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Deadly crash intensifies push for changes at Bethesda intersection Deadly crash intensifies push for changes at Bethesda intersection
(35 minutes later)
Maryland transportation officials have conducted at least three studies of the Bethesda intersection where a crash killed three family members last weekend and determined that the numbers did not warrant installation of a traffic signal. They’ve agreed to do a fourth study, but residents and some elected officials say it’s time to make an exception and put in a light even if the numbers don’t add up.Maryland transportation officials have conducted at least three studies of the Bethesda intersection where a crash killed three family members last weekend and determined that the numbers did not warrant installation of a traffic signal. They’ve agreed to do a fourth study, but residents and some elected officials say it’s time to make an exception and put in a light even if the numbers don’t add up.
Residents say previous traffic studies of the intersection of River Road and Braeburn Parkway near Walt Whitman High School are flawed, and they’ve increased pressure on the state since the deaths of Michael Buarque De Macedo, 52, Alessandra Buarque De Macedo, 53, and their son Thomas, 18, a senior at Whitman. Residents say previous traffic studies of the intersection of River Road and Braeburn Parkway near Walt Whitman High School are flawed, and they have increased pressure on the state since the deaths of Michael Buarque De Macedo, 52, Alessandra Buarque De Macedo, 53, and their son, Thomas, 18, a senior at Whitman.
A fourth family member, Helena, a sophomore at Whitman, was critically injured.A fourth family member, Helena, a sophomore at Whitman, was critically injured.
As of Friday, a petition for a traffic light at the intersection had more than 4,000 signatures.As of Friday, a petition for a traffic light at the intersection had more than 4,000 signatures.
[Collision in Bethesda claims lives of three family members Saturday night][Collision in Bethesda claims lives of three family members Saturday night]
“When you start seeing petitions with hundreds or thousands of signatures, that’s an indication something is wrong,” said David Hurwitz, an associate professor of transportation engineering at Oregon State University who studies traffic signals.“When you start seeing petitions with hundreds or thousands of signatures, that’s an indication something is wrong,” said David Hurwitz, an associate professor of transportation engineering at Oregon State University who studies traffic signals.
Neighborhood campaigns for speed bumps and stop signs are common in the suburbs — and they are sometimes misguided, experts say. But the efforts in Bethesda to get a traffic light on River Road, a state highway that serves as an artery for commuters traveling between the Capital Beltway and downtown Washington, are unique for their persistence and frequency over the past two decades.Neighborhood campaigns for speed bumps and stop signs are common in the suburbs — and they are sometimes misguided, experts say. But the efforts in Bethesda to get a traffic light on River Road, a state highway that serves as an artery for commuters traveling between the Capital Beltway and downtown Washington, are unique for their persistence and frequency over the past two decades.
According to police, on Feb. 27, Michael Buarque De Macedo, was turning from River Road onto Braeburn Road, crossing oncoming westbound traffic, when his vehicle collided with a car driven by a 20-year-old Rockville man, just before 7 p.m, about an hour after sunset. According to police, on Feb. 27, Michael Buarque De Macedo was turning from River Road onto Braeburn Parkway, crossing oncoming westbound traffic, when his vehicle collided with a car driven by a 20-year-old Rockville man just before 7 p.m, about an hour after sunset.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, with results likely weeks away, but residents say they have long recognized the factors portending a major accident: Speeding on a downhill stretch of River Road, where the speed limit is 45 mph; confusing road markings at a break in the median where cars turn onto Braeburn, which is used as back entrance to Whitman; obstructed views when multiple cars are making turns in the intersection; and a glut of traffic and pedestrians coinciding with students’ arrival and dismissal on weekdays.The cause of the crash is under investigation, with results likely weeks away, but residents say they have long recognized the factors portending a major accident: Speeding on a downhill stretch of River Road, where the speed limit is 45 mph; confusing road markings at a break in the median where cars turn onto Braeburn, which is used as back entrance to Whitman; obstructed views when multiple cars are making turns in the intersection; and a glut of traffic and pedestrians coinciding with students’ arrival and dismissal on weekdays.
Maryland highway officials said they follow a data-driven process that relies on federal standards when considering whether to install a traffic light. Those standards have not been met in past studies, they said, to residents’ dismay.Maryland highway officials said they follow a data-driven process that relies on federal standards when considering whether to install a traffic light. Those standards have not been met in past studies, they said, to residents’ dismay.
“Applying this cookie-cutter approach ignores the unique aspects of the intersection,” said Richard D. Boltuck, who organized a 500-signature petition in 2008.“Applying this cookie-cutter approach ignores the unique aspects of the intersection,” said Richard D. Boltuck, who organized a 500-signature petition in 2008.
