Is the speed limit between Wilmer Park and the Radcliffe Creek bridge too high? Some of those who live and work in the area came to the Chestertown Mayor and Council meeting Aug. 20 to argue that it should be lowered.
Andy Scott of the Chester River Landing council of unit owners and John Seidel of Washington College told the council that the current speed limit of 40 mph on Cross Street extended/Quaker Neck Road presents a danger to walkers, joggers and cyclists who regularly use the road. There are nearly 30 families living at Chester River Landing, which sits past Radcliffe Creek on the river side of the road and is just within town limits.
Seidel told the council that the college’s construction projects, including the new boathouse and the Semans-Griswold Environmental Center, which will begin building this fall, will increase foot and bicycle traffic in the area between Wilmer Park and the armory. As many as 250 students a day are expected to use the college’s new waterfront campus, and the boathouse will be in regular use by the college’s sailors and rowers.
Scott cited a June 18 story from the Detroit Free Press stating that nationwide pedestrian deaths are 46 percent higher than in 2009, with a total of 6,000 in 2016. Causes include distracted or impaired drivers, jaywalking and the increased number of SUVs on the road. SUVs, Scott explained, have been the bestselling new vehicles in the U.S. since 2014. The danger they present is on account of their higher front end, which strikes a pedestrian at a higher point than a conventional passenger car, making them more likely to cause a fatal injury.
The speed at which pedestrian/vehicle accidents occur is also critical. At 20 mph, there is a 5 percent probability of fatal injuries; increase the speed to 30 mph, and the risk rises to 45 percent; and at 40 mph, the risk is 85 percent. The speed limit on the section of Cross Street between Wilmer Park and the bridge is 40 mph. In fact, Scott said, traffic headed out of town begins to pick up speed after the curve by the old train station, and is typically above 40 mph by the boathouse – and well above 40 mph at Radcliffe Creek. Inbound traffic is well above 40 mph as it passes town limits, and starts to slow only when it reaches the boathouse.
Scott and Seidel proposed reducing the speed limit between the train station and town limits to 25 mph, both inbound and outbound. They also suggested installing traffic calming measures such as pedestrian warning signs and flashers for crosswalks. They said they are seeking the council’s support, along with that of the police department, for a petition to the State Highway Administration (SHA) to conduct a study of traffic on the road and to consider appropriate speed reduction and traffic calming measures. Cross Street, which is part of state Route 289, is under the jurisdiction of the SHA.
Councilman Marty Stetson said the SHA “moves very slowly.” The SHA took over a year to reduce the speed limit in the vicinity of the High Street roundabout.
Town Manager Bill Ingersoll said that Greg Holsey, the SHA’s local district engineer, recently retired and his replacement hasn’t been named. He said the town expects at some point to extend the rail trail to cross the road in the vicinity of Radcliffe Creek; “It’s time to slow everybody down,” he said. He said a group meeting with the new engineer, when appointed, would be a good start, but the advocates of a lower limit would need to keep the pressure on SHA. He said the state usually respects municipalities’ speed limits on state roads within their boundaries.
The council voted unanimously to sign a letter of support. Mayor Chris Cerino said if Scott and Siedel would draft the letter, the council will sign it. He said all the entities supporting the lower speed limit should submit their letters together so as to “get their attention.” He also suggested getting the support of KRM Development, which owns the Stepne Manor development along the road.
Also at the meeting, the council heard plans for the annual Sultana Downrigging Festival, the HP Festival, and a plan to decorate the Fountain Park fountain as a Christmas tree for the Dickens Christmas festival, now in its second year.
The council also reappointed Steve Atkinson to the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals.
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Frederick S. Patt says
A pedestrian walkway parallel to Quaker Neck Road would provide much more safety for pedestrians than lowering the speed limit.
IMO, the bigger problem is the Radcliffe Creek bridge, where there is essentially no shoulder for pedestrian traffic.
Deirdre LaMotte says
As long as this reduced speed limit is only between the Radcliffe Bridge and town I would support this. However, if this is to extend further south near the Club I oppose slowing the main artery into Chestertown from Quaker Neck.
Liz Smith says
I am with you on this.
John R. Massey says
Washington College’s has an Achilles heel that again was brought out in this meeting.
Dr. Seidel told the council “As many as 250 students a day are expected to use the college’s new waterfront campus, and the boathouse will be in regular use by the college’s sailors and rowers.”
In the April 18, 2018 Chestertown Planning Commission meeting for the preliminary site plan approval for the Semans – Griswold Environmental Center, When asked by a Planning Commission member why there were only 29 parking spaces proposed, Reid Raudenbush, Construction Project Manager for Washington College stated that the occupancy of the building should average between 24 and 30 people.
https://townofchestertown.com/planning-commission-meeting-april-18-2018/
250 a day when you want to lower the speed limit, 24 to 30 when you want to build a small parking lot.
I think that it is time for the College to preform a comprehensive transportation and parking plan and present it to the town.
Jacqueline kendall says
When I graduated from KCHS I attended Elon College in the Town of Elon College, NC. The town was named after, and probably because of, the college. Now admittedly it was a very small town and I’m not sure exactly how it all worked but it really seems to me that WAC is really making a push to rename Chestertown the Town of Washington College and many elected officials seem ok with that idea. I really think we need to be weary of this “walking campus” that seems to be moving farther and farther from their campus. They build new buildings with inadequate parking and then want to complain and change aspects of town that have been in place for years. Elon is now Elon University but who knows how that affected the town. The College is not the town and the town is not the College please let’s try to respect each other.
Jacquie kendall says
A few things I thought of after sending my letter.
They referenced a study about pedestrian accidents, which are a concern but what are the stats for Kent county? Are there multiple serious incidents in that area? I’m going to assume the residents of the area were aware of the speed limit at time of purchase as is the college aware. Are there going to be large groups of college kids walking there? Maybe a sidewalk would be a more viable option for walkers and joggers.