Flier Sent by Maggie Lebherz 6/8/2023

PLEASE READ:

Dear Neighbors,

This is Maggie Lebherz (I live on West 13th Street). This press release was just posted online yesterday 6/6/23. Then, the city started cutting and chipping oak trees at the intersection of 13th and Motter on the morning of 6/7/23. They say they are “asking for resident feedback,” but I fear they are planning to go ahead with this proposed design (below). If you would like to meet to discuss this with other neighbors, please text me at 301-471-4306 or email at maggie553@gmail.com.

Personally, I think this would channel even more semi trucks and trailers down our street, not to mention the Amazon distribution center opening near Aldi’s distribution center on gas house pike. This will make a convenient cut through for these large trucks.

The proposed plan is silent on the following road calming solutions for a residential neighborhood:

1. They do not have a "lane diet" for Fairview & 13th Street. The road is very wide and this width will continue to encourage heavy semi truck traffic down this street. The diet can include striping parking along Fairview and 13th to help lower vehicle speeds, and encourage motorists to drive slower and avoid this residential area as a cut through street.

2. Consider striping for parking on one side of the street and adding a bicycle lane on the other to help boost mobility in the City and help calm the traffic.

3. Decrease the width of 13th & Motter Ave intersection. This would help mitigate traffic through our neighborhood

They asked for feedback from residents to be emailed to:

Traffic Engineer Shraddha Praharaj: spraharaj@cityoffrederickmd.gov

Cherian Eapen: ceapen@cityoffrederickmd.gov

I would also recommend contacting our elected members of the City Board of Alderman & the Mayor's Office.

Mayor Michael O'Connor - 301-600-1184

President Pro Tem Katie Nash - 301-600-1632

Alderman Kelly Russell - 301-600-2936

Alderman Dr. Derek Shackelford - 301-600-1863

Alderwoman Donna Kuzemchak - 301-600-1382

Alderman Ben MacShane - 301-600-1386

Thank you for your time- let’s keep our nice, established neighborhood from becoming a traffic ramp for Route 15.

Sincerely,

Maggie Lebherz 301-471-4306

Posted on: June 6, 2023

City seeks feedback on Motter Avenue, W. 13th Street and Fairview Avenue roundabout proposal

Continuing its efforts to combat speeding in The City of Frederick through traffic calming measures, The City of Frederick Engineering Department is presenting a concept proposal for improvements at the Motter Avenue and West 13th Street and Fairview Avenue intersection. This proposal includes installing a raised-center oval-shaped roundabout at the intersection designed to control the direction of traffic and achieve a target speed of 15-20 miles per hour. The Motter Avenue and West 13th Street and Fairview intersection has yielded multiple requests for safety improvements for both vehicular traffic and pedestrian and bicycle movement through the city. Changes were implemented along Motter Ave in 2019 to address significant safety concerns and sight line constraints by installing white edge lines along the road to create a shoulder and improve sight lines from the minor street nearby. However, crash data over the last three years have shown that this approach has not reduced the number of crashes at the intersection. Review of the crash reports indicated that a majority of these crashes occurred due to failure to yield right-of-way by vehicles entering the intersection from the minor street approaches. The City’s engineering department examined improvements such as traffic signals, and all-way stop signs, but based on industry best practices, determined a roundabout would result in minimal traffic delays along all legs of the intersection while improving safety. The roundabout will be designed to accommodate vehicles of all sizes, including emergency vehicles, buses, and truck/trailer combinations. The design will include splitter islands which will be designed to slow down and direct traffic, and to provide refuge for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the streets, allowing pedestrians and bicyclists to cross one direction of traffic at a time and have a safe place to wait before crossing the other direction of traffic. Due to the ability of roundabouts to achieve a speed differential, the likelihood of right angle and head-on collisions is also reduced while making it safer for pedestrians and bicyclists to navigate the intersection. The City of Frederick is seeking input from residents on this proposal, and residents are encouraged to share their feedback on the plan with Traffic Engineer Shraddha Praharaj at spraharaj@cityoffrederickmd.gov and Cherian Eapen at ceapen@cityoffrederickmd.gov.