Page 12 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch November 8, 2013 State’s Worcester Focus Remains Dualizing Route 113 By TRAVIS BROWN STAFF WRITER SNOW HILL – The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) made its annual pilgrimage to Worcester County again this week to update elected officials on transportation across the state. As is tradition, several of the commissioners asked about the status of their own pet projects as well as recent changes with the Motor Vehicle Association (MVA). “Most importantly, I will outline for you what the department plans to accomplish in the near term to upgrade our transportation network statewide,” said MDOT Deputy Secretary Wilson Parran. It’s been a busy year for MDOT. Wilson gave a general sketch of some statistics for the year, including citizens served and projects in the works. BWI Marshall Airport served about 22 million passengers in 2012 and moved roughly 120,000 tons of freight. There was an estimated economic impact of 94,000 jobs, $3.6 billion in personal income, $5.6 billion in business revenue and $2 billion in local purchases. Maryland toll facilities saw over 127,000 vehicles pass through with about 71 percent of those tolls col- Welcome to Ocean City e Welcom Golfers! Breakfa s Sandwic t hes All Day! 9403 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, MD • 410-524-4400 CONVENIENT DRIVE-THRU OPEN 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun.-Thur. • Fri. & Sat. 7 a.m.-9 p.m. RETURN OF lected electronically, which is billed as a time and money saver for residents. Likewise, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MTA) reached a public ridership of 153 million in FY2012. Ridership for the Washington Metropolitan Area system closed in on 124.5 million as well. The State Highway Association (SHA) reported assisting 27,000 stranded motorists and responded and cleared more than 17,000 vehicle incidents, saving $1.1 billion in vehicle travel costs in CY2011. The SHA is also working on a number of projects in Worcester, all of which are being closely watched by the commission. Commissioner Virgil Shockley took the opportunity to thank the SHA and District Engineer Donnie Drewer for the recent installation of a stop light at the intersection of Routes 12 and 113 south of Snow Hill. That intersection has been plagued for years by collisions, including fatalities. The community had been trying for more than a decade to get a light installed and this year the SHA did just that, despite its own traffic survey determining that a light was unnecessary. “It’s a heck of a relief to the rescue team at Snow Hill and to everybody else who has to go down there,” said Shockley. “It’s working at about 95 percent right now.” Drewer was glad to hear it and told Shockley that the intersection should further improve with the addition of J-turns in the area. However, Shockley is skeptical about the addition of J-turns to nearby Route 365, also known as Bay Street. “Let’s talk about Bay Street for a minute. I’ve had a lot of people basically tell me point blank that if you’re going to do what you think you’re going to do there,” he told Drewer, “and intend to do there, they don’t want it.” Drewer said Shockley’s concerns were noted and the SHA will monitor the project as it advances but the expectation is that Bay Street will be improved by any additions. Commissioner Judy Boggs then asked about the status of upgrades to Route 589, a project that has been studied for dualization in the past. The north-south road runs from Route 113 to Route 50 and has seen tremendous commercial growth in recent years as the residential community of Ocean Pines has seen more year-round residents. “As I’ve said before, this is a high priority right after Route 113 because it’s the only access to the outside world for about 15,000 people, with the water behind them and all of them have to access Route 589,” said Boggs. As far as an expansion and renoSEE NEXT PAGE CAPPY HOUR 4-7 p.m. 25% OFF ALL ESPRESSO BASED BEVERAGES Coastal Drug Institutional Pharmacy 10231 Old Ocean City Blvd. Berlin, MD • 410-629-0089 (On The Campus of Atlantic General Hospital) BEST CREAMED CHIPPED BEEF ON THE BEACH Since 1965 BOOK STORE IS CLOSING 50% OFF All Books General’s Kitchen The Original House Of Chipped Beef Open 6:30 a.m. 5 Days A Week CLOSED TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY House Specialty The Original House Of Creamed Chipped Beef On Toast Or Biscuit With Hash Brown Potatoes Or Grits 410-723-0477 74th St. & Coastal Hwy. At The Beachmark Motel We Make This From Scratch! OUR OWN RECIPE! Your Hosts, Voted Best Breakfast In The Washington Post 2005 Golfers Welcome Ride The Bus To Us! “Best Of Ocean City” Bob Noll And Law Adkins