NOTES FROM COMMUNITY MEETING ON 6.24.2002
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM @ BMA Conference Room

Purpose of Meeting

This meeting was requested by Ms. Kristin Smith, Baltimore City Area Planner, for the purpose of briefing community representatives on the status of the design effort for the reconstruction of Charles Street. Previous community meetings held in early 2001 focused on development and refinement of the Concept Plan. The final Concept Plan, prepared by JMT and dated April 18, 2001, was approved by Baltimore City OOT in April 2001. RK&K Engineers was selected through a competitive process to prepare final contract documents for the reconstruction of Charles Street. At present, RK&K Engineers is not yet under contract with Baltimore City, and has therefore not initiated final design services.

Attendance

See listing.

Development of Approved Concept

In the Spring of 2000, Baltimore City DPW retained the firm of JMT to prepare a community-based concept plan for improvements to Charles Street from University Parkway to 25th Street. Goals of the study included the following:

• improve pedestrian safety
• improve quality of greenspace
• maximize efficiency of vehicular facilities
• reinforce the residential character of the neighborhoods

Through several community meetings and development of concepts and alternatives a final concept plan prepared by JMT and dated April 18, 2001 was approved by Baltimore City. This approved concept plan addresses traffic issues including the number of travel lanes, lane widths, parking and sidewalks. This plan is the basis for the engineering design documents to be prepared by RK&K. Streetscape concepts and landscaping will also be developed in the engineering design phase.

Anticipated Design / Reconstruction Schedule

Detailed field surveys by Baltimore City On-Going

Notice to Proceed to RK&K Engineers October/November 2002

Preparation of Concept Plans (20%) March 2003
Preparation of Semi-Final Plans (65%) September 2003

Preparation of Final Plans (95%) February 2004

Submittal of 100% complete documents ready
for advertisement to Contractor April/May 2004

Anticipated Bid Opening August 2004

Notice to Proceed to Contractor October 2004

Anticipated Completion of Construction March 2006

Reports from Stakeholders

Frank Murphy began this meeting with a brief overview of the Approved Concept for the reconstruction of Charles Street from 25th Street to University Parkway. Developed over a 1+ year time period and including several community meetings, Baltimore City selected the final Concept in the Spring of 2001. Pending federal review of the design proposal submitted by RK&K Engineers, Notice to Proceed for RK&K's design activities has not been initiated. Final design work is anticipated to begin in the Fall of 2002.

The following summarizes the key points offered by the stakeholders present at this meeting:

• Friends of Wyman Park Dell
  • Concern about vehicle speeds along the 29th Street "sweep".
  • Provide quality landscaping/buffer along west side, but do not block views into the dell.
  • Provide wide sidewalk along westside, adjacent to the dell.
  • Prefer no fence in median of Charles Street.
  • Prefer a formal layout for trees and light poles.
  • Concern with pedestrian crossing for elderly and others at 29th and Maryland.

• Johns Hopkins University
  • 3,000 students live on eastside of Charles Street, and must cross the street multiple times to access University.
  • Number one concern is need to slow down traffic along Charles Street for pedestrian safety.
  • Strong desire to increase cohesiveness between eastside and westside of Charles Street.
  • Strongly believes that three northbound travel lanes are too much, pedestrian safety is paramount.
    
    
• Charles Village Community
  • Pedestrian pathways need to be addressed along entire length of project, especially north of 34th Street.
  • Provide wide sidewalks.
  • Still not pleased with three northbound travel lanes.
  • Greater emphasis is required for traffic calming.
  • Please involve MTA, including their long range Regional Rail Plan.
  • Consider "pooch-outs" in interim in the 3rd northbound lane to provide protected parking and preclude initial use of pavement as a third northbound travel lane.
    
• Condominiums along Greenway
  • Provide options for access to southbound Charles Street (U-turn north of 34th Street?).
  • More refinements required at 34th Street/Greenway intersection, especially to address illegal traffic movements.
    
• Baltimore Museum of Art
  • Still prefers northbound Charles Street left turn at Art Museum Drive.
    
• St. James Condominium located along University
  • Provide protected/channelized northbound Charles Street left turn at University Parkway.
  • Consider flaring northeast curb return at intersection of Charles Street and University Parkway.

Follow-Up Actions

1. Strong community support for comprehensive evaluation of pedestrian movements, including observations and counts. Working within a very limited budget, City to assess options, including observers and video equipment. Desirably, community could mount a volunteer effort to conduct a comprehensive pedestrian count in the Fall of 2002, under the supervision of RK&K Engineers.

2. Baltimore City to address dissemination of information, including posting of meeting notes, plans, and other materials on a project web site (to be maintained by RK&K Engineers??).

3. Next review meeting to be held in late 2002.

Attachments:

1. Comparison Chart for Existing Roadway Dimensions + Photos

2. Inventory of Existing Parking Opportunities