Category: Traffic Page 1 of 4

If you’ve been driving or walking near the University of Maryland campus, you’ve likely noticed changes along Baltimore Avenue (Route 1). These changes are part of ongoing Purple Line construction, and they’ll be in place through summer 2025.

Here’s what you need to know:

Baltimore Avenue (Route 1) is reduced to one lane in each direction between Fraternity Row and Hotel Drive. Rossborough Lane is closed at the intersection with Baltimore Avenue. Access to Yale Avenue will remain open, but drivers must follow a detour via Hotel Drive and Diamondback Drive. The crosswalk at Rossborough Lane is closed. Pedestrians should use the signalized crossings at Fraternity Row or Hotel Drive and follow posted signage.

These changes are necessary to support Purple Line construction but may cause delays or rerouting for drivers and pedestrians. Please plan ahead and allow extra travel time.

For questions or more information, contact the Purple Line team at outreach@purplelinemd.com or call 443-451-3706.

We appreciate your patience as this major transit project moves forward.

The forthcoming Purple Line light rail route will extend 16 miles from New Carrollton in Prince George’s County to Silver Spring and Bethesda in Montgomery County, and five of the 21 stations will be on or around our campus. With direct connections to Metrorail, Amtrak and MARC, the Purple Line will provide more accessible and reliable transportation for students, faculty and staff, and connect our campus to the surrounding region in new ways.

As construction of the Purple Line ramps up in January, there will be major long-term traffic pattern changes in the core of our campus starting on December 27.

Most notably, the traffic circle at the intersection of Campus and Regents Drives will be reconfigured as shown on this map.

Campus Drive will be one way westbound from Union Lane (near Stamp Student Union) to Campus Drive (near the Benjamin Building) and Union Drive will be closed from Campus Drive (near the Benjamin Building) to Championship Drive (in Lots 1 and Z). Alumni Drive will remain open. (See map)

Along with the traffic pattern changes, pedestrian detours will be required in many places. All pedestrian detours will be ADA-compliant. (See maps)

To prepare for the change in traffic pattern, there will be major road closures December 27-28 as shown on this map. Emergency vehicle access will be allowed.

Campus Drive will be closed from Paint Branch Drive to Union Drive
Union Drive will be closed from Campus Drive to Championship Lane
Regents Drive will be closed at the traffic circle
We remind you to please use caution when moving around campus, and follow all posted signs and flaggers when traveling near construction areas. As always, we appreciate your flexibility as this important project for our campus and entire region continues to make progress.

If you have questions or encounter issues while traveling around campus, please contact purpleline@umd.edu or 301-405-2222.
[Source: University of Maryland]

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are evaluating potential solutions to reduce congestion on I-270 between I-370 and I-70. This evaluation on I-270 between I-370 and I-70 will begin with early planning activities prior to an environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Initial Pre-NEPA activities include a review of existing and future traffic, roadway, and environmental conditions to inform the development of alternatives.

Please alert your constituents that MDOT SHA will be inviting the public to learn more at a series of workshops in Frederick and Montgomery Counties.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Clarksburg High School
22500 Wims Road, Clarksburg, MD 20871

Wednesday, November 13, 2019
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Lincoln Recreation Center, Lincoln Elementary School
200 Madison Street, Frederick, MD 21701

Wednesday, November 20, 2019
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Urbana Fire Department Banquet Hall
3602 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704

Thursday, November 21, 2019
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Activity Center at Bohrer Park
506 South Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

These workshops will:
provide an overview of the Pre-NEPA activities and the NEPA process
discuss the transportation needs of the corridor
identify potential solutions and existing environmental considerations

The workshop format will allow attendees to review display boards and meet with MDOT SHA Study Team staff. There will be a brief presentation at 7:00 p.m. at each workshop.

Back in May, a resident of Cheyenne Place told us that for the second time an 18 wheeler came through her neighborhood and this time ripped the Verizon wires from her house. On June 2, 2016, a third oversized truck reportedly drove along Cheyenne Place, this time without doing damage to the overhead utilities. Cheyenne Place is located directly across from an industrial zoned area.

The City Public Works facility, Stone Industrial, and a warehouse with many tenants are located across from Cheyenne Place. Staff believes these oversized truck occurrences on Cheyenne Place are because the truck drivers were lost and could not find their way back to Rhode Island Avenue.

At that time, we requested to install “No Through Truck” signs on Cheyenne Place, Cree Lane, and Delaware Street to prevent large trucks from driving on these residential streets. Upon investigation, the City Manager and City Attorney suggested an Ordinance be adopted to establish the City’s authority to designate No Through Truck traffic on its streets.

On August 9, 2016 the Mayor and Council adopted an ordinance 16-O-06, No Through Truck Traffic, which authorizes the City Council to designate by Resolution certain City streets as No Through Truck routes, providing that an alternate truck route is so designated. Also, during the development of the Monument project on Baltimore Avenue in 2014, it was decided by the Councilmembers of the District 4 that “No Through Truck” be established in the residential neighborhood adjoining the development on Autoville Drive.

As a result, Erie Street and Cherokee Street have been included in this resolution. Additionally, in addressing the pedestrian safety issues around the new Toll Brothers/Terrapin Row development, and after receiving letters from two churches along Guilford Drive expressing concerns about providing a safe and defined crossing for the many students that cross this intersection, City staff is recommending that “No Through Truck” also be established on eastbound Guilford Drive from eastbound Mowatt Drive and southbound Knox Road.



US 1 – at Hartwick, where today’s accident happened. (source: WBAL)

The speed limit on Route 1 has been lowered between Guilford Road-Guilford Drive and Berwyn Road from 30 mph to 25 mph.

The Maryland State Highway Administration said in a statement yesterday that the new speed limit is aimed at making drivers more attentive to pedestrians.

Local and University of Maryland police officers will enforce the new speed limit. The College Park City Council recently approved expanded use of speed cameras to seven days a week, 24 hours a day along Route 1.

On another note, Police reported this morning that a pedestrian struck this morning around 0900 at Baltimore Ave & Hartwick Road. A female student was grazed by a vehicle and sustained a minor injury. When someone gets injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver, one may hire personal injury and auto accident lawyers from a law office to seek compensation and make sure their rights are protected. Consulting with a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer may help you in the aftermath of an accident. You may also consult this Albany GA personal injury lawyer for expert legal assistance.

If one gets involved in a pedestrian accident, then they may consider reaching out to a pedestrian accidents lawyer for legal advice. You may also contact the legal expert at David Gammill Law if you need help making the right claims.