Baltimore County intersections that flunk the test
When you talk about intersections that have a failing grade in the Level Of Service (it takes more then one cycle of the light to get all waiting traffic through.) Is the problem really that of not enough capacity for single occupancy vehicles or not enough travel options?
In particular the following highlights Harford Road and Putty Hill Avenue $1 million widening project makes no mention of bicycle improvements. Traditionally in Maryland intersections rarely get bicycle improvements unless there is already mid-block bicycle improvements. I seriously have to question this unstated policy on several grounds:
1) State law says in part: "best engineering practices regarding the needs of bicycle riders and pedestrians shall be employed in all phases of transportation planning, including highway design, construction, reconstruction, and repair as well as expansion and improvement of other transportation facilities;" It does not exclude intersection only projects.
2) AASHTO has best engineering practices for both intersections as well as mid-block for the needs of bicyclists.
3) Personally I like having a place to ride/wait to the left of right turning traffic and a separate lane after the light to get up to speed and gracefully and cooperatively merge with traffic when it's a more spaced out then trying to hold my own in accelerating with densely packed 200 horsepower killing machines that have been trained to "need" making it through the light as fast as possible.
4) A standard capacity adding treatment for intersections is the "Lexis Lane". This puts a short additional lane on the right just before and just after the intersection that allows motorists to jump the queue. Let me emphasize that this is in no way bicycle friendly, mixing the most heavy footed motorists with bicyclists, not good at all.
5) I will strongly assert that congested roads have a degree of bike friendliness to them and adding short spurts of high speed car travel negatively impacts on the needs of bicyclists in violation of State law. And typical capacity improvements at intersections are NOT neutral for bicyclists. It is not going from no bicycle accommodations to no bicycle accommodations it is going from bicyclists mixing with slow speed motorists to bicycles mixing with high speed impatient motorists.
6) I will strongly recommend bicycle "pocket lanes" to the left of right turn only lanes and at least a bicycle friendly shoulder after the intersection. And strongly oppose "Lexis Lanes" on roads that cyclists typically use (no viable well used alternative bicycling route exists.)
I will double check with Baltimore County to see if an alert is in order, in the meantime keep a watchful eye out for other intersection "improvements" and make sure the needs of bicyclists are meet.