Residents Want Lake Avenue Traffic Reduced

Some residents along West Lake Avenue want the city to address problems with congestion and speeding on the road. 

Residents’ frustration came to a head earlier this month when a car hit a cyclist and the driver didn’t even stop.

On Monday residents from The Orchards, Poplar Hill and North Roland Park met with officials from the Department of Transportation to discuss what could be done to help mitigate the traffic on West Lake Avenue.

"Too much traffic going too fast," said Robin Reid, president of The Orchards Association.

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She said the amount of traffic traveling on West Lake Avenue between Charles Street and Roland Avenue has spiked in the past two years, but said there doesn’t seem to be a particular reason for the increase. Reid said that none of the several nearby schools have drastically increased enrollment and she pointed out most of the cars carried only a driver and were of a variety of age ranges.

Reid, whose house is located near West Lake Avenue, said that traffic is bad during the usual morning and evening commuting times, but said she can even hear more traffic traveling at night.

Councilwoman Rochelle "Rikki" Spector also attended the meeting between residents and city officials. Spector said too much traffic on residential streets is not an uncommon problem in her district.

She said it’s important that the city protect these roads from becoming main arteries "that people use like highways."

Reid said the communities main focus will be to direct traffic back toward Northern Parkway, which is designed for commuter use.

Department of Transportation officials that met with residents said they were not cleared to speak with a reporter or discuss any possible action the city may take to address traffic concerns.

What do you think about the traffic along West Lake Avenue? Tell us in comments.