Reisterstown Road Streetscape update (addressing our concerns)
To follow up on the Reisterstown Road meeting regarding the video detection for bicyclists and the pedestrian phases at key intersections, we have had a meeting with STV consultants, Traffic, and TEC. The following has been discussed and addressed:· STV and Traffic confirmed that the signal phasing allows for green time for the side streets for every cycle, the video detection will only impact the amount of green time that will be given to the side street. In other words, video detection will not impact WHETHER cyclists on the side street will get green time but how much time is allotted to the green time for the side streets.
· Given there will always be a green phase, this means bicycle detection is not completely necessary. Video detection can be programmed for bicycle detection. However, after doing some research and talking with several other Cities (I spoke with staff at San Francisco, Portland, Chicago) who have used video detection they indicated video is not the optimal type of bicycle detection. Planning is recommending Traffic and TEC consider inductive loop detection for bicyclists and bicycle-friendly push buttons as part of future projects and a possible addition at key locations along this corridor in the future.
· At the meeting, we discussed that the Pedestrian Walk phase should be part of every phase in the cycle and not require actuation with a push button for several key locations along the corridor. Traffic has agreed that they can look into this and accommodate where possible. I will provide them a list of the prioritized intersections.
Many thanks,
Caitlin Doolin
Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner
Baltimore City Department of Transportation
What's Related