an excellent concept and that people really like it. But the lights cannot withstand the effects of rain and present an ongoing maintenance problem. He said some had been put in as a pilot project but that until the technology can be improved, the state will not be doing more.

Kenilworth Avenue : Mayor Pro Tem Roberts asked about the status of plans to widen it. Mr. Mitchell replied that his understanding was that they were opening focus groups again but were nowhere near any construction. Mr. Roberts asked about funding. Mr. Mitchell said he thought there was only funding for planning, not even for design.

Signage on Rt. 193 West at Southway : Mr. Herling said the signage makes it clear that one can get on the Parkway to Washington but not that the road goes into downtown Greenbelt or Center City.

Mr. Orleans asked a variety of questions.

Mr. Mitchell encouraged the City to call at any time to report problems or ask questions. He said, “Don't store stuff up.”

The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen Gallagher

City Clerk

City of Greenbelt, Maryland
City Offices, 25 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770
Phone: 301-474-8000 FAX: 301-441-8248