Many residents who signed the 2008 petition included written testimonials and emotional appeals.Many residents who signed the 2008 petition included written testimonials and emotional appeals.
One resident who had lived near the intersection for 15 years wrote of witnessing “numerous accidents and near misses,” adding “insanity is the only reason the state has not put a light in place.” Another wrote: “Let’s not wait for a fatality to act!” Others told of forbidding their children to make turns at the intersection. One resident who had lived near the intersection for 15 years wrote of witnessing “numerous accidents and near misses,” adding “insanity is the only reason the state has not put a light in place.” Another wrote, “Let’s not wait for a fatality to act!” Others told of forbidding their children to make turns at the intersection.
The state agreed to do a traffic study and decided not to install a light.The state agreed to do a traffic study and decided not to install a light.
According to Montgomery County Police, there were four collisions at the intersection between 2013 and 2015. By comparison, there were 24 over the same time period at River Road and Wilson Lane, a busier intersection to the west, which has a traffic light. And there were 15 in that period where River Road meets Whittier Boulevard, a major crossing to the east, which also has a signal. According to Montgomery County Police, there were four collisions at the intersection between 2013 and 2015. By comparison, there were 24 over the same time period at River Road and Wilson Lane, a busier intersection to the west that has a traffic light. And there were 15 in that period where River Road meets Whittier Boulevard, a major crossing to the east that also has a signal.
Whitman Principal Alan Goodwin said state officials told him the traffic light would be expensive — $250,000 — and might actually result in more crashes — fender-benders. They also pointed out, Goodwin said, that there had been no fatal accidents there.Whitman Principal Alan Goodwin said state officials told him the traffic light would be expensive — $250,000 — and might actually result in more crashes — fender-benders. They also pointed out, Goodwin said, that there had been no fatal accidents there.
The crash involving the Buarque De Macedo family was the first in which people died.The crash involving the Buarque De Macedo family was the first in which people died.
“I think it was a poor decision not to do more at that intersection,” Goodwin said. “I think there was enough expressed concern by the community that better steps could have been taken.”“I think it was a poor decision not to do more at that intersection,” Goodwin said. “I think there was enough expressed concern by the community that better steps could have been taken.”
A traffic light would now cost between $150,000 and $400,000, depending on its complexity, officials said.A traffic light would now cost between $150,000 and $400,000, depending on its complexity, officials said.
Campaigns to get a light at the intersection date back to at least the mid-1990s, when Rose Sage, a former assistant principal at Whitman who retired in 2004, said she led an effort that resulted in a study. Campaigns to get a light at the intersection date to at least the mid-1990s, when Rose Sage, a former assistant principal at Whitman who retired in 2004, said she led an effort that resulted in a study.
“They took their information back and determined there was not to be a traffic light there,” Sage recalled. “They said it wasn’t needed, that it didn’t have the traffic flow.”“They took their information back and determined there was not to be a traffic light there,” Sage recalled. “They said it wasn’t needed, that it didn’t have the traffic flow.”
They reconfigured road lines, but Sage said it didn’t solve the problem. Concerned parents again raised the issue in 2003. Once again, the state performed a study and declined to install a light, according to press reports at the time. They reconfigured road lines, but Sage said it didn’t solve the problem. Concerned parents again raised the issue in 2003. Once again, the state performed a study and declined to install a light, according to news reports at the time.
Charlie Gischlar, a spokesman for the State Highway Administration, confirmed the agency conducted studies in 2003 and 2008, but said information about any earlier studies was not readily available. He declined to release the studies because he said they are intra-agency memos that are exempt from disclosure under the state’s public records laws. Charlie Gischlar, a spokesman for the State Highway Administration, confirmed the agency conducted studies in 2003 and 2008, but he said information about earlier studies was not readily available. He declined to release the studies because he said they are intra-agency memos that are exempt from disclosure under the state’s public records laws.
About 40,000 vehicles drive through that stretch of River Road each day. The 2008 study showed a heavy period of left turns onto Braeburn Parkway in the morning during a 30- to 45-minute window when students are arriving at school. But otherwise, the traffic turning at the intersection was “relatively light.”About 40,000 vehicles drive through that stretch of River Road each day. The 2008 study showed a heavy period of left turns onto Braeburn Parkway in the morning during a 30- to 45-minute window when students are arriving at school. But otherwise, the traffic turning at the intersection was “relatively light.”
State highway officials said they use the same criteria at all intersections — as laid out in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices — to determine if a signal is warranted. State highway officials said they use the same criteria at all intersections — as laid out in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices — to determine whether a signal is warranted.
