Junction Task Force Redrafting Proposed Improvements Resolution

A leading member of the Takoma Junction Task Force is redrafting a resolution urging the City Council to take near-term steps to improve Takoma Junction with a new crosswalk, because the city likely does not have the funds for a traffic signal that would be needed with a new crosswalk.

Seth Grimes, Takoma Junction Task Force co-chair, is redrafting the list of recommendations for “Takoma Junction Improvements” that would be presented to the City Council after task force members listed problems with the recommendations at the panel’s meeting on Mar. 8.

The five recommendations are:

• Post street signs identifying the city lot on Carroll Avenue/Route 410 in Takoma Junction as a public parking resource.
• Install a pedestrian crosswalk stretching from the site of the former TJ’s market across Carroll Avenue/Route 410 to the sidewalk near the city lot near the Silver Spring Takoma Park Co-op (SSTP Co-op).
• Ensure that Takoma Junction pedestrian signals are working correctly.
• Adjust lanes on Carroll Avenue approaching Takoma Junction from the north so that two lanes may turn right at the Route 410 intersection (the left of them being also able to turn left).
• Work with the State Highway Administration and other cognizant authorities to synchronize the traffic and pedestrian signals for optimal traffic flow and pedestrian and vehicle safety.

The Task Force wants to introduce this into the city council at the proper time, which is likely the end of March or April, Grimes said at the meeting.

However, Task Force members raised questions about whether a new crosswalk would be signalized; what a sign for the city lot should say; and to avoid working at cross purposes from the city.

The intent of the improvements resolution is to get something done at the junction, said James DiLuigi, task force member. “The proposals all do that except for number two,” he said. “Saying we’re going to install a new cross walk in a different location, and then ensure the existing pedestrian signals are working are in contradiction, because you have to actually move signals to accomplish that,” he said. “In the context of trying to get things done in the short term, I think you can do them all except number two; I think number two just complicates them all,” he said.

In addition, task force member Lorig Charkoudian would like any sign identifying the city lot to include a phrase that the SSTP Co-op rents nearly a score of those spaces. “While I think it is a good idea to post a sign that identifies the city lot, because the co-op pays for 16 (parking) spaces,” she said. “I think it is important there be some differentiation that some of them are the co-op’s spots in the signage. It doesn’t seem right that it is not clear that the co-op rents spots there,” she said.

Task force member Susan Robb said because the roads at the junction are state highways, her “concern is working at cross purposes of city staff.”

Grimes said a rewrite of the proposed resolution can urge the City Council to “work with the Takoma Junction Task Force and other authorities,” such as the State Highway Administration. However, the main focus of the rewritten proposed resolution is to get the City Council to act, he said.

“An additional crosswalk, we’d really like to see that, but really can’t envision the city spending the money on signaling right now and that would probably be required,” he said. “Our main focus right now is just getting all the parties moving on studying the traffic flow and the timing of the existing signals in order to improve the traffic flow, and pedestrian safety. That will very likely entail working with the State Highway Administration, we want to get that process going,” he added.