TCA Letter to City of Rockville Supporting Safe Routes to School
July 5, 2024
City of Rockville
Dear Bryan Barnett-Woods,
On behalf of the Twinbrook Community Association, I am writing to express our strong support for the city’s “Safe Routes to School” project. We commend your efforts to enhance pedestrian safety at targeted intersections in Twinbrook, which will greatly benefit our community’s residents, particularly our children.
We are pleased to see the city taking proactive steps to improve road safety and encourage walking and cycling to school.
While we fully support the current plans, we would like to respectfully suggest a few additional considerations that we believe would further enhance the project’s impact:
Mini Traffic Circle: We propose the installation of a mini traffic circle at the intersection of Halpine Road and Ardennes Avenue. This would help calm traffic and improve safety at this busy intersection, which is frequently used by students. If possible, the mini circle should incorporate landscaping (e.g. potted plants/trees and/or public art).
Pedestrian-Level Lighting Assessment: We request a comprehensive assessment of pedestrian-level lighting at all intersections being studied under this project. Adequate lighting is crucial for pedestrian visibility and safety, especially during early morning and evening hours when many students are traveling to and from school-related activities. This would serve as an additional benefit for low-wage workers traveling during off-peak work hours.
Slip Lane Elimination: We strongly advocate for the elimination of the slip lane on the northwest corner of Twinbrook Parkway and Chapman Avenue. Removing this slip lane would significantly improve pedestrian safety by reducing vehicle speeds and decreasing the number of pedestrian-vehicle conflict points.
The Twinbrook Community Association is committed to working collaboratively with the City of Rockville to ensure the success of this important project. We would be happy to provide any additional input or assistance as needed.
Thank you for your consideration of these suggestions and for your ongoing commitment to improving pedestrian safety in our community. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of the “Safe Routes to School” project in Twinbrook.
Sincerely,
Mary A. van Balgooy
President, Twinbrook Community Association