Neighborhood Advisory

Background
The City of Rockville solicited public comments from effected residents regarding the draft final design in July 2007.  The Traffic and Transportation Division received several ideas and comments to improve pedestrian safety and bus stop accessibility.  These included comments to provide more separation distance between the bus stop loading pad location and the enhanced crosswalk, as well as, to look into providing a speed detector or sensor device for the southbound traffic.  This would alert drivers of their traveling speed as they approach the curve between Dundee Road and Fairwood Court.  A 25 mph warning advisory speed sign is currently present.

Status
As a result of citizen’s comments and consultation with Montgomery County Division of Transit Services, Passenger Facilities Unit, we have updated the design to include at least a 30-foot separation between the bus stop loading pad location and the crosswalk.  The updated design also includes a modification in the geometry of the right-turn flare into McCormick Road to accommodate a bus at that stop with minimum impact on the northbound through traffic and visibility. A list of the improvements is presented on the back of this page.

Plan
In the last ten days of August 2007, it is expected that construction and routine maintenance work will commence along the Wootton Parkway project site.  Construction will include widening the right-turn flare into McCormick Road, the removal and replanting of trees, the installation of sidewalk and block-wall, and the resurfacing of pavement.

This project is funded in the City’s Capital Improvements Program under the Pedestrian Safety project.  The expected completion date of this project, including pavement markings and signs, is by the end of September 2007.  Replacement of trees may not happen until later in the fall.

If you have any questions or would like more information on this project, please contact Nazar Saleh, Traffic and Transportation Division (240-314-8507, or nsaleh@rockvillemd.gov).  The final design plan including detailed information can be found at: www.rockvillemd.gov/residents/traffic/pdf/woottonpkwysidewalkfinaldesign.pdf

The final design improvements include the following features:

• Construct a 190-foot long sidewalk along the west side of Wootton Parkway between Fairwood Court and McCormick Road to improve access to the bus stop and an enhanced crosswalk
   
• Construct a retaining/block wall (4-foot maximum height) between the sidewalk and the fence (60 feet in total length and located towards crosswalk)
   
• Construct two crosswalk ramps and readjust the ramp on Fairwood Court
   
• Install a hatched crosswalk south of the McCormick Road/Wootton Parkway intersection
   
• Remove and relocate the southbound and northbound bus stop signs and loading pad locations at least 30 feet from the enhanced crosswalk.  Install a bench where feasible.
   
• Install a total of four pedestrian crossing-ahead signs (one crossing-ahead sign for the crosswalk at Dundee Road)
   
• Install two pedestrian crossing signs near the crosswalk
   
• Remove eight White Pine trees
   
• Replant twelve Arbor Vitae or Leyland Cypress trees between the sidewalk and the property fence for landscaping and screening purposes 
   
• Pursue installing a speed detector or sensor device for Wootton Parkway southbound traffic before the curved alignment between Dundee Road and Fairwood Court