Traffic Engineering Division

Diane Schwarzman, Chief
9250 Bendix Road
Columbia, MD 21045
410-313-2430

COUNTY-MAINTAINED TRAFFIC SIGNALS
RECEIVE BATTERY POWER BACK-UP

February 8, 2008 – The Howard County Department of Public Works has announced that a capital project to install a back-up power system at each County-maintained traffic signal has been completed.

Each battery-powered system is designed to supply up to 10 hours of backup electricity in the event of a Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) power failure at any of the 84 intersections for which Howard County Government is responsible. These comprise about half of the signals in the County. The remaining signals are owned and maintained by the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA).

This project was implemented to improve the safety of motorists. In addition, the battery back-up systems will eliminate the need for a police officer to take the risk of standing in the middle of a busy intersection to direct traffic.

Howard County is currently working with the SHA to install backup battery systems at 20 additional SHA owned intersections, all deemed high-priority by the SHA. Through a cost-sharing initiative between the County and the SHA, seven of the systems have been activated, and the remaining 13 systems will be activated in the near future.

For questions or concerns about Capital Project T-7095, contact Howard County’s Department of Public Works, Bureau of Highways, Traffic Engineering Division, at 410-313-2430.

COMMUNITY SPEED CONTROL PROGRAM

Traffic impact in residential communities continue to be a major issue in Howard County. These impacts are principally related to excessive vehicular speeds within communities. In order to comprehensively address these problems, the of Police Department and Department of Public Works have cooperatively implemented a comprehensive community speed control program. This program is designed to incorporate three necessary elements to combat excessive vehicular speeds: traffic safety education, vehicular law enforcement, and, when needed, the appropriate level of engineering retrofit of roadway conditions.

Because this program is only beginning and due to the uncertainty of its long-term effectiveness, the county considers that this is an interim effort being implemented. The program will be closely monitored and changes will be made, if necessary, as experience is gained with the results.

Traffic Safety Education

• Traffic Safety Awareness Campaign - The Public Information Office will develop an ongoing campaign to heighten public awareness to reduce speeds in residential communities.
  
  
• Community Speed Watch - With a Speed Monitoring and Awareness Radar Team (S.M.A.R.T.), individuals and community groups can take an active role in reducing speed in their neighborhoods. After training, participants use radar equipment to record the number of cars and their speeds. Citizens take no enforcement action. The program allows the Police Department to determine which streets need enforcement or additional educational or engineering efforts.
  
  
• Community Association Activities - The two departments will establish an outreach program to work with impacted communities to address the communitie's problems.

Vehicular Law Enforcement

The Howard County Department of Police recognizes that excessive speed and other traffic violations in residential areas are a source of great concern to the community. The Department will take an active role in enforcing applicable laws, educating the public and making suggestions for road engineering improvements. Law is the principal means of speed control.

• It is the responsibility of each patrol officer to enforce motor vehicle laws, particularly those involving excessive speed. Radar training and equipment will be provided to as many Patrol Division officers as possible to assist them in this effort during the normal course of their patrols. Supervisors who become aware of speed problems in specific communities will direct their officers to conduct speed enforcement in those areas.
  
  
• Specific complaints about speeding in residential areas will be directed to the Traffic Enforcement Section, which will keep a file of all such complaints.
  
  
• A Radar Road List will be published each month to direct the enforcement efforts of patrol officers assigned radar or other speed measuring devices. A minimum amount of enforcement time will be required on each road. The Supervisor of the Traffic Enforcement Section will approve roads for inclusion on the list based on the number of complaints received, past enforcement history on the road, and the analysis of any speed surveys conducted by the Department of Police or Traffic Engineering.
  
  
• In addition to the monthly Radar Road List, the Traffic Enforcement Section will identify roadways for enforcement by its officers. These may be roads on which speeding is a persistent problem or is of such a nature that it requires immediate and sustained enforcement. It may also include roads in which the use of unmarked vehicles or special equipment is necessary.
  
  
• At the beginning of each school year, the Department of Police will institute a special speed enforcement program on the roadways surrounding the County’s schools. The purpose will be to cite violators and to remind drivers that school is back in session and conformance to the speed limits is critical for the students’ safety. This program will be accompanied by news releases.
  
  
• The Department of Police will continue to offer the S.M.A.R.T. (Speed Monitoring and Awareness Radar Team) program to interested communities. This program aims to reduce excessive speed in residential neighborhoods through peer pressure and awareness.
  
  
• Auxiliary Police Officers will also be trained in the S.M.A.R.T. program. They will conduct speed surveys so that informed decisions can be made on the utilization of speed enforcement resources. They will also be used to heighten specific neighborhoods’ awareness of the problem of speeding vehicles in their communities.

Engineering Retrofit

Retrofitting existing residential streets to reduce vehicular speeds is an option when persistent problems exist in a community. Each community’s problems need to be reviewed individually by the Department and a solution needs to be custom designed to fit the particular situation. The community will be encouraged to provide input regarding the options used in developing a final solution.