But does the agency make exceptions?But does the agency make exceptions?
“With more than 3,000 traffic signals and hundreds of other intersection types, that would be pure speculation and impossible to answer,” Gischlar said.“With more than 3,000 traffic signals and hundreds of other intersection types, that would be pure speculation and impossible to answer,” Gischlar said.
Nine factors are considered under the manual’s guidelines, including traffic and pedestrian volume and historic crash records. If the threshold is met in at least one of the categories, engineers can opt to install a traffic light, under the guidelines. If none of the criteria is met, as was the case in the 2008 study, “you generally do not introduce a traffic signal as a first step,” said Hurwitz, the transportation engineering professor, noting that traffic lights do not always solve problems and can sometimes create new ones.Nine factors are considered under the manual’s guidelines, including traffic and pedestrian volume and historic crash records. If the threshold is met in at least one of the categories, engineers can opt to install a traffic light, under the guidelines. If none of the criteria is met, as was the case in the 2008 study, “you generally do not introduce a traffic signal as a first step,” said Hurwitz, the transportation engineering professor, noting that traffic lights do not always solve problems and can sometimes create new ones.
But engineers aren’t at the mercy of data. Hurwitz said there is a subjective component that comes into play in atypical situations, including when there’s a school nearby. In his field, they call it “engineering judgment.” But engineers aren’t at the mercy of data. Hurwitz said there is a subjective component that comes into play in atypical situations, including when there is a school nearby. In his field, they call it “engineering judgment.”
“It’s basically the totality of your professional experience, your academic training, and your interpretation of the engineering studies,” Hurwitz said, and it can be used to trump the findings of any study — especially if the crash data does not illustrate the danger of the intersection because there are a lot of near-misses that are not recorded. Residents say there are. “It’s basically the totality of your professional experience, your academic training, and your interpretation of the engineering studies,” Hurwitz said, and it can be used to trump the findings of any study — especially if the crash data does not illustrate the danger of the intersection because there are a lot of near misses that are not recorded. Residents say there are.
Lisa Lerman, who signed the 2008 petition, was in a crash at the intersection in 2004. She was westbound on River Road, turning left onto Braeburn, when a car struck the passenger’s side of her vehicle, where 14-year-old daughter was sitting. She said her view was partially obstructed by a line of SUVs across from her waiting to turn onto Braeburn toward the high school. Lerman’s car spun around, but no one was seriously injured. Lisa Lerman, who signed the 2008 petition, was in a crash at the intersection in 2004. She was driving westbound on River Road, turning left onto Braeburn, when a car struck the passenger side of her vehicle, where her 14-year-old daughter was sitting. She said her view was partially obstructed by a line of SUVs across from her waiting to turn onto Braeburn toward the high school. Lerman’s car spun, but no one was seriously injured.
“People get to that intersection and they don’t know what to do,” she said. “Cars are blocking each others’ view, pulling out in front of each other. It’s just complete chaos.”“People get to that intersection and they don’t know what to do,” she said. “Cars are blocking each others’ view, pulling out in front of each other. It’s just complete chaos.”
Of the traffic engineers and local residents, she said: “It’s like we’re looking at two different pictures.” Of the traffic engineers and local residents, she said, “It’s like we’re looking at two different pictures.”
Elected officials agree something has to happen. Elected officials agree that something has to happen.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D), Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and members of the county council last week wrote to State Highway Administrator Gregory C. Johnson asking that the agency look at all safety options to make the intersection safer.Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D), Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and members of the county council last week wrote to State Highway Administrator Gregory C. Johnson asking that the agency look at all safety options to make the intersection safer.
State Del. C. William Frick (D), who lives about a quarter-mile from the intersection, said he spoke with Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn about the need for additional safety measures. If not a traffic light, then a change in the configuration — or potentially eliminating all turns through incoming traffic at the intersection. Rahn, he said, assured him he would look into it. State Del. C. William Frick (D-Montgomery), who lives about a quarter-mile from the intersection, said he spoke with Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn about the need for additional safety measures. If not a traffic light, then a change in the configuration — or potentially eliminating all turns through incoming traffic at the intersection. Rahn, he said, assured him he would look into it.
“I think the engineers are trying to be responsible, but my view is this is not a situation where we can just check to see if this meets normal protocols for a light, and if the answer is no, just move on,” Frick said. “My view is something has to change.”“I think the engineers are trying to be responsible, but my view is this is not a situation where we can just check to see if this meets normal protocols for a light, and if the answer is no, just move on,” Frick said. “My view is something has to change.”