In Response to Flier Sent 6/8/2023

"We are concerned about this proposed traffic circle also, but from our perspective, a few streets north of you. Thus, I am forwarding what I wrote to the city, so we are all in the loop. (Feel free to pass it on.) It seems to me that a Turning Circle is the "cost effect way out" for the city.....low construction and low maintenance costs. If the city takes the stance that they can only put lights in where it is wide enough, and zoned commercial, it would be interesting to measure places where there are other bottle necks in the city limits outside of the historic district that are not zoned commercial, and what has been done to impede traffic ( I believe the Northside of the Historic District ends on the south side of 7th St) Whatever they do, I hope it is completed before August, so folks get used to it being there before FCPS starts on August 23rd. Submitted to the city June 6, 2023: Having lived here 40+ years, and having taught for FCPS at the Old North Frederick Elementary and the old GTJ Middle School, it is my opinion that a Turning Circle would worsen the situation at said location of Motter and 13th Street. The placement of Rt. 15 some years ago has created a bottle neck with the close proximity of city streets and the entrance to GTJHS., which really cannot be improved upon, given the street lights already in place. There is a 25 MpH sign on the Motter Avenue Bridge over route 15, but it is rarely enforced. On Motter at 13th and Fairview there is a slight incline going north, which creates difficulty for all coming west on 12th, 13th, Frederick Ave. and 14th to enter Motter. There are school children everywhere because of the two schools. There is a city bus stop on 14th at Motter, where parking is allowed on both sides of the street outside of school hours, and a city bus stop on Motter at 14th Street, where the left turn lane ends, going south on Motter onto 14th Street. The left turn lane going south on Motter onto 14th seems short and goes through the double intersection with the route 15 entrance going north.

Please, please do not add a Turning Circle into this madness!

A straight forward intersection with a street light and a "speed camera" should be your only consideration.

In order to benefit the traffic flow to the new light at 13th and Motter, and the crazy bottle neck at 14th and Motter, you could make 14th Street one way going west, to accommodate the established bus route, and make Frederick Ave. one way going East, thus creating a longer left turn lane past the Motter at 14th St bus stop. Both 14th St and Frederick Ave. from Market St to Motter Ave. should have parking only on one side of street to accommodate the buses and big vehicles that the city now allows on both streets to accommodate the buses ( which is not how it used to be.)

The current situation at 14th and Market needs attention also, as you will need to address the traffic from new apartments at East and Market within close proximity to GTJHS . You have difficult decisions to make with regard to keeping the roadways safe within the close proximity of 3 schools. Thank you for taking the time to consider your options carefully.

Response from the City: Good morning, Thank you for emailing to us of your opinion on the proposal. We are currently gathering all public feedback before a decision is made. Thank you for writing to us.