Preliminary design plans for the Baltimore Road project are expected to be completed at the end of June. Those designs will outline plans for making the heavily traveled road accessible and safe to transit users, bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists.
The project is called the Rockville Intermodal Access Project along Baltimore Road. What that means is the project on Baltimore Road will make the road accessible for all modes of Transportation.
A public meeting was held in February to outline details of the project and seek public input before designs were drafted. A second public meeting is planned for August/September. Details of the meeting will be posted at www.rockvillemd.gov as they become available.
The 2 1/3-mile project can be broken down into two parts. The first is the area from Town Center to First Street, where engineers will look at ways to improve pedestrian and bicycle travel, as well as access to bus stops. The second is from First Street to the City limits at Ashleigh Woods Court, just east of Rockville High School, where the work will include the installation of curb and gutter, sidewalks, storm drains, stormwater management, resurfacing and the extension of a shared-use path.
The City received a $4 million federal grant for the project through the Federal Highway Administration. A total cost for the project has not yet been determined.
To learn more about this project, call Andrew Luetkemeier at 240-314-8524 or e-mail him at aluetkemeier@rockvillemd.gov, or visit www.rockvillemd.gov/transportation.
 Twelve members of the Rockville City Police Department and two Rockville City employees are among the 30 professionals and volunteers who were honored during the 21st annual Rockville Public Safety Awards.
Officer Javier Baquero earned two Distinguished Service Citations. The first for his efforts to save a stabbing victim before EMS personnel arrived and his diligence in working to arrest the suspect in the incident.
Baquero earned the second citation for his role, along with Cpl. Philip Parnell and Officer John
Pfaehler, in the arrest of two men responsible for several robberies of vehicles during a January snowstorm. Baquero, Parnell and Pfaehler were honored for their "physical endurance" during "extreme weather conditions" to protect the "safety of residents."
Cpl. Kyle Dickerson and his K9 partner Rocko earned the honor for their "perseverance in the capture of an armed and dangerous suspect." Dickerson and Rocko were called on Oct. 12, 2009, to assist in a shooting and robbery in Aspen Hill. Dickerson and Rocko were able to track the suspect, who ultimately surrendered, following an exhaustive foot pursuit.
Seven officers earned the Distinguished Service Citation for their roles in helping to solve a series of 30 burglaries that took place throughout Montgomery County during December 2008. Sgts. J.P. Cowell and Michael Kearney, Cpls. Michael Varron, Jeff Cramer, Kelly Reidy and Ali Zeighani, and Officer Ryan Street were recognized for the "outstanding diligent and cooperative effort" that led to the arrest of the suspect, who was sentenced to five years in jail, and closed the burglary cases.
Two Rockville City employees also received the Distinguished Service Citation. On Sept. 16, 2009,
Brenda Bean noticed a woman slumped over in the passenger seat of a vehicle near City Hall. She flagged Eric Ferrell down who was driving by and the two tried to get into the woman’s vehicle to help her. They called for help and the woman was taken to Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and treated.
Rockville City Police Public Safety Communications Dispatcher Karl Nadler earned the Meritorious Service Citation for his efforts on May 30, 2009 that led to the arrest of a fleeing burglary suspect. Nadler received an audible burglary alarm at the Rockville Swim Center and accessed the cameras where he was able to see a female employee enter a room, make contact with someone, and then flee the room. Sensing something was suspicious, Nadler requested officer response. His "quick and appropriate response" resulted in an arrest.
To find out all the details of the awards program, go to www.rockvillemd.gov/police.
Rockville’s FOG (Fats, Oil and Grease) inspection program, which is designed to protect the City’s sewer system and its three watersheds, is moving forward with efforts to ensure the health of Rockville waterways.
Fats, oils and grease are byproducts of cooking that occur in most food establishments, as well as in residential kitchens. Because of the volume of fats, oils and grease that is produced in commercial kitchens, restaurants are required to have an interceptor or vault to capture FOG before it can enter sanitary sewers.
The Mayor and Council approved the Water Quality Protection Ordinance in July 2007. The ordinance includes the prevention of FOG from being discharged into the City's sanitary sewers, storm drains or waterways.
Once an establishment’s interceptor or vault is full, it begins to deposit fats, oils and grease down the drain and into the sanitary sewer system. In the sanitary sewer, pipes become clogged, and that can lead to backups and overflows. That ultimately can affect the health of Rockville's watersheds – Rock Creek, Cabin John and Watts Branch – as well as the health of fish and wildlife, and humans.
The FOG inspection program inspects all food establishments. Since the program was initiated in 2007, more than 90 inspections have been conducted, and 18 restaurants have received violations, with orders to eliminate their contribution of FOG into the City’s sewer system.
For questions or comments about the program, call or e-mail Zack Glenn at 210-314-8878 or zglenn@rockvillmd.gov.
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