County Executive Ulman has halted construction on traffic-slowing structures such as speed bumps. He believes the General Assembly will pass legislation next year that would allow Howard County to use cameras to catch speeders. Click the following to view Maryland General Assembly 2008 Proposed Traffic Regulations.

Options for retrofit include:

• Roadway Striping - In many cases, a center line stripe can be effective in channeling traffic and thereby reducing speeds. There are also other specialized striping techniques that can be used to draw attention to lane markings.
  
  
• Edge Line Markings... are used to delineate lane widths. Reducing the lane width has the potential for reducing speeds. The area between the edge of the road and the lane marking can then be used for parking in selected situations or as a bike lane.
  
  
• Traffic Circles... are generally installed in intersections. Because of the need to deflect around the center island, vehicle speeds can be reduced. The Modern Roundabout design is effective for regulating speeds at intersections.
  
  
• Chokers... physically reduce the width of the road, thereby forcing the driver to reduce the vehicle speed to safely travel through the device.
  
  
• Flashing Warning Signs... are generally installed at school locations to alert drivers to pedestrian crossings and to reduce speeds in designated school zones.
  
  
• Rumble Strips... create tire noise and are used primarily to alert drivers to a change in road conditions. They are rarely used in proximity to homes.
  
  
• Median or Pedestrian Refuge Islands... are generally used with multi-lane roadways and can be used to reduce the width of a road, which can regulate speeds and provide improved pedestrian crossing opportunities. Pedestrian crossings are intended to conform to Americans sith Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
  
  
• Intersection Modifications - Changing the intersection by restricting the through movements or raising the pavement height can be very effective in regulating vehicular speeds. These changes can also include reducing the corner radius at intersections, which will lower turning speeds.
  
  
• Roadway Medians... can range in length, width and architectural features. They are effective in reducing the width of the street and reducing the turning radius at intersections.
  
  
• Speed Humps... are designed to provide an elongated pavement rise that is designed to allow vehicles to travel over them safely at or below the posted speed. After pilot testing these devices, the county has decided not to use them for traffic calming on a routine basis. This option will be considered only in extremely limited situations and requires specific written authorization by the Director of Public Works and notification to the County Executive.
  
  
• Redesign of Streets - In limited instances, residential streets will be subject to reconstruction primarily through the Capital Budget. In these circumstances, there will be opportunity to modify the geometry to reduce vehicular speeds.
  
  
• Other Traffic Calming Devices - There are some other potential traffic calming concepts that could be used to reduce vehicle speeds. Examples include street-scape additions and landscaping. These options will be reviewed on a selective basis.

In order to implement the retrofit program, the following guidelines will apply:

• Low Volume Local Roads - For these roadways, which do not have through movements, an education strategy is recommended. Enhanced law enforcement and engineering retrofit would not be used in these locations. Low volume roads would be less than 1000 ADT.
  
  
• Local Roads and Minor Collectors - For these roadways, which are through streets or have ADT’s greater than 1200 vehicles, all of the traffic calming strategies can be employed.

In order for an engineering retrofit to be considered, the prevailing speed (85th percentile) shall be measured in excess of 10 mph over the posted speed limit. When this determination is made, the Department will do an analysis and present a plan of action to the community. The plan may consist of one or more of the retrofit options. After citizen review and community association approval of the plan, the Director will authorize implementation of the plan consistent with the available budget resources.

Major Collector Roads - The primary emphasis for speed control will be enforcement and education. In circumstances where problems continue, retrofits will be considered. Edge markings, roundabouts, chokers, intersection modifications, roadway medians and striping are the principal options for consideration. In unusual circumstances, other options can be considered. The Department will present a plan for citizen review and community association approval. After review and approval by the community, the Director will authorize implementation of the plan consistent with available budget resources.

Arterial Roads - Due to the nature and function of these roadways, traffic enforcement will be the primary method for speed control. However, in some cases traffic calming may still be needed. In these situations, retrofits will be done as a Capital Project.

Extremely Limited Situations

• School Zones - All options will be considered for controlling speeds in school zones. If these alternatives are not successful, speed humps will be considered for traffic calming on local and collector County streets.

Community Speed Control Program Implementation

Many, if not most, of the communities in the County have requested that some action be taken to provide additional speed control in their areas. In order to prioritize the backlog of requests, the Department will rank the requests based upon the following:

Top Priority: School walking route streets

Second Priority: Connector or through streets

Third Priority: Remaining cul-de-sacs or isolated road system communities

• Plan Approval Process - In order to obtain an accurate evaluation of the plan, a community vote will be required. The Department will identify all of the affected properties on the road proposed for traffic calming and streets that connect with it. In order for the plan to be implemented, two-thirds of all affected property holders must vote for the plan. The governing community association will conduct and validate the vote and forward a confirming letter to the Director, Department of Public Works, within 30 days of the tally.