Page 12 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch September 20, 2013 Coastal Highway Changes Ahead “I am really excited about it and real hopeful that we can get this done. … Our mind set here on the district level is the road diet is a great idea with the wider sidewalks and a dedicated bike lane, but it really needs to have the median fence barrier, some type of discouragement to keep people from crossing.” SHA ASSISTANT DISTRICT ENGINEER KEN CIMINO ON MEDIAN DIVIDER or less and 50 percent of drivers traveled 33 mph or less the Office of Traffic and Safety and the chief engineer approved the request to lower the speed limit from 33rd to 62nd streets from 40 mph to 35 mph. The Ocean City Mayor and City Council had initiated the study and favored reducing the speed limit in that specific area. Once the change is made, Coastal Highway from Route 90 south will be 35 mph and Route 90 and north to the Delaware line will remain 40 mph. The date of the change will be announced, but will most likely happen during this fall season. According to Assistant District Engineer Ken Cimino, this summer a pedestrian safety study was completed from 52nd to 59th streets where a majority of accidents occurred on Coastal Highway last year. In this area, SHA increased signage, marked curbs and sidewalks and installed brick patterned walkways to heighten pedestrian awareness. As a result of the study, SHA will be installing a pedestrian crossing signal on 54th Street where there is currently not a traffic signal. There are currently no traffic signals from 52nd to 56th streets, which is the longest stretch of roadway on Coastal Highway without a light. The 54th Street pedestrian crossing signal is currently being designed, and once SHA acquires a right-away at that intersection installation will take place during the off-season to be completed by Memorial Day. According to OCPD data, pedestrian collisions were reduced in the area from 40th to 62nd streets this year. There were five accidents this year compared to 12 last year. South of 40th Street, there were 14 pedestrian collisions this year compared to 23 last year, and north of 62nd Street the number of pedestrian collisions were the same as last year with six accidents. The SHA’s next area of study will be 18th to 34th streets where additional curb and sidewalk marking have been completed and an increase in signage, as well as possibly adding brick patterned crosswalks will occur in the near future. A concept in the works has been titled a “road diet” originating from a traffic-engineering study done by Wallace Montgomery for the State of Maryland last summer. Cimino explained currently Coastal Highway is eight lanes wide with three mixed-use lanes and a bus lane on each side. The road diet SEE NEXT PAGE By JOANNE SHRINER STAFF WRITER OCEAN CITY – Ongoing efforts are being made to increase safety on Coastal Highway as a reduction in speed limit has been approved along with a plan to reduce traffic lanes in some areas and add a designated bike lane with wider sidewalks in the future. During a meeting between the State Highway Administration (SHA), Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) and other partners this week, several announcements were made regarding changes to Coastal Highway to improve safety. Dallas Baker, SHA transportation engineer, announced as of a result of a speed study conducted in Ocean City this summer between 33rd and 62nd streets where 85 percent of drivers traveled 37 mph DIRECTONS: Off Rte. 90, Take Casino Exit South And Left At 3rd Light Immediately On Your Right Southwest Bar & Grill • 410-208-1383 11033 Nicholas Lane, Ocean Pines • Ocean Pines South Gate Entrance Also Great Waterfront Dining LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ON THE DECK 5 P.M.-9 P.M. FRIDAY, SEPT. 20: MICHAEL SMITH • SATURDAY, SEPT. 21: PATRICK WISE EVERY THURSDAY: KALEB BROWN HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY 4 P.M.-7 P.M. • $1.25 TACOS LA HA RITAS $5 • RAIL MARGARITA $3 RAIL DRINKS $3 • DOMESTIC BEER $1.50 IMPORT BEER $2.50 • HOUSE WINE $3 PREMIUM WINE $4.25 DINNER SPECIALS • Monday: $1.25 Taco Night • Tuesday: $11.95 Steak or Chicken Fajitas • Wednesday: $5 Burgers And Burritos • Thursday: $1.25 Taco Night • Sunday: $11.95 Steak Or Chicken Fajitas Reservations For Groups Of 8 Or More • Smoke-Free Awarded Hall Of Honor By The Restaurant Association Of Maryland OPEN EVERY DAY AT 4 P.M. WWWOCLAHACIENDA.COM