September 20, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 13 . . New Signal On 54th Street By Next Summer FROM PAGE 12 concept runs from 59th Street to Convention Center Drive, and it will no longer have three-mixed use lanes and a bus/bike lane. It is proposed to change to three lanes with the third lane being mixed-use for buses and cars and the extra width of the existing bus lane utilized to become a six-foot-wide bike lane and widen sidewalks to seven to 10 feet. SHAs Office of Highway Design is taking the concept and modeling it under existing traffic conditions to justify the number of traffic lanes being decreased in that portion of Coastal Highway without adversely impacting traffic and causing additional backups. “They are going to model that using 2020 volumes to see what it will look like from six years now. Then we will look at the models and see what its effects are on the roadway and determine whether or not we want to move this concept forward. Obviously, if its effect is gridlock we will not move it forward,” Cimino said. Part of the road diet concept is installing a median barrier to deter pedestrians from crossing the highway mid-block and to use marked crosswalks instead. The installation of an ornamental fence has been proposed. “I am really excited about it and real hopeful that we can get this done,” Cimino said. “We are hoping to see what it would look like in 2020 within the next week or so. 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.” OCPD Lt. Scott Harner, who heads the department’s traffic unit, is also anxious to see the outcome of the model. “Whether you know what the law is or not, if everyone is in a crosswalk it certainly adds a heightened awareness,” he said. “I am very concerned over mid-block crossings, and I think a center median divider at least gets that person to a crosswalk where it’s safer.” OCPD Captain Kevin Kirstein voiced concern over the median barrier and the road diet being combined into the same project. “If we are going to wait for funding for the road diet to consider the barrier down the median, I would hope we can separate those a little bit,” he said. “I see the road diet being a multi-million long-term capital project, and then I look at the oriental fence as thousands of dollars to run that fence down there.” Cimino concluded justification in changes or projects is done through studies and designs before moving forward in requesting funding. OCEAN CITY Since MARYLAND 1973 SNOW CRAB LEGS & CLAWS, CARVED PRIME RIB, RAW OYSTERS AND CLAMS, BBQ RIBS AND CHICKEN, FRESH FISH, STEAMED SHRIMP, FRIED SHRIMP, FOUR HOMEMADE SOUPS, FRESH SUMMER SALADS AND VEGETABLES, HOMEMADE DESSERTS AND SOFT ICE CREAM STATION AND LOTS MORE! PLENTY OF ASSORTED MEAT ITEMS FOR NON-SEAFOOD LOVERS 150 Feet Of Delicious Food The Ultimate All-You-Care-To-Eat SEAFOOD & PRIME RIB BUFFET Full a la Carte Menu • Special Selection Of Foods For Your Children, When The Kids Are Happy, So Are The Parents! Over 500 Dining Seats Items Subject To Change OPEN DAILY AT 4 P.M. 71st Street & Coastal Highway Ocean City, Md. • 410-524-7171 www.thebonfirerestaurant.com NEWLY EXPANDED WAITING AREA WITH COMFORTABLE SEATS FOR ALL. WE TRY OUR BEST TO SEAT PEOPLE PROMPTLY. FRIDAY-THURSDAY, SEPT. 20-26 4 P.M.-5 P.M. EARLY BIRD $5 OFF REGULAR ADULT BUFFET