Columbia Blvd

Traffic and Safety Update

/ Anna White

By Julie Lees and Jean Kaplan Teichroew

The Traffic Committee has been working with Oscar Yen, a traffic operations engineer at the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), to review traffic-control and pedestrian-safety measures in North Woodside. Following is an update on the issues we’ve discussed and their status:

  1. Glen Ross, 3rd, Warren, and Lanier: To improve visibility in the intersection, MCDOT is working on the bump out at the corner of Glen Ross and 3rd. Neighbors in adjacent homes have been contacted, and the plan has been approved.

  2. Columbia:
    a. To fix the stop sign at the exit of the public parking lot, MCDOT sent an email to Montgomery County Parking Department, which maintains the parking lot.
    b. A new stop sign was installed at Rookwood.

  3. Intersection of Luzerne and Columbia: The committee suggested adding a crosswalk given the church, day care center, school bus stop, and traffic volume. But MCDOT determined that
    additional traffic control is not necessary because adequate sight lines allow pedestrians to see approaching vehicles and sufficient gaps in traffic allow crossing safely at this location. Nor will MCDOT install a crosswalk, but a work order has been sent to the shop to relocate the “No Parking/Permit Parking” sign to increase the sight line.

    Neighbors: If you can photograph overparking and/or pedestrians unable to cross safely at Luzerne and Columbia, you may help us focus MCDOT’s attention on this problem.*

  4. 2nd and Luzerne pedestrian-safety issues, according to MCDOT:
    a. All the crosswalk striping work orders were sent to the shop and forwarded to the pavement contractor.
    b. Visibility of the stop signs is adequate.
    c. Oscar had not been made aware of previous lighting concerns, but he will check to see if the streetlight at this intersection has been upgraded to LED.

  5. 2001 Glen Ross: A work order has been sent to the shop to remove the “No Thru Trucks Over 10,000 G.V.W.R.” sign. (G.V.W.R. = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)

  6. Grace Church: MCDOT will not install a 25-mph speed limit sign because it would stand too close to the 15-mph advisory sign for the speed humps. (Note: Hanover has a 25-mph speed limit sign that was installed in error, but it will not be removed.)

  7. Stratton traffic circle: MCDOT states that a work order will be created to add yield signs along all approaches to the circle. In addition, Oscar will check the parking and no-parking zones within the circle; no parking should be allowed within the circle or 35 feet approaching it. Existing signs designate permit parking and time-of-day parking restrictions.

  8. Additional Stratton issues, according to MCDOT: A study can be conducted to
    see if speed humps are warranted. Oscar will request a 48-hour speed/volume assessment. Another measure to handle cut-through traffic is access restrictions, which will also apply to residents.

    a. Bump outs and chicanes are not feasible on this street because it is narrow
    and vehicles park on both sides.d
    b. MCDOT does not install “Children at Play” or “Traffic Calming Zone” signs.
    c. Oscar will check both ends of Stratton for speed limit signs. If absent, they can
    be added.
    d. 2nd at Stratton: MCDOT cannot install pedestrian signs (indicating pedestrian activity) for vehicles turning right from 2nd onto Stratton. Such signs are installed only at an unprotected crosswalk on the same roadway; here the crosswalk is on Stratton—not 2nd. Oscar noted that traffic law requires motorists to stop for pedestrians once they are already standing in a crosswalk; pedestrians waiting on the curb do not have the right-of-way.

* Contact the Traffic and Safety Committee

Support the Montgomery Hills Street Fest!

/ Anna White

The Montgomery Hills Street Fest is officially rescheduled!  Please mark your calendar to join us! 

WHEN: Saturday, April 29, 2023,
from 3:00 -7:00 pm 

WHERE: on Columbia Boulevard, 
between 16th Street and Seminary Road

There will be music, games, artisans, food, drinks, elected officials, and information about the progress and next steps required to #FixGeorgiaAvenue! 

There are 4 ways you can help!

1. DONATE! Click on this Link to Donate to our Go Fund Me! Last fall, we had a tremendous response to our fundraising request! We are looking for additional donations to cover Street Fest costs and pay our “Hurricane Ian Tax.” These are costs we had to incur by canceling the fest in October. We appreciate your support and will be sure to list your name on the Street Fest website.

4. VOLUNTEER! The Street Fest is a volunteer-driven event and we need folks to help with set up, clean up, and serve as “street marshals” to help keep things safe during the Fest. Please visit the Montgomery Hills Street Fest website to sign up to volunteer.

2. SHOWCASE OUR COMMUNITY! If you know of artisans, local businesses and food vendors, community groups, etc. who would like to showcase their work at the Street Fest, please fill out this form.

3.  VISIT OUR WEBSITE Find out why we fest and see which bands, vendors, activities, elected officials and sponsors will be at the fest. Go to the Montgomery Hills Street Fest website. Let’s get together to #FixGeorgiaAve. 

Thank you for your support! We look forward to seeing you at the Montgomery Hills Street Fest on Saturday, April 29th!

— Montgomery Hills Street Fest Planning Committee

2nd Montgomery Hills Street Fest Bring Community Together

/ Anna White

By Geoff Gerhardt

The second annual Montgomery Hills Street Fest took place on Saturday, September 21, 2019 on Columbia Boulevard. The Street Fest attracted more than 1,000 residents of the communities along Georgia Avenue for an afternoon of live music, local food, diverse vendors, and socializing.

Silver Spring brewery Denizens provided a selection of local beer and wide range of artisans, including North Woodside painter Gavin McSkean, sold art, jewelry and other handcrafts. Musical acts included Suzanne Brindamour, the Einstein High School Jazz Combo, and the Airport 77s.

The Street Fest also provided an opportunity to learn about initiatives underway to improve the Georgia Avenue corridor. The Montgomery County Planning Department discussed the draft sector plan update for the area, Friends of Forest Glen and Montgomery Hills answered questions about the state’s plan for improving Georgia Avenue, and local politicians pressed the flesh while giving their perspective on the future of Montgomery Hills.

Local elected officials in attendance included Senator Chris Van Hollen, Representative Jamie Raskin, County Executive Marc Elrich, as well as county council members Tom Hucker, Hans Reimer and Evan Glass. Members of the Maryland state assembly such as Jeff Waldstreicher and Emily Shetty also gave short speeches and talked with residents.

The Street Fest could not happen without volunteers to organize and staff the event. Many thanks to the North Woodside residents who generously volunteered their time and energy at this year’s Fest. Special thanks go out to North Woodside residents Heather Lair, Genevieve McDowell Owen, and Melinda Schnare who were part of the organizing team. If you are interested in helping to organize or volunteer at next year’s Street Fest, contact the organizers.