City's Lake Avenue Traffic Response Annoys Residents

The city’s response to residents concerns about the speed of traffic and congestion on Lake Avenue has left some residents extremely frustrated.

Nearly three months after residents met with city officials to discuss their concerns, nothing has been done to address the problems. Residents are now worried plans to construct a bike route connecting Mt. Washington and Belvedere Square using shared bike and car lanes, known as “Sharrows,” along Lake Avenue will make matters worse.

"It seems to me like the city is only interested in moving a lot of traffic along Lake Avenue," said Robin Reid, president of The Orchards Association.  

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In April, residents from The Orchards, Poplar Hill and North Roland Park met with Councilwoman Rochelle "Rikki" Spector and Department of Transportation officials to identify ways to reduce and slow traffic on the road.

Residents wanted the city to pursue ways to move traffic off Lake Avenue and back to Northern Parkway. They also asked that the city examine placing stop signs where Lake Avenue intersects with Stony Run Drive and Kenmore Road.

At the end of the meeting the officials said they would examine what could be done to address residents concerns about traffic, which came to a head after a hit and run accident involving a cyclist.

But a recent email from the Department of Transportation reports that the city has already decided not to place stop signs at the suggested intersections.

"The Traffic Division advises that the study for the intersections of Lake & Stony Run and Lake & Kenmore have been completed. From the investigation, traffic volumes and crash data did not support the installation of stop signs at these locations.  The locations do not satisfy the warrants for consideration of the installation of all way stops," Kohl Fallin, the areas transportation liaison, wrote to community leaders.

Adrienne Barnes, a spokeswoman for the Department of Transportation, declined to comment until she could get more information about the situation.

Reid said residents are not asking for anything large scale or something that requires a major study, but just stops signs to help make Lake Avenue safer.

"It would help people in the neighborhood get out at Lake Avenue without taking their lives into their own hands," Reid said.

She also said that a bike route along Lake Avenue isn’t feasible until the situation with congestion and speed are properly addressed by the city.

“It’s a brilliant use of taxpayer dollars,” Reid said.