Description
The amount of traffic using Lake Circle West has increased significantly since I moved here in 2007 and drivers have become more aggressive, primarily driving faster than the speed limit and conditions warrant on this blind curve roadway. This is a significant safety issue for the many pedestrians who walk along this road in addition to the dangers excessive speed pose to other drivers. My recommendation is that speed bumps be installed on Lake Circle West between Castle Moor Drive and Beaverbrook Road, similar to the way they have been installed on Durham West.
6 Comments
Howard County, MD (Tell HoCo) (Verified Official)
DPW HWYS Shirley S (Verified Official)
Acknowledged DPW Traffic Diane B (Verified Official)
kcscb (Registered User)
DPW Traffic Y Zhang (Verified Official)
a. There must be a minimum of 1200 vehicles and a maximum of 4000 vehicles per day on the road. This includes all traffic in both directions during the 24-hour period.
b. The 85th percentile speed measured must be equal to or greater than 10 MPH over the posted speed limit of 25 MPH or 30 MPH, but no more than 45 MPH. The 85th percentile speed (operating speed) is the speed that 85% of the drivers are traveling at or below.
c. A road must have more than 50% residential frontage (direct driveway access) and be classified as a local street or minor collector.
d. The roadway section under consideration must be equal to or greater than 1200 feet in length and must not exceed a 6% grade.
e. The roadway shall NOT fall within an Automated Speed Enforcement School Zone.
Should the roadway meet conditions (c), (d), and (e), data will be collected and assessed for traffic volumes and speed. If all the above criteria are met, the community may move forward with forming a Traffic Action Committee (TAC) to work with a DPW Traffic Engineer in the development of a layout plan for TAC presentation at a community meeting for community vote. Typically, the households that must drive over a proposed calming device to enter or exit their residence would be included on the voting list, with one vote per household by property owner. There must be a 2/3 vote in favor of the calming plan for installation of traffic calming.
Lake Circle west is categorized as a local road with a posted regulatory speed limit of 25 MPH. A speed study was performed on Lake Circle West from September 14th to September 15th, 2022 north of Castle Moor Drive. The average daily traffic volume is 454 vpd, 85th% speed is 28 mph. Since neither traffic volumes nor the speed on Lake Circle West meet the condition (a) and (b) mentioned above, Lake Circle West does not qualify for the speed hump program.
As speeding is an enforcement issue, I encourage you and other residents to contact the Howard County Police to request enforcement - it would aid them if you can provide them with a typical time of day you notice speeding the most. An alternate option is to request the HCPD deploy a radar speed feedback sign; this device is temporarily installed on a rotating basis. Both requests can be made through the HCPD non-emergency number, (410) 313-2929.
HCPD is accepting the reporting of non-emergency traffic complaints via online reporting at the following link: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/police/report-traffic-complaints . Complaints are being accepted in three categories, Isolated Traffic Incidents, Recurring Traffic Incidents, and Parking Complaints. The internet portal is what is used by HCPD to determine and schedule enforcement.
Should you have any further questions, please feel free to contact our office at 410-313-2430.
Closed DPW Traffic Diane B (Verified Official)