City officials to observe Fells Point foot traffic
Fells Point residents and city transportation officials will get together to jointly observe pedestrian traffic patterns in the historic neighborhood, City Councilman Jim Kraft says.
The meeting at noon Thursday at the corner of Eastern Avenue and Wolfe Street comes in response to recent complaints (outlined below) that changes implemented by the city Transportation Department have made the streets of Fells Point less walkable.
Kraft said Jamie Kendrick, the city's deputy transportation director, has agreed to join local residents in observing traffic movements there to determine whether they are working. Kraft said the event is open to all who care to show up.
The Southeast Baltimore councilman said Kendrick has already agreed to one of the requests made by local resident Rebecca Smith, who has been agitating for more pedestrian-friendly traffic signals. Kraft said the city will speed up installation of countdown walk signals similar to those common downtown at key intersections in the heart of Fells Point.
Comments
While we are at it, how about Canton? The intersection at Lakewood and Boston does not provide enough crossing time for the many parents with strollers and/or fur kids trying to get to the promenade. There is no protected crossing from the cars getting the right turn arrow from Lakewood to Boston.
How about the crossings along Pratt Street and Lombard Street in the central business district? I fully expect traffic engineers to cite AASHTO guidelines but I am pretty sure the crossing times are made for able-bodied men. How about the women in heels, pregnant women (in heels, ha), tourists with strollers/toddlers and elderly?
Posted by: Canton Resident CBD Employee | April 26, 2011 7:36 PM
There is a need for attention across all of Southeast. If you are passionate about this issue check out http://tinyurl.com/5sulbzp where we have a few different tools for residents to become involved in this initiative.
Posted by: Claudia | April 27, 2011 12:18 AM