Taking Back Our Streets
How we can make Eastport’s streets safe…
We all love Eastport's walkability. We walk to neighbors' homes, stroll downtown, or head to Horn Point for breathtaking Chesapeake Bay views. Our neighborhood's connectedness is one of the many things that make it unique and charming. We enjoy the opportunity to hop on a scooter or bike, quickly reaching our destinations while unburdened by a vehicle. This reduces the number of cars on our streets, eases traffic congestion, and fuels a healthier, more active lifestyle. Yet, throughout my campaign, a loud and clear message continually echoes: we don't feel safe moving around our neighborhood. This isn't just a concern; it’s the number one issue you, our residents and neighbors, continually raise. Telephone poles blocking sidewalks force us into traffic. Crosswalks are neglected or absent in crucial, high-traffic zones. We lack any real bike infrastructure. Our desire to move freely and safely through our community using alternative transportation has hit a wall. The time to act and make Eastport safe for everyone has arrived, and it's long overdue.
You might recall the City conducted a "multimodal transportation study for the Eastport neighborhood" back in 2016. Its goal: to assess current traffic and safety conditions and forge a plan for improved traffic management, circulation, and safety across Eastport.
The report didn't just document the "current state"; it unveiled clear, action-oriented recommendations to boost Eastport's overall safety. The painful truth? For nine years, it’s gathered dust on a shelf, with precious little progress on implementing its vital changes.
My campaign has continually focused on action and getting things done. As part of that promise, I'm outlining concrete steps we will take to make our streets safer for all of Eastport. We will pull the 2016 Eastport Transportation Study off the shelf and immediately begin implementing its recommendations in a prioritized, “start small,” step-by-step fashion that emphasizes iterative changes over a manageable period of time.
Fix Our Crosswalks
The study identified numerous intersections along Bay Ridge Ave. and Chesapeake Ave. that desperately need new or improved crosswalks. We will:
Prioritize installing permanent crosswalks based on pedestrian traffic volume and cost. These crosswalks should include leading pedestrian interval phasing (LPI) or high-intensity crosswalk (HAWK) signals, curb extensions to shorten crossing distances, and walk and countdown signals, tailored to each intersection.
We will target these intersections first:
Chesapeake Ave. and Sixth St.
Sixth St. and Severn Ave.
Midblock school crossings for Eastport Elementary along Chesapeake Ave and Sixth St.
Improved, permanent crosswalks with curb extensions will also serve as powerful traffic calming measures, forcing vehicles to slow down in these critical areas.
Repair Our Sidewalks
The study highlights numerous community sidewalks in dire need of repair and maintenance. Additionally, it flagged several sidewalks that fail ADA compliance, requiring improved street curb ramps and warning strips. We will:
Prioritize sidewalk repair based on pedestrian volume.
Where telephone pole obstructions exist and relocation isn't an option, we will expand sidewalks to ensure safe passage and introduce traffic calming.
Crowdsource information on sidewalk conditions, giving residents a simple, effective way to report issues directly to the City for swift identification and repair. My proposed new online resident portal can make this happen.
Reshape Traffic Patterns
Most of us are familiar with the "Eastport Shuffle,” moving to one side of the street to wave another car through. Our streets are narrow, and we can't change the limited space we have. However, we all recognize how confusing and illogical our neighborhood's traffic patterns are. This must be addressed in an iterative, practical way. We will:
Ensure permanent stop signs are installed in a uniform fashion, prioritizing intersections with a higher volume of pedestrians. Particular intersections of focus should be Sixth St. and Chester Ave., Third St. and Chester Ave., and Second St. and Chester Ave.
Implement the study’s recommendations for standardized traffic flow, with Sixth St. through First St. alternating in direction, complementing existing patterns.
Pilot Chesapeake Ave. becoming one-way westbound, with Severn remaining two-way. This could unlock opportunities for increased traffic calming, safer pedestrian movement, and the launch of an Eastport Bike Network.
Implement event signal timing programs for signals along Sixth St., Bay Ridge Ave., and Tyler Ave./Hilltop Ave. from Spa Rd. to Bay Ridge Ave., easing event-related traffic.
Partner with Eastport businesses, especially along Fourth St., to consolidate and minimize loading zone locations and operating windows.
Look for additional ways to introduce traffic calming to the neighborhood. This includes increased pedestrian lighting, high visibility crosswalks, narrower lanes with roadside trees, and textured pavement inside intersections such as Sixth St. and Severn Ave., Sixth St. and Bay Ridge Ave, and Sixth St. and Chesapeake Ave.
Champion Alternative Transportation
We must push hard to encourage every alternative transportation method beyond vehicles! This removes cars from our streets, protects our environment, fosters an active lifestyle, and frees up our congested neighborhood. We will:
Work with the City to build an Eastport Bike Network along Sixth St., Bay Ridge Ave., and Chesapeake Ave., ultimately connecting Eastport to downtown with a fully integrated bike system.
Work with all businesses to provide bike and/or scooter storage on their premises.
Collaborate with companies like Lime or Bird to establish mandatory parking areas to prevent scooters from being abandoned throughout our neighborhood.
During special events, partner with these same companies to offer discounted rides or ride vouchers.
Re-evaluate our neighborhood's bus stops to boost ridership and make bus access easier. We will relocate bus stops that cause traffic disruption and consolidate those with low ridership.
Make our bus system and routes transparent to the community. We will ensure schedules and routes are posted at every stop and easily available online!
The studies are complete. The recommendations are clear. The time to drastically improve pedestrian and traffic safety in our community is now. It's time for Eastport to be a safe place to walk, bike, or scoot, and for all of us to feel proud of our transportation infrastructure.
